steering shaft hitting spark plug wires!!!

[1996BLKBauer]

So I had my Explorer in the shop the other day, and I was talking to my teacher about my steering intermediate shaft, and he began to play with the wheel, and looking at the shaft, and what I noticed sort of scare me. I saw that a bolt on the steering shaft close to the fire wall was rubbing on my spark plug wires. No I did not put in the last set of wires in the truck, so I have no idea where there are suppose to be routed, does anybody have any pictures to show me where they are suppose to be routed without hitting the steering shaft?

I will have to replace them soon because the wire that is rubbing is missing A LOT of the insulation, and it will most likely start to short out to my steering shaft soon, which I don't want. So before I get a misfire, or anything thing else bad happens, I plan on replacing them with some OEM Motorcraft wires, but I don't want to chew those up too.

 

[deweyville65]

If there are no wire clips visible, go to your friendly auto parts store and get some aftermarket clips. Use the valve cover bolts to install them.

 

[koda2000]

no need to be scared. the worse that would happen is a miss. when you replace the wires get the correct ones for you truck (i suggest Motorcraft) and be sure to put the right wire on the right spark plugs. your original wires had metal boots on some (or all) of them to protect against heat and some have bent boots to keep them out of the way. if your original wire looms are missing you can get replacements at the parts store.

 

[xpolice-explorer]

When I changed mine I routed them down the front of the motor, then along the frame rail, and then went UP to the plugs.

Go to local parts store and get an assorted pack of loom clips and about a 3' piece of 3/4-1" corrigated wire protect tube (the black(or colored) ribbed tubing).

Put all the wires on the coils and with a paint pen or masking tape mark the spark plug boot with the respective number.

The 4 going to the left put a loom clip then cut a piece of the tube about 6" shorter than the #5 plug wire. Load them all in the tubing and route them down along the side of the engine to the frame. Then do the same for the right side cutting the tubing 6" shorter than #1.

Place a floor jack under the front of the X on the cross member (not the oil pan) and raise it up just till the wheels start to lift, and support it. then pull the flaps above the shock towers out to gain access.

Plug the wires onto thier numbered plugs and use a couple of the 2 or 3 loom clips to help route the wires away from things (steering shaft, exh., etc..). Reuse the heat sheilds as needed.

The only one I had a little difficulty with was #4 (pass rear), I had to kinda loop it up, and change the boot angle. it was also the only one I had to put the heat sheild on.

The tubing helps keep the wires from rubbing anything in routing and keeps it clean looking and the loom clips keep the wires tight and away from the headers.

 

[deweyville65]

expolice-explorer, that would definitely be a good idea with headers. But I seriously doubt it working with the factory exhaust, as you would have to loop the wires up to the plugs, and I don't see enough clearance between the block and manifolds. I would think you would burn the wires.

 

[1996BLKBauer]

Thanks everybody for the replies. I am going to fix them on Sunday, I am just going to put some split loom around the wires for now, when I get the new wires, I will try and avoid everything with heat or movement, unlike whoever did this last.

 

[xpolice-explorer]

expolice-explorer, that would definitely be a good idea with headers. But I seriously doubt it working with the factory exhaust, as you would have to loop the wires up to the plugs, and I don't see enough clearance between the block and manifolds. I would think you would burn the wires.

I do have factory exhaust manifolds, and all of the heat sheids on them have deteriorated and came off. The wires should be plenty long enough to loop back up to the spark plugs and with the loom clips they hold pretty tight in posistion. As soon as I figure out the pic process, I'll post some.