Those damn spark plug shields! | Ford Explorer Forums - Serious Explorations

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Those damn spark plug shields!

Workman

Member
Joined
November 4, 2008
Messages
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City, State
Buckhannon, WV
Year, Model & Trim Level
1998 Mountaineer AWD
I was attempting to replace the spark plugs on my '98 5.0, but I can't fit a socket on the plugs for #3, 4, 7, and 8. They have that damn heat shield around them and i cant find a socket with a thin enough wall to get to them. I tried wiggling them with channel-locks, smacking with a hammer, prying with a screwdriver, cursing, and drinking beer. Nothing worked. Do they just snap in? I have new ones if I ever get the old ones out, do I need to put the new ones in? Any advice is appreciated, I've never been stumped by spark plugs before.
 






I have an 01 5.0 V8, and just did the plugs and wires on mine. (First Time Ever)

I did notice that a few of them seemed as if the socket didn't fit. I think header rust had developed around them making the holes a little tighter. I just took a long thick flat head screw driver and scraped around the old plugs on the header to remove the excess crap. I don't know if that's what you're experiencing, but it worked for me.

Those heat shields should just pull off. Twist and pull.
 






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