i have a 97 ford f150 with the 4.2 and i changed the plugs and wires and now its smoking what is wrong

 

You might want to add some specifics. :blankstare:

 

Yeah, I've looked at this thread a couple of times - if it's smoking, knowing if it's white or black smoke says a lot. If it smokes ALL THE TIME or just at start up or after it's been on for a while will also help. Also, which plugs did you install? If they're Bosch, then I'm not surprised that the thing smokes (and I wouldn't even be surprised if it failed to crank up eventually or runs rough all the time).

More info please!

 

its white smoke and i installed denson plugs it stoped later that day so i have no idea what's up it never ran rough or the check engine light came on it just smoked then stop so who knows

 

OK, so white smoke means that your vehicle was running too rich. Did you ever reset the computer after you changed the plugs? If not, that would have definitely explained the white smoke. I still would have put splitfire Motorcrafts in her, but that's just my personal choice. Nothing against Denson - just don't like 'em in my 150.

Either way, glad to hear she's up and going. I sort of thought that it was a matter of running too rich that was compensated by the computer.

 

Just changed plugs and wires yesterday. Why and how do you reset the computer.

 

Disconnect the negative battery post and turn the headlight switch on,for 10 minutes.Reconnect,then take a ride to let the computer re-learn the engine.

 

Yep - that is certainly one way to do it.

An easier way is to disconnect both battery posts, turn the lights on, run a socket wrench so that the positive lead touches the negative one (without the leads touching the battery), and then putting it on. Reason I mention a socket wrench is because there's so much crap wired in there that you can't bend one lead to touch the other without possibly doing some damage.

When you touch the positive to the negative leads, your computer resets immediately.

 

And sparks fly right???

 

White smoke is generally burning antifreeze. You may have intake gaskets starting to leak. Keep a eye on your coolant resevoir or you will be buying a new engine when it hydrolocks.