It's getting time to change the plugs on my '98 4.6 motor.

I've heard this is a tough job. It's possible but not easy.

Also, with the blown thread problem on these motors would it make more sense for the dealer to do this job?

I figure Ford would probably still not cover blown threads even if they did the tune-up since blown threads on the head would not have been involved in the tune-up. That is, they'd replace the stuff they changed like plugs and wires if they went bad but not warranty anything with the heads since the heads themselves weren't in for service.

Also, what's a tune up cost these days at Ford. I've always done them myself.

Thoughts?

Mark

 

I recently changed the plugs in my 97 4.6l, it does take a little time but it can be done. In my opinion the hardest plug is the pass. side against the firewall. You have to remove all your plastics, air intake up to the throttle body, unhook the pwr steering pump bracket and on a couple unhook the leads going into the fuel injectors. I would deff. recommend having a long reach magnet ( incase a plug falls out of your socket), and just to be safe I put a piece of duct tape around the socket and extension ( so the socket wouldn't slide off of the extension) I would also not forget to get the proper gap (I think it was .54) and try to use a torque wrench.
Not sure how much dealer charges for a tune-up but it prob. is a rip-off. Good luck.

 

I change the plugs on my 98 4.6 every year, & even though I would agree it's not something to look forward to, I have managed for 2 years now, just give yourself some time like 4 hours or so. There has been several tricks posted on this forum to make it easier, you might wana do a search I know yankee1509 has one of them, using duck tape. I agree the pasenger side against the firewall is the toughest by farr, I always put on a *bleep bleep* show for the neighbors & my wife when I'm working on that one but I have never had to remove all those things that yankee1509 mention, although that could make it easier to get to. good luck

 

the dealer quoted me at $450 to do the plugs/wires/ and upper intake cleaning to eliminate pinging on my 98 4.6. Plugs on this truck would be a beyotch! I cant hardly see the back side passsenger one.

Oh well ill get it done one way or another soon.

 

I just had plugs, wires and intake cleaning on my '99 4.6 at a local shop and they charged my $220 and that included platinum plugs. (I supplied my own OEM wires cause they were out of stock when I made the appointment) So far all is good. I wouls shop around.

 

I've done this three times on my '97; it's not a piece of cake, but it's not all that bad if you have the proper tools: 3/8" drive socket set, plenty of extensions, swivels, etc., patience and beer.

As far as I know, there are no plug launching issues with the 4.6l, just the 5.4.

Look at it as an opportunity to bond with your truck.

 

Just remove the cable coming from the battery and then remove the ground screw from the power block on the fire wall and then the 2 screws holding it to the fire wall...it will drop down a couple of inches just enough to open the area up behind it and to gain much easier access to the #4 plug...It's your #8 that can be tricky...using a flex handled rachett helps...if you change your wires try to get them out as 1 unit,basically still attached to the clips...the only ones that should stay are the ones above the alternator...then replace them one at a time trying to keep the wiring loom together on the wires...It will have the butterfly shape that it had when it came out and all you have to do is feed the boots along the top of the heads...also if you don't have the Motorcraft replacement wires that have the cylinder #'s on the wires then you need to label both ends of the wires...Electrcians labels work real good for this,available at home depot or loews...also draw a schematic of which wire went where on the coils ...Good luck

 

I do the plugs evey year on my 4.6, and it takes about 1/2 hour. The only thing I take off is my K&N intake. Buy a 6" 3/8 wobble extension from NAPA. It lets the plug socket angle at the extension about 10 deg. Assemble your rachet on the truck by sliding the socket down the hole, then the wobbler. Then hook another extension with a swivel. It's not too hard, and it helps to sit on your rad support. Be patient and careful and you'll see it's not bad.

 

Just curious what size extensions do you guys recommend?

 

2- 6" and a 12".

 

Ive thought about taking a saturday and tackling this project. My prob would be the case of beer that i would drink over the project and be inable to complete it before me and my buddies want to go do some do-nuts, or something.

 

I've done mine on my old 97 4.6. It's not that hard, little more than an hour's time. Have a 3" and a 6" extention and a plug socket the swivels. Autozone, $4.95. It's a bit stressing, but it's worth it.

 

the hardest part is always the plug boots. and getting my body in the right position(on the fender, on a bucket, in the engine bay, etc) to make it eaisier to reach. the tools are pretty standard, just use what ever makes it easiest for you.

 

The Plugs arent that bad to change getting some of the boots off of the plugs can be tough. If a plug falls out of your socket just push your plug wire boot back down the hole and pull the plug out.

 

I can't figure it out...................we have back yard mechanics here that change out their plugs in (from what I hear) 1/2 hour to 1.5 hours, but the dealer quoted me $400.00 because of the 3.5 hours needed to do the job. What a ripoff ! You would think that these guy's do this daily, yes.....it's still a pain in the ***, but they are use to it.

I'm having my 97 5.4L done at my local Ford shop so if I get a Blowout within a certain time...........I'll be taking them to small claims court for the repair. Hopefully the Judge will see me as the little guy that got cheated by the dealer. Think about what the judge might think........this guy's got 82000 miles on his truck......never had this issue until Ford changed his Plugs and then it happens. Any reasonable thinker would say that the plug wasn't tourqed down and was done half ***.