I've been looking around on the forum for help with my studdering 1999 4.6l Triton with 98k miles. I got the truck used and I'm certain it hasn't been well cared for. Regardless, it's a secondary work vehicle for me, but I have a very bad studder in the power band at low-mid rpms. It starts fine, idles ok, and when I mash the accelerator she goes ok. I have no prior experience with an F150 to measure against, but I'd expect a V8 to be more responsive.

I've done an oil change, the tranny fluid change, and put the recommended addative in, thanks to the forum for that! Now I need to address the studdering. I'm thinking plugs, Sea Foam, and maybe O2 sensors.

I got a quote from a dealer of $450 for a tune-up, is this reasonable or should I DIY? That did not include FI or plenum cleaning, that was a couple hundred more. Looking at my engine I see major access issues with the rear-most plugs, hell, all of them are burried deep. I don't think I have COPS cuz I see what appears to be 2 distributors, one for each side of the engine.

Any advice is appreciated!

 

Depending on how much you think you can do yourself, you could have them do just the spark plug change, then do the rest youself.

 

jvr,

I checked your profile and it shows a 99 so you have coil packs and wires. Replcaing the plugs is not difficult. You will need a 5/8 inch plug socket with the rubber boot intact. A 3/8 inch ratchet with 6 and 3 inch extention and an 8 mm socket. A 7mm ¼ inch drive socket with a 3 inch extention. Plug anti seize and a4 drops of motor oil, clean oil.

Do it on a cold engine. There are two reasons for this. The plugs will not seize becasue of the heat and the rubber boot in the plug socket will not stay stuck to a hot plug and ruin a pleasnant afternoon.

Passenger side first.
On the passenger side I use a 6 and a 3 inch extention and slip it over the plug. attaching the ratchet I then unscrew the plug. Gap your new plug and insert it into the plug socket. Remove the ratchet and using only the socket and the extention insert it into the plug hole and tighten it. When it gets to be too tight to do by hant attach the ratchet and finish tightening it. DO NOT FORGET TO USE ANTI SEIZE ON THE PLUG THREADS.

Do all the plugs like this except for the following.

Passenger side rear; Use the 6 inch extention to insert the plug in the hole and start to tighten then attach the 3 inch extention and finish by hand then use the ratchet.

Driver side; You should remove the fuel rail and power steering reservoir to make the job easier. Remove the 3 bolts to the resevoir. They should be 8 mm. Position the reservoir out of the way. There is a vent pipe from the driver side cam cover to the TB inlet that can be removed to make more room. There are two bolts holding the fuel rail to the intake manifold. Using the 7mm socket on the ¼ inch ratchet remove these bolts. You will now need to pull up on the rail to pop it off the injectors. Position it out of the way.

Now the nice thing about this side is the plugs are angled towards the front as opposed to the other side that was towards the rear. That is what makes the passenger side rear such a bugger to do.

When you are done and you want to pop the fuel rail pack on use 1 drop of oil on your finger to lightly coat each injector O ring. It keeps them from tearing and makes slipping on the rail easier.

If you can handle this youshould be fine. One last thing, blow out the plug holes before removing the plug to remove any debris.

Regards

Jean Marc Chartier

 

Once agian JMC has given great advice. Follow his instructions and you can't fail. I would only add that you might want to consider a set of wires.

 

Thanks JMC for the detailed instructions. Very helpful. I'm going to go for it.

Thanks also Pestco1 for the advice on the wires. After reading through many posts on the forum, I'm sure I need to replace them. Now the decision of which wires to get. Seems popular opinion indicates the MSD 8.5mm set, but I don't see one for a 1999 and newer 4.6L listed at White's Pitstop. Can I use the truck set for 1996-1998 (MSD32229)?

On plugs it seems I should go with a set from the dealership. I use Bosche Platinum in my motorcycle with great results, but seems they are not quite up to truck duty.

O2 Sensors. I don't have a check engine light, but my reading shows some folks replace these sensors as part of the 100k tune-up. Seems there are 4 of them to replace? Suddenly that $450 quote I got from the dealer isn't sounding too bad, if they do plugs and 02 sensors. Hmmmm.

 

You may have an early '99 with a held over 98. do you see plug wires coming over the front of the heads to a coil pack with 4 wires attacthing to each one? If you do then yours is not COPS. If your using it as a secondary truck just go with the Motorcraft wires and you'll be fine as well as the plugs too,use Motorcraft plats applicable to a "98 in your engine size ( as long as your not COPS). An additional tip is to remove the mounting screws from the power terminal on the passenger side fire wall and let it hang down. That will give you addtional room back there. Good luck

 

Hey texford... do you still have those coil packs (4 tower) that you wanted to get rid of?
I am in need of some coil packs to see if mine went bad.
(Missing during acceleraton acceleration).

 

I will look but if you don't live here in DFW the shipping could be exorbanent...If you do live here we can work something out to meet...I will just let you have them...I also have some wires from Auto Zone that fit a '97 4.6,brand new (sorry Doug)

 

I would pay for shipping (of course).
What brand of wires are they? I have a 98 4.6 BTW. I would assume they would fit like the 97 BUT we are talking about a ford....

Should I leave you my email address so we can exchange phone numbers? The private messageing here on this forum doesn't work...

 

I have a pair of 8.8 accel (blue), they have about 5,000 miles on them. I total my 97 after totally rehauling the vehicle. So the wires were purchased for $110. If you are interested make an offer and lets get this truck of yours studder free.

P.S. - Love my new 02 SuperCab!!!!!