Today was a bad one,the first problem I have had with my1999 5.4.It felt like I was running on seven cylinder's so I took it to Ford because I am still under warranty.It turned out to be the heater hose leaking on one of the plugs.Ford tried to charge me a total of $325.00 and all it needed was some kind of boot that fits over the sparkplug it also had a coil in with it,something I never even seen before.Each cylinder has a coil,I didn't no that either.So I bought the parts,total $38.00 and did it my self.This is were I need help. As I pulled it out of the cylinder I think the part that snaps over the spark plug stayed in there.Not the threaded part of the spark plug the other end I forget the name,it's silver.
So I just put the new one in there anyway,it worked.How do you get the spark plug out of the head,I couldn't even see it.Is there a special wrench.
Thank's

 

Ain't the 5.4 a beaute? I've changed 2 of the Plug-over-coils. The last one because one of my spark plugs shot out and killed the coil. Now I can't get a new plug to thread...you can read all about it in the thread "Trapped in Conn..." Anyway, there are special sockets that you can buy with a rubber sleve that holds the plug in place to help prevent cross threading and to help keep the plug from falling and getting damaged. I don't understand what part your talking about that fell into the cylinder. That's bad.

 

I believe he's talking about the spring that transfers the spark from the coil to the plug(conductor) ..It should be clipped to the coil with the boot over it and then the whole assembly go's over and on the spark plug...

 

Get a tube of 'dielectric grease' from any auto parts store and the next time you pull the coil pac. off; squeeze a glob of grease on the end of the spring inside the rubber boot. This grease will be spread down the sides of the plug when you push the boot back on and will keep the boot from sticking to the plug the next time.

There is a 'very' special spark plug socket available from SNAP-ON tools(no, I don't sell them)--www.snapon.com. It is p/n S9720KA. Be prepared, it's expensive--about $52.00--that's one socket. It is about 7 or 8" long and that is what helps with these very difficult to get at 5.4 s/plugs.

If you use a 'normal' s/plug socket, you will need an extension and then the ext. pulls loose and you've got to 'fish' the socket out with long-nose pliers or remember to tape the ext. to the socket before you slip it down that long, dark hole. Yes, the change can be done with a regular s/plug(all s/plug sockets should have a rubber grommet inside to grip the plug) socket but if you plan to do this from time-to-time, the snap-on will be worth it. I have to change mine more frequently because of the high boost-daily driver-1/4 miler Lightning I own. The plugs are critical to the safe firing under very difficult conditions.

Dan

 

That's right Mach 1 it's the conductor that I think stayed in.But after I looked at it and thought about it how would I been able to get the new boot over the conductor if it stayed on.The new one snapped right on,maybe it fell off while I was pulling it out.I need to no for the next time I change one.This time I only changed the boot not the spark plug.When you are pulling up on that boot coil is there a release or something I can press in to make it come out easier.I was yanking it till it finally came out,it wasn't easy.

 

There isn't any release....you just have to wiggle it.

 

Twist it back and forth--gently-and then push down to release the vacuum created between the boot and the plug. You have to 'break' the seal made between the two parts and then twist back-n-forth and pull it up and out. The dielectric grease will make it much easier next time and it keeps everything dry while conducting the electricity.

Dan