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  #1  
Old 04-10-2010, 03:06 PM
Vrod21 Vrod21 is offline
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Default How to: Install new plugs (4.0 V6)

I did the Seafoam thing yesterday and now its time for new plugs and wires. WOOHOO...

I didn't see a write up on this and have seen a few new people asking how to do it so, here we go.

Get six plugs from you favorite auto parts store. I'm not going to tell you what type of plugs to get, I'll start a war in the comments section. The 2003 Ford Ranger owners manual shows a spark plug gap of (.052 - .056 inch). You'll also need:

Jack
Jackstand
Lug wrench
5/8 deep well socket
Socket wrench
2" extension
6" extension
12" extension
24 pack of band-aids
antiseptic ointment


To start break the lugs free on front passenger side wheel (don't take them off). Jack up the front pass wheel and secure with a jackstand. Remove lugs and take pass front wheel off. Remove dust cover in the wheel well. Access these plugs through the wheel well. Now on the the good stuff.







I'm starting on the passenger side because it is harder than the driver side. Remove plug wires from each plug. (pinch and pull, hard). Here is a pic of the three plugs on the passenger side with the wires removed.







Towards the front of the passenger side of the engine is the first plug to remove. Slide the plugs socket on, then the 2" extension, then the wrench. break the plug free. Remove wrench from extension and use hand to loosen the rest of the way. Replace with new plug, tighten by hand until snug then torque (1/16 of a rotation) with wrench.












Now move one plug back towards the firewall. Use plug socket and the 2" extension. Do the same, break free with wrench and loosen with hand. Remove and replace the same way.






Now for the last plug on the passenger side you'll need to change your technique. Use the plug socket only, not enough room for the extension. Break free with the wrench. Then slide you other hand up there and use a finger to hold tension on the socket so it doesn't spin back and forth as you unscrew it. This will take awhile, not a lot of room to move the wrench. I was unable to get my hand up there to unscrew it without the wrench so this technique seems to work best. Remove and replace with new plug. Do the same thing, screw it on this the wrench. Little by little. ( the pic is deceiving, there is not much room)







Reattach the wires.






Now, done with the hard part. Replace the wheel and remove jackstand and the jack. The driver side plugs and by accessed from the engine bay.

The first plug I removed with the plug socket and the 12" extension. Replace with new plug.




I did the second plug the same way. Replace with new plug.






For the last plug I used the 4" extension, it is a little cramped but not nearly as bad as the passenger side. Replace with new plug.





If you did the plugs too.

(Cylinders are numbered from front of the truck to the firewall)

The engine is:
Passenger side:1-2-3,
Driver's side: 4-5-6.


The coil pack is:
Firewall side: 1-2-3,
Front of truck side: 5-6-4






Hope this helps!
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  #2  
Old 06-02-2010, 05:51 PM
AussieExplorer97 AussieExplorer97 is offline
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Default Re: How to: Install new plugs (4.0 V6)

Hi

Great bit of information as we all know spark plugs from top to remove/install can be a nightmare and time consuming.

From the inner wheel wells makes life a lot easier.

Do you have any information on the coil pack wiring setup on the V6 4.0lt SOHC engine 1997 model?

Cheers
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  #3  
Old 06-02-2010, 05:57 PM
BAMA BOY BAMA BOY is offline
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Default Re: How to: Install new plugs (4.0 V6)

if it wasnt for joldtown id be driving on 4 new plugs lol
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  #4  
Old 06-02-2010, 07:47 PM
Areyouforcereal? Areyouforcereal? is offline
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Default Re: How to: Install new plugs (4.0 V6)

Just a thought, I was able to access the plugs without removing the wheel. You gotta have the wheel turned all the way to the left though. But more important would be removing one plug wire at a time instead of all of them. It makes it easier to keep them from getting mixed up.
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  #5  
Old 06-03-2010, 03:50 AM
STL STL is offline
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Default Re: How to: Install new plugs (4.0 V6)

Quote:
Originally Posted by AussieExplorer97 View Post
.
Do you have any information on the coil pack wiring setup on the V6 4.0lt SOHC engine 1997 model?
Cheers
Yours may be different since you are not from the USA
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  #6  
Old 07-09-2010, 06:05 PM
878ranger878 878ranger878 is offline
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Default Re: How to: Install new plugs (4.0 V6)

i could ask my dad if he knows how to change them but im to lazy to get up and ask... any idea on how much a shop charges for the install of all them.
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  #7  
Old 07-10-2010, 07:25 AM
STL STL is offline
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Default Re: How to: Install new plugs (4.0 V6)

Quote:
Originally Posted by 878ranger878 View Post
i could ask my dad if he knows how to change them but im to lazy to get up and ask... any idea on how much a shop charges for the install of all them.
Most labor rates around here are 45-60 dollars. I bet they would charge for 2 hours.

Why cant you do it your self they are pretty easy.
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  #8  
Old 09-11-2010, 08:28 AM
DrIftKi7Vg DrIftKi7Vg is offline
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Default Re: How to: Install new plugs (4.0 V6)

Besides the spark plugs, how do you do that sea foam thing?
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  #9  
Old 01-18-2012, 05:06 AM
barnsz barnsz is offline
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Default Re: How to: Install new plugs (4.0 V6)

first we would like to Thank you very much in showing how to change them
dang plugs can we ask how long did it take to do the whole thing
we took ours to well known dealer he gave me estimate i buy plugs,and plug wire labor only 250.00 glad i got on here
we Thank you who ever posted this
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  #10  
Old 12-21-2012, 08:32 PM
phixion az phixion az is offline
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Default Re: How to: Install new plugs (4.0 V6)

Thanks for the write up and great pictures. I was about to start removing everything from the top down. Sory for the bump.
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  #11  
Old 12-21-2012, 11:54 PM
cacher cacher is offline
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Default Re: How to: Install new plugs (4.0 V6)

Nice write up, but I would'nt recommend "pinching and pulling" the spark plug boots, unless they are being replaced. Doing this with newer wires will easily break the wires, and you will loose continuity in that plugs circuit, or even totally break the top of the plug wire off of the wire itself. Use a spark plug boot puller tool. I would also recommend replacing each one individually, so you don't have to worry about mismatching the firing order of the wiring to the plugs, from the coil pack.
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  #12  
Old 12-23-2012, 01:46 AM
phixion az phixion az is offline
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Default Re: How to: Install new plugs (4.0 V6)

Time it took me: 2 hours
Pulling the plug boots by hand was rediculously hard on the passenger side.
I used Bosch Platinum plugs and love them. (Debate plugs elsewhere.)
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  #13  
Old 04-02-2013, 12:48 AM
WorkInProcess WorkInProcess is offline
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Default Re: How to: Install new plugs (4.0 V6)

How did you measure the spacing in the plugs? From my understanding that is an important thing to consider.
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  #14  
Old 04-02-2013, 02:07 AM
ZWilson07 ZWilson07 is offline
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Default Re: How to: Install new plugs (4.0 V6)

You can buy a gap tool/spark plug measuring tool that you use to read and/or adjust the gap.

The only thing you will need to do is just check when they come out of the box that they all are gapped properly where they should be for your engine. Just more of a double check than anything for this particular instance; to much more will just get over your head for no reason.
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  #15  
Old 05-26-2013, 02:08 PM
WorkInProcess WorkInProcess is offline
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Default Re: How to: Install new plugs (4.0 V6)

Fuck.... so I was installing my plugs, I was doing one at a time and did the first 2 good on the driver side. Then the front driver side one wasn't coming out, probably didn't have the sparkplug thing on good. So switched over to the passenger front one. It came out easily, but then one it came time to put it back in, I may have accidentally put it in at an angle, and it stripped the first couple threads. Now I can't seem to get a spark plug in there. Did I just fuck up my engine? There is still threads in the engine for a sparkplug to get on.

If I turn it on to drive it to the mechanic, will oil or gas come out of the hole?
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