Tow Vehicle Question

[84carlson]

 Thought I would start working on my 2001 F150 to make sure it will make it over to Iowa in a few weeks, with gas at 3.75 I don't drive it allot, but it is a great truck.  Changed the oil, flushed the antifreeze, new top radiator hose, new belt, idler pulley, ERG valve and finally fixed the Service Engine light with an exhaust gas valve.  The transmission is getting serviced next week but since it just hit 100k I thought I would change the plugs.

 My question is has any one changed the plugs in a 4.6 Ford, I consider myself somewhat handy but these plugs are deep in the heads. On the internet I read where it took people up to 6 hours to change, should I farm that out or is worth trying myself.


Joe  

[WetRaider]

Maybe see if there's a community college nearby that has a vehicle mechanics class ... you provide the car & the plugs, students provide the labor ...

Something easy like spark plugs, I'd trust them with ...

[Jason]

If it is running good leave the plugs alone! They are very difficult to do and can break off in the head. Then you have big problems. Most spark plugs last well past 100K. Your F150 will not have any problem pulling your boat to Iowa.

[75starflight]

Joe farm it out but to a ford dealer only! Those are aluminum heads and the plugs are in there at a really weird angle. I have seen it where some one did not get it threaded in correctly and had one blow out of the head like a bullet and then needed a new head. Also, would you be interested in convoying together in case one of us has a problem?  The route I have figured out takes me down cornhusker hwy. We could meet up some where along there. That is if your interested?

Brandon

Central city, ne

[MarkS]

Joe, I've got an '05 F150 with the 4.6L, and getting a check engine light code = misfire #3 cylinder.  Mine has almost 130k, original spark plugs.  (Not skipping, just getting the code.)  New set of plugs (E3) in the garage, but I heard to horror stories too!  (Plugs breaking off in the head, something about two piece spark plugs being used originally.)  They're also a bugger to get at, the fuel rail runs right (and tight) over the top of the coils on top of the plugs.  I'm a stickler for routine maintenance, and have never neglected anything this long.  (Always do my own maintenance and repairs.)  But darn it, this one has me a little concerned (okay scared), don't wanna disable my daily driver in the driveway, OR ruin a cylinder head.

Think I'm going to eventually soak them with PB Blaster and take a day off during the week to do the job, in case I have to call in a professional for "back up"?

[Jason]

Misfire codes can be caused by a lot of things. Bad spark plug, coil, injector, head gasket, wiring, ect. The worst one is the random misfire code! Is your 05 running good or like it has a misfire? The most common problem on those for a misfire is a bad coil. A somewhat easy way to check the coil is to swap the #3 coil with another cylinder and see if the code follows the coil. You can do the same with the injectors.

[dorelse]

I dunno guys...there's something to be said for spending money wisely.  If its potentially risking a head, and your trip to the meet...I'd just pay the money and know its done.

[Jerry]

The Right Rear is the tough one. The rest most people can get. Maybe have Ford do that one. It takes swivel sockets and u-joints that most people don't have.

[MarkS]

Misfire codes can be caused by a lot of things. Bad spark plug, coil, injector, head gasket, wiring, ect. The worst one is the random misfire code! Is your 05 running good or like it has a misfire? The most common problem on those for a misfire is a bad coil. A somewhat easy way to check the coil is to swap the #3 coil with another cylinder and see if the code follows the coil. You can do the same with the injectors.

I've also heard the coils are problematic Jason, but thought I'd try to plugs first.  No misfire, just the code.

[carlsoncvx18]

My company van has had blown out spark plug because of the aluminum heads and three coils replaced because of misfire 06 E150. This last Friday she was offically retired with a slipping tranny.

[84carlson]

Thanks for the advice, I think since it is running fine, I'm just going to leave them in for a few more miles...

Brandon we surely can caravan over if we leave on Friday, we may go over Thursday we rented the camper and have it for three nights, I'll pm you next week when we confirm our plans.