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How-To: Change the spark plugs on a 4.oh

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Old 11-15-2007
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How-To: Change the spark plugs on a 4.oh

There are 2 methods to do this:

Method 1:

Items Needed:
A gallon of gas or two
Cash, Check or Credit Card
Keys

Step one: Open door and enter the cab of your truck
Step two: Insert Key into ignition and drive to your local ford dealer
Step three: Walk into said dealer and hand them your preferred form of payment.
Step four: Wait for the machanics to change your plugs.
Step five: Repeat step one.
Step six: Drive home.

Method 2

Items Needed:
A Plug socket along with a ratchet wrench.
Medical Insurance.
A lead pipe.
A couple of Band-aids.
Friend. (optional)

Step one: Remove passenger side tire.
Step two: Locate plugs.
Step three: Break arm with lead pipe. I like to do this to my left arm, because Im right handed so breaking the left arm works the best in the long run. I also like to break it in 2 places.
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Step four: Use Band-Aids to stop any bleeding.
Step five: Change spark plugs.
Step six: Replace tire.
Step seven: Drive yourself to the hospital. If you are feeling at all dizzy get a friend to drive you.
 
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Old 11-15-2007
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Did you really break your arm changing your spark plugs?
 
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Old 11-15-2007
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Wtf!
 
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Old 11-15-2007
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Originally Posted by Lord Of War
Did you really break your arm changing your spark plugs?

No but thats about the easiest way to get at plugs 2 and 3.

I changed Plugs 1, 4, 5, 6 back at the begining of september, and today I changed plugs 2 and 3 and it took me 3 hours. I will never change my plugs again, Im going to the dealer next time.
 
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Old 11-15-2007
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i dislocated my shoulder yesterday remounting my fog light tabs haha....

3.0 is soooo much easier to change i guess, literally took me 30 mins for all 6
 
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Old 11-15-2007
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Yeah, i did it once, next tme i'll go to the stealership myself!!
 
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Is it really that hard on the 4.0?
 
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Originally Posted by Lord Of War
Is it really that hard on the 4.0?

hard is an understatment.

the driver side plugs arnt too bad. on the passenger side the front plug is difficult but not too hard. the other 2 you have to remove the wheel, pull the wheel well ( a PITA itself), The break your arm in 2 places to get in there. Then distance between the plug and the heater box is about 3 inches (If that). and you cant put the wrench straight on the socket because theres not enough room width wise. You cant use an extention because its too long. Its a PITMFA.
 
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Old 11-15-2007
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dang my biggest issue was the back one on the passenger side
 
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Old 11-16-2007
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For sure all you need is the right tools. It took me longer to remove and replace the wheel and splash guard than it took to replace the spark plugs with the right tools.

An extension and and swivel are easier to come by than a double jointed arm and less expensive than having the dealer do it.
 
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Old 11-16-2007
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How much does a dealer charge? I am happy to see a few of you say its pretty easy with the right tools.
 
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Old 11-16-2007
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this is like a 30 min job for me i dont see the issues???
 
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^^^ You a hole...lol. Body lifts always help...
 
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Originally Posted by zabeard
this is like a 30 min job for me i dont see the issues???


i don't mind changing the plugs on my truck......it is easy.......30 minutes tops.....that includes putting new plug wires on and picking up after myself...

even when i didn't have the body lift, i just sat on top of the engine and reached down.....made it a heck of a lot easier....
 
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The heads on the OHV are smaller though, correct?
 
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Originally Posted by greygooseranger
The heads on the OHV are smaller though, correct?
they are not as wide, but if mine were wider, they would be closer to the fender wells.....that means it would still be a 30 minute job since i can get in through my fender wells (body lift....)......

shoot i installed a block heater in my truck and never took out a fender well......removed a freeze plug and all
 
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I need to do plugs in a major way... Maybe over the holiday weekend.
 
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Old 07-21-2009
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For the future guys looking to change their spark plugs, when you get to your 2 and 3 spark plugs, get under the truck on the passenger side and reach up into the engine bay and it's allot easier to reach your plugs. Just did mine last weekend, in about 40 minutes.
 
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Old 07-21-2009
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Originally Posted by dangelj316
For the future guys looking to change their spark plugs, when you get to your 2 and 3 spark plugs, get under the truck on the passenger side and reach up into the engine bay and it's allot easier to reach your plugs. Just did mine last weekend, in about 40 minutes.
or go through your wheel well for all of them very easy access for me
 
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Old 11-06-2009
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Originally Posted by greygooseranger
^^^ You a hole...lol. Body lifts always help...
Haha. Yup! body lifts make plugs on these trucks a breeze! haha not quite a breeze but easier.... nothin like replacing plugs on a 4cyl civic! simple!
 
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Old 02-13-2014
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Originally Posted by D.
Use a swivel and an extension. Its easy. I change my plugs at LEAST once a week when the streets are dry. . I keep a set pre-gapped. Takes all of.. 20 minutes ( max ) to do it.
hahahahaha Genius! put the extension too the swivel ahh hahahaha Thank You
 
  #23  
Old 02-15-2014
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i love being skinny as a rail makes reaching much easier.
 
  #24  
Old 02-15-2014
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Originally Posted by Alex98
i love being skinny as a rail makes reaching much easier.
Put a garden hose or fuel hose around the ceramic part and just a snug enough fit to feed and bend it into place and you can twist and turn till it's time to crank the wrench
 
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