Welcome to Mustang Evolution.
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01-30-2006, 09:02 PM
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#1
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Need help with spark plugs and wires!
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2005
City: birmingham
State: Alabama
Posts: 4
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I have a 1999 Mustang 3.8L of course and assumed it would be easy to change the spark plugs and wires. Little did i know it was much harder than i figured. Ive read about everything in can possibly find from haynes manuals to online forums etc. The problem is getting to the wires that are behind the motor. Does anyone have any suggestions to getting to those or possible ways to make this a little easier on myself? |
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01-30-2006, 09:16 PM
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#2
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Re: Need help with spark plugs and wires!
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No more obstacles
Join Date: Jul 2005
City: Marin County, Nor Cal
State: California
Posts: 893
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For wires 1,2, and 3 you should be able to pull off the connecting clip. (the black plastic clip that gathers the wires) I know's there's at least two of them. Be careful not to break it since it's good to have your wires seperate and not rubbing against each other. And when pulling the boot off the plug make sure you twist and pull from the boot.
After that, you should be able to pull the wire around the back of the motor. Undo it on both plugs first and it should pull right through.
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99 Cobra: flowmasters, 18x9.5 cobra R's, soon to be tuned and geared. daily driver
99 V6:in avatar, Mac Cai, true duals/flowmaster 40's ,UDP, custom tuned, bullitt suspension 18" wheels...taken by mother nature 
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01-30-2006, 09:26 PM
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#3
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Re: Need help with spark plugs and wires!
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Cammed Baby!
Join Date: May 2003
City: Chicago 'Burbs
State: Illinois
Posts: 1,713
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the wires that run behind the motor are secured to the intake. you can get your hand back there and pop them loose. the pass. side I had to use a long screwdriver to get it loose.
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2003 SVT Lightning #1059 of 4270
2000 Vert 4R70W
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01-30-2006, 10:10 PM
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#4
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Re: Need help with spark plugs and wires!
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WTF^^...
Join Date: May 2003
City: Hoover / Florence
State: Alabama
Posts: 27,124
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its not easy, but with some tools and extensions with ratchets it can be done. It took me about an hour to change all of mine in my 01 mustang. The intake can be removed on the passenger side to make it easy to get to, the drive side back... is just a pain. Remember to put a VERY little bit of anti seeze on the spark plug threads, gap them correctly, and to NOT OVER TIGHTEN THEM! I am not 100% sure on tq specs but its not much at all.
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2003 REDFIRE COBRA #3938 of 5082 @ 05/27/2003 1 of 414
MGW Shifter, Stingers, JLT, SS Inserts, MM FLSFC & CC Plates, SS Lines, H&R Race springs, IRS Brace, MRT Hood Struts
ME.com Member #29 - 400rwhp/380rwtq
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01-30-2006, 10:11 PM
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#5
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Re: Need help with spark plugs and wires!
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WTF^^...
Join Date: May 2003
City: Hoover / Florence
State: Alabama
Posts: 27,124
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you can twist the plug covers to break them loose as well.
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2003 REDFIRE COBRA #3938 of 5082 @ 05/27/2003 1 of 414
MGW Shifter, Stingers, JLT, SS Inserts, MM FLSFC & CC Plates, SS Lines, H&R Race springs, IRS Brace, MRT Hood Struts
ME.com Member #29 - 400rwhp/380rwtq
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01-30-2006, 10:38 PM
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#6
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Re: Need help with spark plugs and wires!
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2005
City: birmingham
State: Alabama
Posts: 4
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Thanks guys for the info..im going to try it again soon as i get an off day. Ill probably cuss some more but ill let yall know how it goes. |
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01-30-2006, 11:12 PM
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#7
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Re: Need help with spark plugs and wires!
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WTF^^...
Join Date: May 2003
City: Hoover / Florence
State: Alabama
Posts: 27,124
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take your time, relax, if you are getting no where take a break think about it and go back at it. You will have it done before you know it. Dont pull of all the plug wires, do the swap one wire at a time.
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2003 REDFIRE COBRA #3938 of 5082 @ 05/27/2003 1 of 414
MGW Shifter, Stingers, JLT, SS Inserts, MM FLSFC & CC Plates, SS Lines, H&R Race springs, IRS Brace, MRT Hood Struts
ME.com Member #29 - 400rwhp/380rwtq
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01-31-2006, 05:49 PM
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#8
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Re: Need help with spark plugs and wires!
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2005
City: birmingham
State: Alabama
Posts: 4
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Ha! wish i was that laid back and patient. If i start and i get no where im going to get realll mad and real quick. When i first looked at it, i figured it wouldnt be a problem then i realized those backs ones were just stuck. I changed them on a v8 but the v6 just isnt the same. Youd think it would be similar, oh buts its not. Nothing is simple anymore. |
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01-31-2006, 07:53 PM
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#9
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Re: Need help with spark plugs and wires!
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No more obstacles
Join Date: Jul 2005
City: Marin County, Nor Cal
State: California
Posts: 893
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wish I had access to All Data from this computer. torque shouldn't be more then 15ft.lb
dont take my word for it but that's the spec we use in my shop class.
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99 Cobra: flowmasters, 18x9.5 cobra R's, soon to be tuned and geared. daily driver
99 V6:in avatar, Mac Cai, true duals/flowmaster 40's ,UDP, custom tuned, bullitt suspension 18" wheels...taken by mother nature
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02-02-2006, 11:01 PM
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#10
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Re: Need help with spark plugs and wires!
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Taking life one day at a time
Join Date: May 2003
City: Simpsonville
State: South Carolina
Posts: 10,970
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It is a easy thing to tighten spark plugs. first start them by hand as not to strip. once you have a couple of turns, You can also use the spark plug socket and a small extention to turn them, then you use a ratchet to tighten till snug then with light force turn till resistance.
By the Ford service manual the torque is 84-180 in lbs but I think 180 in lbs is excessive.
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02-03-2006, 09:43 AM
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#11
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Re: Need help with spark plugs and wires!
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WTF^^...
Join Date: May 2003
City: Hoover / Florence
State: Alabama
Posts: 27,124
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thats INCH pounds not FOOT pounds for yall none close readers... lol
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2003 REDFIRE COBRA #3938 of 5082 @ 05/27/2003 1 of 414
MGW Shifter, Stingers, JLT, SS Inserts, MM FLSFC & CC Plates, SS Lines, H&R Race springs, IRS Brace, MRT Hood Struts
ME.com Member #29 - 400rwhp/380rwtq
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02-03-2006, 10:07 AM
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#12
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Re: Need help with spark plugs and wires!
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Taking life one day at a time
Join Date: May 2003
City: Simpsonville
State: South Carolina
Posts: 10,970
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To convert in pounds to Ft pounds you divide by 12 so 84 in lbs is 7 ft pounds
and 180 in lbs is 15 ft pounds. Most ft lbs torque wrench's dont go that low
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02-03-2006, 03:50 PM
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#13
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Re: Need help with spark plugs and wires!
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I need bolts
Join Date: Oct 2004
City: Dallas PA
State: Pennsylvania
Posts: 3,478
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My good one(digital) goes to 25 but the crappy one I bought ast A&A with the steel rid on it that points the trq will go down to 5 so I use that one. I usually snug em in hand tight than turn to 12 ftlb
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02-04-2006, 12:26 AM
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#14
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Re: Need help with spark plugs and wires!
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Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2005
City: Eureka
State: California
Posts: 20
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You think it was hard for you? Try doing it with a strut brace in the way!
The only saving grace for me was, I was putting in a BBK 65mm T/B on at the same time. So I just took off the old T/B and it made it a TAD bit easier. But it was still a pain in the a**. |
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02-04-2006, 10:12 PM
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#15
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Re: Need help with spark plugs and wires!
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Teh TC6!
Join Date: Aug 2005
City: Sheppard AFB
State: Texas
Posts: 3,968
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I keep forgetting how hard it was to do some of the mods I did a while ago. As I recall, I didn't have much trouble with the 9 mm wires I installed. It took about a half hour, and I didn't have to take off the manifold to get to them. Although I do have long fingers. Just remember as Spec said, take them off one at a time and change them out one at a time so you don't forget which one went where. As for the plugs, I haven't had to change mine in this car before so I don't have any advice except not to get Bosch or Autolite for Mustangs.
__________________
Click the sig for a complete list of mods and pics.
Bewst!? 
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02-04-2006, 10:18 PM
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#16
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Re: Need help with spark plugs and wires!
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Taking life one day at a time
Join Date: May 2003
City: Simpsonville
State: South Carolina
Posts: 10,970
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02-04-2006, 10:37 PM
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#17
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Re: Need help with spark plugs and wires!
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Teh TC6!
Join Date: Aug 2005
City: Sheppard AFB
State: Texas
Posts: 3,968
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Well that's what I would have thought, but I've heard of lots of problems with Autolites in Mustangs...I don't know...maybe they were all installed wrong, but I've heard of about 5 or 6 Mustangs that had problems with them............... 
__________________
Click the sig for a complete list of mods and pics.
Bewst!?
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02-05-2006, 01:19 AM
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#18
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Re: Need help with spark plugs and wires!
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Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2005
City: Eureka
State: California
Posts: 20
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NEVER believe the "I heard" crap. I heard a V6 stang can beat a Vette? Believe that? NO..and neither do I. I prefer the IrridiumX plugs myself. But I would advise staying away from Bosch. From EXPERIENCE as a GM of 5 shops, they do have problems. Like the platinim tip falling out and scoring the cylinder wall...They "supposedly" fixed that problem. But why take chances? |
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02-05-2006, 01:32 AM
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#19
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Re: Need help with spark plugs and wires!
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Taking life one day at a time
Join Date: May 2003
City: Simpsonville
State: South Carolina
Posts: 10,970
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I've beat a vette. Now it was a 77 vette with a whopping 170HP.
But to the point Bosch aftermarket manufacturer sux. Bosch OEM stuff is OK. They make many factory things for Ford like the TPS and IAC sensors. But there aftermarket stuff is made in sweatshops in Asia that pay 50 cents an hour with little or no quality control
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02-05-2006, 01:50 AM
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#20
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Re: Need help with spark plugs and wires!
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Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2005
City: Eureka
State: California
Posts: 20
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Ok..you got me there. But you get the analogy. I get so tired of "I heard" this or "I heard" that.
And I totally agree on the Bosch aftermarket crap. Especially the plugs. When I took over as GM of the shops, we were using Bosch "Super" plugs for tune ups. One of the first things I did was to swap them out for Autolites. Second thing I did was dump the SeaFoam and get Justice Brothers Injector cleaner. MUCH BETTER!!!!
Hey Danger Dude, I clicked on the link for your mods, and I got the forum main screen. I'd kinda like to see what you've done so far. |
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02-05-2006, 11:49 PM
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#21
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Re: Need help with spark plugs and wires!
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