How hard is it to change the spark plugs on a 97 f150 5.4?????
11-04-2009, 05:03 PM
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
How hard is it to change the spark plugs on a 97 f150 5.4?????
I have a 1997 f150 5.4 with 108,000 miles on the plugs. It still runs good but i notice a slight misfire/shake in the motor while at idle and sometimes from leaving a stop. What plugs do you recomend that i replace the originals with? Autolite? Is this something that i can do by myself or should i take it to a dealer, i hear horror stories about the 04-06 5.4's and breaking the plugs off in the head, the 1997 5.4 do not have this correct. If i decide to do it myself how tight should i put the plugs in? I know i can do it, done it before on other cars, but if there is a problem with them i want to have a dealer do it. Is there break off or striping issues in the 1997 5.4 motors??
11-04-2009, 06:07 PM
#2
Retired Aerospace
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Edgewater, Florida
Posts: 1,324
Likes: 0
Received 13 Likes
on
12 Posts
Not Easy, But Not Impossible:
Looks like your ride has the COP ignition system, one coil on each plug. The plugs ARE NOT the beastly, breakable, two-piece, expensive long-reach items that get carbon-seized in the plug bore....thank God.Access to #4 is a particular bitch, and the other seven are bad enough. A fair amount of equipment must be moved out of the way to get access, so be ready for it.
Disconnect and remove all the coils, blow out the recesses with compressed air and run about a half teaspoon of liquid wrench into each of the recesses.
A 10mm plug socket with a rubber insert is the tool to use.
Starting with #4, the hardest to get at, break the plugs loose and let them sit for a few minutes, then blow them all out with compressed air and remove.
Check the gaps of the new Fomoco plugs (or any other good brand designed for the application...I think I'd go with Bosch 4304, but it's your preference) for .052"-.056" (Bosch needs no gapping).
Put a little anti-seize compound on the plug threads and run them in. Torque 7-15 lb/ft (15 preferred).
Last edited by Kattumaram; 11-04-2009 at 06:26 PM.
11-04-2009, 09:51 PM
#4
Extreme Member
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Colorado
Posts: 757
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Yeah its quite a chore compared to other cars. I did mine myself and it took most of the day. You have to take off the head cover, air intake, and the power steering fluid brace i believe...The plugs are located under the fuel rails so that can make it difficult. As these other guys said, the back ones are...not fun to put it veryyy nicely.
11-05-2009, 02:38 PM
#6
Retired Aerospace
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Edgewater, Florida
Posts: 1,324
Likes: 0
Received 13 Likes
on
12 Posts
A Little Research Says It:
Take a look at Advanceautoparts.com and look for replacement plugs....I just did and the plugs for your '03 5.4L are standard plugs.
11-05-2009, 02:44 PM
#7
Retired Aerospace
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Edgewater, Florida
Posts: 1,324
Likes: 0
Received 13 Likes
on
12 Posts
All Hard:
#8 is tough, but it's forward of the injector and there is a crook in the fuel rail that allows access to the plug recess.
#4 is is behind the injector which puts it almost out of reach. On my '97 4.6L I could not see the plug recess; I had to do it all by feel. I should have removed the electrical assembly from the firewall, but didn't have the time or the energy.
Trending Topics
11-06-2009, 10:21 AM
#9
Navy Seabee
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 96
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
When I did mine, I used universal joints with some extensions to get at the back ones. Seem to work out pretty well, still a real PITA. 1997 5.4L with COP? I thought ford didn't start coming out with this ignition tell 1999? Or is that only for the 4.6L?