1.9L Spark Plug Wire Boot problems
Sedanman64
03-13-2016, 04:29 AM
Hi,
I have a '94 Escort LX 3dr with the 1.9 engine and have had troubles with this before several times on this car, and with the '96 Tracer I had before it whic also had A/C and power steering. Don't remember this issue with my '92 base model 3dr with no power or comfort accessories.
Twice in the last year (about 1k miles, doesn't get driven very often) I've noticed the tach jumping up and down under hard acceleration, usually above 3,000 rpm, indicating a misfire.. In fact I've noticed it in the exact same place, on a steep freeway on ramp. Since there's no second gear hold on Ford AOD's of the time you really have to rev it up in first gear to get moving on hills. All they had to do was give it a 2nd gear hold.... :shakehead
Both times I've discovered a loose spark plug wire. However having had three of these cars, I've had spark plug wires off more times than I can count, and the first plug in behind the alternator is a huge PITA to get on snugly. Naturally, this is the one that came loose this time.
I've removed the main belt, loosened the alternator to move it out of the way - maybe an inch - and removed the little loop brackets that hold the wiring harness and A/C lines in place. I can NOT get the boot back on snugly no matter how hard I try - just can't get my hands in there to push in and down hard enough towards the engine.
Do any of you have tips for this? I've used the spark plug/boot electrical connector silicone lube with no help. I used to have a set of really long, narrow locking pliers (from an old roommate's army first aid kit) that I'd lock on to the boot to push it in all the way, but those broke. I tried channel lock pliers but they barely fit in there.
What should have been a one minute job turned into an hour of no progress today, and of course to add insult to injury the alternator bolt fell down so now I have to tear the freakin' plastic pan off the bottom of the car to find it. :banghead:
Any suggestions? This has been a good reliable car overall, but often a pain to work on when I have to.
TJ Teal '94 Escort LX hatch, '65 Mustang 2+2 in fam. since new, currently in a barn
I have a '94 Escort LX 3dr with the 1.9 engine and have had troubles with this before several times on this car, and with the '96 Tracer I had before it whic also had A/C and power steering. Don't remember this issue with my '92 base model 3dr with no power or comfort accessories.
Twice in the last year (about 1k miles, doesn't get driven very often) I've noticed the tach jumping up and down under hard acceleration, usually above 3,000 rpm, indicating a misfire.. In fact I've noticed it in the exact same place, on a steep freeway on ramp. Since there's no second gear hold on Ford AOD's of the time you really have to rev it up in first gear to get moving on hills. All they had to do was give it a 2nd gear hold.... :shakehead
Both times I've discovered a loose spark plug wire. However having had three of these cars, I've had spark plug wires off more times than I can count, and the first plug in behind the alternator is a huge PITA to get on snugly. Naturally, this is the one that came loose this time.
I've removed the main belt, loosened the alternator to move it out of the way - maybe an inch - and removed the little loop brackets that hold the wiring harness and A/C lines in place. I can NOT get the boot back on snugly no matter how hard I try - just can't get my hands in there to push in and down hard enough towards the engine.
Do any of you have tips for this? I've used the spark plug/boot electrical connector silicone lube with no help. I used to have a set of really long, narrow locking pliers (from an old roommate's army first aid kit) that I'd lock on to the boot to push it in all the way, but those broke. I tried channel lock pliers but they barely fit in there.
What should have been a one minute job turned into an hour of no progress today, and of course to add insult to injury the alternator bolt fell down so now I have to tear the freakin' plastic pan off the bottom of the car to find it. :banghead:
Any suggestions? This has been a good reliable car overall, but often a pain to work on when I have to.
TJ Teal '94 Escort LX hatch, '65 Mustang 2+2 in fam. since new, currently in a barn
denisond3
03-26-2016, 07:10 PM
To get the #1 spark plug boot installed andremoved, I just use a long pair of needle nosed pliers. I have seen them at places like harbor freight, and I think most auto parts stores would have them. Mine are about 13" long overall. With that reach, I grip the boot between the tips of the pliers, and push it onto the plug. Its important to hear or feel the slight 'click' that means the boot has snapped onto the plug. I use a dab of silicone grease on the inside of each spark plug boot, so a year or two from now - the boot will be able to be rotated half a turn with the needle nosed pliers, and pulled off.
To install or remove the #1 spark plug, I use a very deep 5/8" socket, having the 3/8" drive. For the extension I use one of the 'wobble' type extensions. The end is sort of barrel shaped instead of being a regular square shape. This allows it to have about a 15 degree bend relative to the socket.
To install or remove the #1 spark plug, I use a very deep 5/8" socket, having the 3/8" drive. For the extension I use one of the 'wobble' type extensions. The end is sort of barrel shaped instead of being a regular square shape. This allows it to have about a 15 degree bend relative to the socket.
Sedanman64
03-28-2016, 05:53 PM
Thanks, those pliers sound similar to the ones I had before, will have to get a pair. I did finally get that boot seated (after removing the coolant tank, loosening the pwr steering resivoir and hoses, and removing the alternator to replace a lost bolt :P ), but the car was still misfiring so I checked the other plugs one by one, starting at #4.
That wire was loose, and the car was misfiring at idle, so I seated it and drove a few miles, and it loosened up again. So I put an older wire on it, and that one misfired at higher rpms. By then I was getting frustrated as I've replaced wires twice in 20k miles, so I took the older #3 plug wire and put it on #4 instead. Everything is fine so far at idle and higher rpm, but I didn't have time to drive it far. Will do so later this week.
I'm guessing I need to buy a higher quality set of wires - these came from O'Reilly's. They just shouldn't be wearing out or coming loose like this with so few miles - this is the second set in just over 20k.
TJ Teal '94 Escort LX hatch, '65 Mustang 2+2 in fam. since new, currently in a barn
That wire was loose, and the car was misfiring at idle, so I seated it and drove a few miles, and it loosened up again. So I put an older wire on it, and that one misfired at higher rpms. By then I was getting frustrated as I've replaced wires twice in 20k miles, so I took the older #3 plug wire and put it on #4 instead. Everything is fine so far at idle and higher rpm, but I didn't have time to drive it far. Will do so later this week.
I'm guessing I need to buy a higher quality set of wires - these came from O'Reilly's. They just shouldn't be wearing out or coming loose like this with so few miles - this is the second set in just over 20k.
TJ Teal '94 Escort LX hatch, '65 Mustang 2+2 in fam. since new, currently in a barn
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