Changing plugs on an '01 Windstar.

[bruker]

Yesterday I planned to spend the whole afternoon changing the spark plugs on my van. I've heard you either have to remove the engine compartment cowl or jack up the van to get to the rear three plugs. I decided I would first try to get to them from underneath so I jacked the van up and put it on jack stands. After crawling under the van I was able to get to each of the plugs fairly easily. Now if you have forearms like Popeye your not going to be able to use this method but most people should. Total time start to finish was less than an hour.

[road_rascal]

Yup. I did the same thing on my '01 a few months ago. Unfortunately I did remove the front cowling and found out the hard way that there isn't any more room to get to the rear plugs. Jacking up the front is the best way to get access to the rears. I ended up getting the #1 plug by going through the passenger side fenderwell just above the halfshaft. Very easy, and about an hours worth of work if you don't remove the cowling .

[bruker]

The reason I changed the plugs was because the idle was getting a little rough. Well after 144,000 miles I guess that's to be expected. The original plugs were still in it and the gap was at .075. I installed a set of Autolite Double Platinums so I'll probably never have to change then again.

[road_rascal]

I replaced mine at 52,000. I don't believe in 100k plugs. I'm really surprised the ignition system in your van lasted that long with the plug gap that large. That puts a lot of stress on the coils.

[wiswind]

I replaced mine (96' 3.8L) at 135K miles......was running great....but also found that the gap was about what bruker found.
Dealer had told me that they were fine...did not need changing.....but I suspected that they would be a bit worn long by that time......even double plat's don't last forever.
I replaced with the double platinum plugs.
I did the back plugs from under the car also.....you have to slide yourself back further than you would think....so that you are looking and reaching up the front face of the firewall.
Less stuff to take apart than taking the windshield wiper cowel off......= Less chance of causing other problems.....and....from the top....is going to be quite a bend over for the back to reach down in there..... Not good for a bad back.
You DO have to let the engine cool....as you are basically hugging one of the catalytic converters.

[grneal]

Do you always change the spark plug wires every time you change the spark plugs?

[bruker]

I've only changed plug wires if they were damaged or are old and cracked.

[wiswind]

At a 100K mile change interval.....I guess that replacing the wires would be a good idea.....

[elephantfly]

On what engine did you change the plugs? Mine is a 3.8, and I'd like to know if your experience pertains to the one I'm envisioning in my near future.

[bruker]

3.8 as well.

[Air2Mud]

Originally Posted by bruker

I've only changed plug wires if they were damaged or are old and cracked.

This old thread is new to me ...
Question: Given the tight confines on the back side of the engine, what technique works best for removing the plugwire boots from those pesky plugs without messing up the boot/wire?
Thanks for any clues.

[wiswind]

I grasp the boot part of the plug wire......and twist it ....turning it clockwise and counter clockwise on the spark plug......to break it free from the ceramic plug body.
Then....while continuing to twist.....I pull OUT on the plug boot.

Also.....I remove ONLY 1 plug wire at a time from the spark plug.......and from the coil pack.
It is hard to see......and only having 1 wire loose at a time prevents me from plugging the wires in wrong......SUPER easy to cross plug wires when more than 1 is disconnected at a time.

[Ed_Strong]

in my case the grabbing and twisting the wire boot didn't help as my plug wires turned into suction cups. I could feel them come off about a ¼ of an inch and as soon as I stop pulling to rest from the ackward positions I had to twist my arm, I could feel them go back in and sttle down in the plugs.

I had to use a spark plug wire puller (highly recommend it) and then used plenty of dielectric grease to put the wire back in place for future removal ease.

[tomt62]

Thanks for the tips. Did my '99 Windstar the other day. Sticker under
hood recommends .52 to .56 for the gap. Boy the old plugs were really worn.
Some were at .100. Anyway, I tried both methods for the rear plugs. Under the car for 2 & 3, and through the wheel well for #1. It was tight, and I needed
a boot puller for #1, but success at last. Also used the dielectric grease that
somebody mentioned.

Running like a top now.

[garync1]

I changed mine a while back and also the wires on my 2001. I removed the cowl and changed them under the van. I removed the cowl so i could get to the wires and coil easier..