Taking off spark plug cover?

[slapbassist]

Hey guys - new here and to start off I own a 2000 Lincoln LS v8 with about 124k miles. Got her at about 90k miles and over all it has been a pretty decent car other than having to change the spark plugs and coil packs once before about a year ago.

Last year when it had to be done, I only had to change one of the 1-4 plugs which essentially wasn't too difficult after removing the intake - but this year coil #7 went out and all I can really say is it has been somewhat of a hassle.

I started off with only a 1/2 socket drive and a 3/8 socket drive with a 1/4 extender to take off the bolts over the sparkplug casing. Found out I could only get the easy bolts off that way so I went and bought me a 1/4 drive wratchet as well. Things have gone pretty smooth since other than the very last bolt - just can't get that sucker off. It's the bolt that is the very far back, bottom bolt. I've tried getting it off a little bit but it seems atleast as of yet, that I'll need to take out the brake booster because I just don't have quite enough room to squeeze the 7mm bit plus wratchet in there with any sort of room for it to fully fit over the bolt.

What I'm asking is, if the brake booster needs to come out to get these bolts off, how do I go about doing so without breaking anything (its about 20 degrees here so I notice that some plastic connecters become more brittle than flexible), OR if that bolt is available to get off without really taking anything out on the driver-side casing, could I please get some tips on being able to do so? If needed, I can take a few pictures with my phone to give a better idea, but I have a feeling most of you folks have done this and are probably chuckling at a little tip or trick I happen to be missing lol. Any help would be much appreciated .

Thanks, Skylar

[Scrapper]

when you get into this you eather do it the hard way or loosen top moter mount in front and pry the moter forwards to get to it the easy way if i'm thinking rite.

[slapbassist]

Ah woof. Easy way by loosing the top motor mount and moving it forward? Ah I'm starting to think this LS wasn't the best buy in my book in regards to not having much money. I have to admit the only tools I have are flathead/phillips screwdriver, hammer, and a wratchet/socket set from 1/4 to 1/2 drives and all mm/inch sockets to fit. This endeavor has gone pretty well except for that last daggum bolt by the brake booster, and I'm hoping once that puppy comes off the rest shouldn't be too bad.

Do you think upon replacing the boot, should I get a new gasket in terms of the cover-plate? As far as I know theres no real problems with it though I haven't been able to check in yet to see if theres a reservoir of oil or not down there, but assuming not - is it one of those gaskets that needs to be replaced once sealed/opened (once put on, tighetened down on top, and then taken back off) like I know head gaskets, etc. are? Or hopefully I ought to be good to go?

I've tried searching a little bit on here through the forums, and thus far it seems like the only solution as for my problem is I ought to get a 7mm gear wrench. You guys think that'll fit no problem? Because it looks like it would have to do a little curve or something the way it all looks, or I just gotta be flexible with my fingers. Good thing I'm a musician! haha. Thanks all

[Scrapper]

Originally Posted by slapbassist

Ah woof. Easy way by loosing the top motor mount and moving it forward? Ah I'm starting to think this LS wasn't the best buy in my book in regards to not having much money. I have to admit the only tools I have are flathead/phillips screwdriver, hammer, and a wratchet/socket set from 1/4 to 1/2 drives and all mm/inch sockets to fit. This endeavor has gone pretty well except for that last daggum bolt by the brake booster, and I'm hoping once that puppy comes off the rest shouldn't be too bad.

Do you think upon replacing the boot, should I get a new gasket in terms of the cover-plate? As far as I know theres no real problems with it though I haven't been able to check in yet to see if theres a reservoir of oil or not down there, but assuming not - is it one of those gaskets that needs to be replaced once sealed/opened (once put on, tighetened down on top, and then taken back off) like I know head gaskets, etc. are? Or hopefully I ought to be good to go?

I've tried searching a little bit on here through the forums, and thus far it seems like the only solution as for my problem is I ought to get a 7mm gear wrench. You guys think that'll fit no problem? Because it looks like it would have to do a little curve or something the way it all looks, or I just gotta be flexible with my fingers. Good thing I'm a musician! haha. Thanks all

no if it looks good to you i wouldn't replace the gasket unless they have it in stock and you don't trust it?

[slapbassist]

Ah alright, just making sure and thank you for the tip How difficult is it to "lift the engine" while loosening the top motor bolt? I live just by myself with my mom who is disabled, so in terms of getting help for it, essentially I'm by myself when it comes to doing anything physical in regards to that, so if I need a cherry picker - looks like I'm outta luck haha. Do you have a 3.9V8 LS? If so and you've changed the spark plugs, how did you manage to get the plugs for 5-8 out, or rather the plate on top?

[Scrapper]

you don't have a friend to help you for a minute? you could try a 2x4 in back by firewall but watch where you put it make sure everything is clear that you prying on. shouldn't take but a minute to get plug out if you got everything ready. theres no room to get to it by taking wheel off is there you may want to take a look?

[slapbassist]

Negative. Don't have the highest number of friends haha, and I have one thats in town from the Marines, but he just had ankle surgury so is probably not the best to help me - and I have my brother across town, but he's been blowing me off so I'm stuck to myself haha. I don't understand what you mean to take off the wheel and take a look?

[Scrapper]

Originally Posted by slapbassist

Negative. Don't have the highest number of friends haha, and I have one thats in town from the Marines, but he just had ankle surgury so is probably not the best to help me - and I have my brother across town, but he's been blowing me off so I'm stuck to myself haha. I don't understand what you mean to take off the wheel and take a look?

i was just wandering if you take left front wheel off and have enough room to wiggle your hand and socket in there to remove plug? if not your going to have to pry moter forwards unless someone can tell you a easier way?


good luck...

scrapper...

[joegr]

With the right wrenches, you can remove the cover and the coil without removing any components or moving the engine (it's still a pain though).

[danielsatur]

7mm(Open end/ box end) mini ratchet works great for COP covers.

3/8'' ratchet wrench, 3/8'' extenshion, and 3/8'' universal joint socket adapter, and a 3/8'' Long socket for Spark plug removal.

Note- Iridium spark plugs should last 100kmiles.
Visual inspect for oil, and rust(water) contamintaion on old plugs, this could cause a misfire.

[slapbassist]

Alright. Managed to finally get that last bolt off - sucks I keep having to get new tools since I'm so low on money... Got the plate off after a little finagling, and got the cool pack off....

Theres oil on the coilpack - as far as I could tell, there wasn't any leaking coming through the casing, and theres no oil on top. Just inside of the sparkplug hole to my own surprise. I pray the coil can still be used. There was oil around the outside rubber casing, and a tiny bit on the inside of the coil, but luckily not enough to reach the inside of the little metal on the inside of the coil - only about a quarter-3/8'' on the inside but I cleaned it out so I hope and pray it should be good to go.

But now I went to check the spark plug and there was a decent bit of oil down there. Took a screw driver with a paper towel around it to try dabbing it all up. Got a decent little bit out so atleast the coil made a good seal around the sparkplug in terms of the oil around it.

Finally got about as much as I could get with the screwdriver/paper towel combo (actually the blue shop towelettes), and I put the spark plug-bit with extension down there and more oil globbed around it, so I dabbed it in there 3 times thus far and theres less and less oil coming out, but still there is oil coming out.

Any more efficient methods of getting it out? I really hope I don't have to get me a u-joint connector, but atleast if I do it will be useful for if I ever have to do it again. I got a 2 or 3'' extender with the 3/8 drive wrench cause I do notice with it and the sparkplug bit down the whole, it roundabout comes out flush with 1/4 inch or so above the circle in the hole.

So hopefully you guys could get all the questions answered that I posed in there. If not, I suppose roundabout what is your opinion on the coil-pack and usability? Is this the norm of how it ought to be or not? What are the efficient ways of getting the oil that is down in the sparkplug hole aroun the plug out? Is it a necessity that I get the 3/8'' u-joint to be able to get it out? Thanks guys for all the replies.

Skylar

EDIT: for any of those that are possibly going through the same problem that I went through earlier in trying to get it off - dude above is right just get a normal 7mm open wrench. I got the 7mm gear wrench with the open side and geared closed end. Completely useless with the gear because I couldn't fit my hand to put it into position where it would be of use, so I just mm'ed it out with the open end and got that puppy to come off. Thanks again

[danielsatur]

1) Use CRC Electric cleaner to clean plug, COP, and spark plug boss.

Your spark plug boss seal is leaking oil, which will cause a misfire.

2) Remove all plugs on Bank 2(cylinders 5-8), do another inspection on all plugs, and COP's?

How many Spark plug boss seals are leaking?

If only 1 boss , make a condom, and use dielectric grease to help prevent the leaky spark plug boss seal from misfires.

If >2 ,Need new Spark plug boss seals and valve cover gasket.

[slapbassist]

I have to ask, what is a "CRC electric cleaner"? Which is the spark plug boss seal? Sorry I'm a mechanical newbie when it comes to this, but would you say this would be achievable to do by morning time? And how much in extra parts $ wise would you say it would cost to get all these things? Got probation early in the morning that I can't reschedule atleast I'm done with all the crap that got me in trouble so in the future I won't have to deal with little bits like that. Thanks for the quick replies man

[danielsatur]

CRC Electrical cleaner canbe bought at any local Auto parts store, it's used to clean electrical parts.

The Spark plug boss seals, are sealed in the valve cover, these seals keep the oil from getting into the spark plug boss.

Are you just getting one misfire?

[slapbassist]

Originally Posted by danielsatur

CRC Electrical cleaner canbe bought at any local Auto parts store, it's used to clean electrical parts.

The Spark plug boss seals, are sealed in the valve cover, these seals keep the oil from getting into the spark plug boss.

Are you just getting one misfire?

How much should I expect getting the CRC cleaner price wise?

So the boss seals are NOT the valve cover or anything to do with that, but something along the coil packs?

Yeah it was only the #7 misfiring. Took it to autozone and they did a code check and thats what it came up, though I do have to admit from before the CEL came on, it didn't stutter bad, where as now that it is on, I got it checked, and though it isn't a furious misfire, but it is definitely noticable - more so when light-heavy on the throttle (basically when I bog it down to accellerate, I either have to punch the throttle to get it going and then just lightly go on the gas to keep it going. If I semi-heavy press on the throttle where its inbetween those two points, thats when it misfires, or atleast stutters the most). I guess I'm headed to the auto store to get me the 3/8 u-joint. I don't take it the CRC cleaner is under 10-20 bucks is it? lol

EDIT: just googled the CRC electric cleaner - see atleast online it was only all of about 8 bucks. How does one use it? Just spray down the hole and it basically completely dissipates all the oil down there? Or do I spray it down there, let it settle, and put something down there to get back up the residue? Thanks amigo