2003 Ford Taurus-Tune Up Inquiry

[FordBoss88]

I wish to replace the spark plugs. The front seem easy, how do you access the rear plugs?

Thank You,

FB

[UsedtobeSmart]

Originally Posted by FordBoss88

I wish to replace the spark plugs. The front seem easy, how do you access the rear plugs?

Thank You,

FB

Carefully. Ha ha. Seriously, though, if you have big hands, good luck. The hardest part is getting the boots off and back on, actually, because the rest can be done easily enough with a wobble socket and an extender bar for your ratchet. Some people have luck jacking the engine up a bit so the rear bank is a bit more accessable, but I've never tried it.

On my old Lumina the best bet was to drop the alternator, but that was on the rear of the engine and on the Taurus it's on the front. I've heard horror stories of people having to take the intake manifold off. Save that as a last resort.

It'd help if you'd list if it's the DOHC or OHV engine. The only thing my repair manual has to say on the subject (though it conks out at 2001) is that "On OHC engines, the spark plugs are accesible through th evalve covers, between the camshafts". Therefore I'd say that for specific advice we'd need to know if it's the Vulcan or Duratec engine.

Good luck!

[FordBoss88]

The engine is a Duratec OHV. There has to be some reasonably easy way to replace the back plugs.

Thank You,

FB

[way2old]

Lay over either fender and see which side allows you to reach back there easiest. It is easier coming in from the side instead of directly over the top.

[Millermagic]

When I changed my sparkplugs (vulcan), I found it was easiest to put my knees around the hood latch area. The passengerside rear plug is easy this way. To get the drivers side plug and the middle plug out, I unhooked the IAC and TPS wires. It was actually pretty easy.

The vulcan is ohv
The duratec is dohc