Tuning up the beast

[Big House]

I have crossed the 100K line and need to tune up the mistress. I have turned a wrench or two so that is not a problem. The question I have is the tune-up a stright forward no frills operation? Any surprizes or things I should look for when engaged. Thanks.

House

[bob6364]

Search spark plugs on modular 03-04 Fords you DO NOT want to over torque those bad boys...for real!

other goodies

http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?t=56581&highlight=cabin+filter

[Paul T. Casey]

Some other areas you may want to service:

Fuel Injectors real easy to swap out, fairly cheap. They do wear out and get dirty after a while.

MAF Wouldn't hurt to soak it up good with CRC MAF cleaner.

Flange gaskets on your exhaust real cheap and easy.

Clean and re-oil air filter, or better yet, buy another, and swap and clean original at your leisure.

Since your doing plugs, unplug and check contacts on COPS. Maybe add a little distributor (di-electric) grease to the fittings.

Check coils (where they attach to plugs) for proper fit.

I got 200K on my drive belt, but check that anyway. Quite possibly the easiest serpentine belt I've ever changed.

Inspect all the wires up by the cowl for chafing. If minor chafing found, wrap with electrical tape.

[ctrlraven]

Not to hijack the thread but when I just did my plugs, two of the connectors that connect to the coils, their little lock tabs were broken off, they still fit snug and I secured them in the connectors but how can I go about replacing them? I'll have to double check and see if it was on the coil pack or the connector plug which piece was broken off. If it's on the coils that will be simple, just buy new or used coils lol but if its on the wiring that has me wondering how much needs to be replaced.

Big House, changing the plugs is easy as pie. Does the engine still have the factory plugs in it or have they been changed before?

[ImpalaSlayer]

Not to hijack the thread but when I just did my plugs, two of the connectors that connect to the coils, their little lock tabs were broken off, they still fit snug and I secured them in the connectors but how can I go about replacing them? I'll have to double check and see if it was on the coil pack or the connector plug which piece was broken off. If it's on the coils that will be simple, just buy new or used coils lol but if its on the wiring that has me wondering how much needs to be replaced.

Big House, changing the plugs is easy as pie. Does the engine still have the factory plugs in it or have they been changed before?


i would assume you could buy just the pigtail and replace it, Chris

[ctrlraven]

Never assume anything lol

[Blackened300a]

When I did the intake manifold swap on my CV, half the injector and coil clips snapped off. I just plugged them in and havent had any issues............... Yet.

[4play]

the coil cover pushes down on the coils when installed anyway so it makes no difference if those tabs are broke or not, it seels up either way.

[1stMerc]

The coils don't have clips the pigtail connector does. While it still seals pretty good connected to the cop, the biggest issue would be vibration working the connector loose. It won't come off since the wire is short enough to still apply pressure. Added insurance would be to apply a dab of black RTV gasket/sealer on top. Stays flexible and easily removed at next plug change. It can be dying while you work on replacing the rest of the plugs. Been running that way for three years on #2 cop with np.

[ctrlraven]

Thanks for the black RTV silicone idea, I'll have to do that.

[Big House]

Ctrlraven,

First change for me...bought her with 36 on the clock. 101 now.

[Blackened300a]

One more tip, Make sure the car is cold before you start pulling plugs out.

[ctrlraven]

^^^Yep and make sure you put a few light dabs of anti-seize on the threads of the new spark plugs along with some de-electric grease on the coil connector side tip of the spark plug and on the coil pack where the connector connects to.