Chevyguy
03-20-2011, 07:56 PM
Just passing 62,700 on my 04 and Started getting some stutter at low rpm/load even stalled a few times. Idled fine and had plenty of power still. Reminded me of my 01 Vic where the coils got rusty and gave weak spark but never set any misfire codes.
Figured I would change the plugs and inspect the coils and start from there...
Pulled the pass side cover off, and someone had used nearly a tube of RTV to seal where the wire harness leads into the back of the coil cavity. I remembered that the Carfax listed one coil being replaced back at 20K miles. Sure enough the #4 coil was different still OEM FORD. The Coil cover was grubby inside and rust staining around#4. The Coils were clean, springs etc but the #4 plug had rusty threads and the top electrode. This plug had no green dot like the others (those had to have been factory Installed) The Dealer recorded this service and some doufus made the thing leak by over-applying the sealant. Must have replaced the plug and coil as they noted the car had a misfire code.
The Drivers side was clearly never opened before and was clean as a whistle. The #8 plug did have some rust on the threads all the others were pretty good. All the plug bores were clean and dry not one molecule of oil had leaked past the O rings between the Valve cover and heads.
I would not recommend leaving the original plugs in there too much past my Mileage/age. They came out ok but the car runs SO MUCH better now with a fresh set of Autolite APP 104's. I will check the gap, but the electrodes were all clean enough not visually worn to heck. Wally World had two packs of the APP 104's for $7.55. I put a dab of Anti-sieze on the threads (flame on)
I will order up a new set of the coil cover seals, the pass side was somewhat grungy. I will need to replace the Coil connectors at least 3 cracked the tab even with gentle removal That will be fun.
Figured I would change the plugs and inspect the coils and start from there...
Pulled the pass side cover off, and someone had used nearly a tube of RTV to seal where the wire harness leads into the back of the coil cavity. I remembered that the Carfax listed one coil being replaced back at 20K miles. Sure enough the #4 coil was different still OEM FORD. The Coil cover was grubby inside and rust staining around#4. The Coils were clean, springs etc but the #4 plug had rusty threads and the top electrode. This plug had no green dot like the others (those had to have been factory Installed) The Dealer recorded this service and some doufus made the thing leak by over-applying the sealant. Must have replaced the plug and coil as they noted the car had a misfire code.
The Drivers side was clearly never opened before and was clean as a whistle. The #8 plug did have some rust on the threads all the others were pretty good. All the plug bores were clean and dry not one molecule of oil had leaked past the O rings between the Valve cover and heads.
I would not recommend leaving the original plugs in there too much past my Mileage/age. They came out ok but the car runs SO MUCH better now with a fresh set of Autolite APP 104's. I will check the gap, but the electrodes were all clean enough not visually worn to heck. Wally World had two packs of the APP 104's for $7.55. I put a dab of Anti-sieze on the threads (flame on)
I will order up a new set of the coil cover seals, the pass side was somewhat grungy. I will need to replace the Coil connectors at least 3 cracked the tab even with gentle removal That will be fun.