mself52

if you guys are like me when you look at the engine when your about to change the spark plugs it looks very intimidating and looks hard... but in reality its very simple and takes bout an hour to 90 mins to change them with the right tools and a little direction... so i figured id do a write up for you guys....


to start with you DO NOT have to remove the fuel rail.... the only thing that you need to remove is the air intake from the throttle body...this is so you can get to the number 3 plug that is right under it...

tools needed include:
1) 5/8" spark plug socket
2) 6" extension
3) 9/32" socket
4) small tube of anti seize


now here is a picture with what you will actually be removing

you remove that small 9/32" bolt and that allows you to pull the coil from the plug hole it might be stuck good so just wiggle it around and pull but it will pop out...the only plug that you need to unhook the harness from the coil is on the number 4 plug which is on the passenger side at the back next to the firewall....its too much of an angle to bend the coil and get it back in without unhooking the harness...

after removing the coil this is what it looks like


and this is where the spark plug is

now before removing the spark plug if you look inside the hole there will be alot of debris that you should blow out with either canned air or a air compressor....

now that the plug is out take your new plug and put a few dabs of anti seize on the threads and smear it on all the threads... then wipe the excess off with a towel... now put the new plug in... hand tighten it and then snug it but DO NOT over tighten it because this is aluminum and will strip if you try and torque it too much... just snug it and then a slight bit tighter

now put the end of the coil back in the hole and wiggle it around while pressing down untill it is back in place and the bolt hole should line up and you put the bolt back in....

repeat on all plugs....


TIPS:
if you remove any of the fuel injector harness please becareful there is a little red gasket inside each plug so if it falls out make sure you put it back in before moving on.... and on the number 4 plug do yourself a favor and remove the coil plug and the fuel injector plug to give you room and so that when you goto put the coil back in over the plug you can manevuer it back in....

hope this helps and good luck

GreyStang

Great writeup mself! [sm=smiley20.gif] & good timing too, I'm probably gonna be changing the plugs on my '02 GT in the next week or so, and thought for SURE the fuel rail needs to come off

Do you need a special plug wrench to grab it from inside that deep hole?

rbstang

yes its called a 5/8 spark plug socket it has a lil rubber thingy inside that grabs the spark plug.

dont forget to have a 1/4 drive swivel socket. i needed one..

Preliudas

THNX dude, that was helpful... gonna do it right away

StickShifty

should go in the How Too section

Acer2428

Already done, nukka!