spark plug help ??

[olskoolcrownvic89]

so iam changing my spark plugs in the merc , and cant help but notice that this is sort of difficult .. anyone have have any hints , i kno what to do , just need to kno if anyone knos of a better way ?

[gadget73]

use a plug socket with the built in flex joint at the top and an extension. #8 seems to be easiest with a plain socket and no extension. #1 you have to learn to see with your hands since its under the AC compressor, but the flex socket and an 8" or so extension makes fairly easy work of it.

[olskoolcrownvic89]

ok thanks

[86VickyLX]

Don't do it while the engine is hot lol. You'll be burning and cursing at it on the passenger side. Drivers side you can pull the air cleaner and air cleaner bracket off to get to the plugs on that side easily. If you have the stock air box that is.

[mrltd]

Tough? LOL.

a universal and a few different extensions is all you need.

Try doing a late model camaro, or just about any Gm product

[86VickyLX]

Tough? LOL.

a universal and a few different extensions is all you need.

Try doing a late model camaro, or just about any Gm product

They fuckin suck to work on.

[fordktpjoe]

I had to jack mine up, pull the wheel, and go in from the wheel well to do the two rear plugs on the passenger side...and it was still a most righteous BITCH!

If those hoses, I think they're for the thermactor maybe? weren't in the way, it'd be MUCH easier.

And that silly assed valve on the heater hose with the two vacuum lines and the electrical connector (ATC) was constantly in the way too, I'd eliminate it and re-route my heater hoses if I didn't think it'd screw up my heating/cooling system. They're WAY too close to the manifold for my tastes. The plastic on the valve was actually melted a bit. Still works though.

[85MercPark]

Did I read some where that some model f150 had to have the motor pulled?


I remember my 77 cobra 2 was a pain to do...

[gadget73]

I had to jack mine up, pull the wheel, and go in from the wheel well to do the two rear plugs on the passenger side...and it was still a most righteous BITCH!

If those hoses, I think they're for the thermactor maybe? weren't in the way, it'd be MUCH easier.

And that silly assed valve on the heater hose with the two vacuum lines and the electrical connector (ATC) was constantly in the way too, I'd eliminate it and re-route my heater hoses if I didn't think it'd screw up my heating/cooling system. They're WAY too close to the manifold for my tastes. The plastic on the valve was actually melted a bit. Still works though.

Get rid of all that BS, problem solved. The stupid thing in the heater hose serves no really useful function. Connect the electrical wires together, seal off the vacuum ones, problem solved. The thermactor is a useless system as well, and if you don't have an in depth visual inspection you can get rid of that.

Trust me, these things even with all the smog plumbing in place are easier than GM G and F body cars, and probably the Mark VII as well. Those rubber hoses you can just shove out of the way, its not that bad.

[fordktpjoe]

Get rid of all that BS, problem solved. The stupid thing in the heater hose serves no really useful function. Connect the electrical wires together, seal off the vacuum ones, problem solved. The thermactor is a useless system as well, and if you don't have an in depth visual inspection you can get rid of that.

No visual inspection here, no sniffer tests either.

Believe me, if I didn't think I'd TOTALLY screw something up, that crap would already be offa there!

I look at that mess under there and I think I'd rather french kiss a rattlesnake than to tangle with all that.

The heater hose doo hickey sounds easy enough though.......

Oh, and to get back on topic, I had a buddy with a V8 Chevy Monza back in high school. Had to pull a motor mount bolt and jack the engine up a few inches to get to a couple plugs on that thing.

[85crownHPP]

stock box panther plugs are about a 4 out of 10 on the difficulty scale, 10 being impossible.

[The5.0]

If I'm correct, it took me about 20 or so odd minutes to remove one of the rear two on the passenger's side. I'm sure it would've been faster with the proper tools, but seeing as all I've got is my trusty old little black craftsman box, it became a time consuming process of one, maybe two ratchets at a time.

[86GmLsCoupe]

I've only done plugs on my Mercury but they didn't seem all that difficult, however all my smog stuff is gone so that does help things out some. The passenger was a little tougher but still not bad. My car passes NJ's visual cat and sniffer inspection perfectly fine without the airpump. On a funny note, my brother had to remove a partially remove motor mount on his fiance's Malibu to change the serp belt the other day. All in all I think these car are designs pretty user friendly.