What is the best way to change the rear spark plugs on a 1997 Ford Taurus 3.0 DOHC? Someone told me to remove the engine mounting bolts and tilt the engine while someone else told me to remove the upper Intake or plenum.
I always remove the upper intake plenum to get at the back plugs. And people wonder why the cost to replaced the plugs on these engines is so expensive.
Tester
This “feature” comes as standard equipment on traverse-mounted V6 & V8 engines…No extra charge…Yours are EASY compared to some…
how hard is it to remove the upper intake?
Sounds like you need a Haynes or Chiltons manual for your Taurus. It’s not hard to remove the upper plenum if you’re careful to take a photo beforehand, and not to drop anything down the intakes once it’s off. Put wide masking tape over the openings while you’re doing the plugs.
Here are the instructions from the autozone site:
[i]2. Remove the right hand side of the cowl vent screen and the right hand cowl top extension.
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Unplug the engine control sensor wiring from the ignition coil, then unfasten the four ignition coil hold-down screws and remove the coil so that access to the spark plugs located at cylinder 1, 2 and 3 is possible.
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Unplug the electrical connection from the Intake Manifold Runner Control (IMRC) actuator, unfasten the actuator retaining screws and lay the actuator to one side so that access to the sparks plugs at cylinders 4, 5 and 6 is possible.[/i]
Go to the site for the full instructions: http://www.autozone.com/autozone/repairinfo/repairguide/repairGuideContent.jsp?chapterTitle=Routine+Maintenance+And+Tune-up&partName=Spark+Plug+Wires&pageId=0900c1528025fd07&subChapterTitle=Spark+Plugs&partId=0900c1528025fd17 You may have to register (easy) there, first.