Spark Plugs

[lonnie]

I know this has been done before but the pictures for that have been taken out, and I am going to be doing this soon so I thought I would post it for those wanting to know. Here is the link to follow that will give you a basic idea as to thow to change them. Note that there are no tools given so you will have to figure that out, unless someone knows the tool sizes and etc. Hopes this helps
http://www.freeengineinfo.com/car-wont-go-it-shakes.htm

Side Note: Here are a few things I think you need
1) Spark plug socket
2) 13mm socket (cam cover)
3) 8mm for battery terminal
4) Needle nose pliers or vice grips for boots
5) Of course 4 spark plugs
6) A ratchet set with the above mentioned sockets with various extensions.
7) If you have a question as to what these tools are then let a professional handle it.

[lonnie]

Ok so I changed my spark plugs yesterday on the 2.4L and I got to say that it isn't that bad. First of course I took off the Coil Cover (the thing with the 2.4L Twin Cam written on it looks like this.
3054
Now to get it out you have to remove the ingnition harness connected to it, and I found it easier to loosen the nut to the line clamp of the high pressure lines that run over the harness...just so you can move them alittle, and I took my oil cap off, and took the two black lines that run over the passenger side of the cover and bent them out of the way...not enough to break them but enough to get some clearence to take the cover out. After all that is said and done you should end up like this3055.....if all of the boots (the black pieces at the bottom) don't come up when you take off the cover don't dispare because I used some channel locks to rock them back and fourth to get them out. Warning: be very careful when taking the boots out because depending on how old they are you could very well leave a piece in the spark plug locations...I did this and spent 15 min trying to get a little piece from out of there the it dawned on me to just vacum it out so I got lucky on that one. Now you will see the spark plugs sitting down in there like this......3056....next is simple I think take the spark plugs out one at a time and replace with a new one after applying anti seize on it and making sure the gap is within spec. The spec should be on one of the strut towers under the hood if not then the spec should be .060 but I left mine at .050 and I have not had any problems. Torque on the plugs should be 13lbs. Now with all that done I pulled my boots off and looked at the springs in there and found that they had been compressed after being in there so long, so I took needle nose pliers and took them out to stretch them out....I did that for all of them and I placed them back in the spark plug holes with the clips facing the front of the car, belive me unless you want to take a whole lot of crap off this is the easiest way to get the cover back on..the reason being that once you put the boots back on and try replace the cover you will find that it will not be easy to manuever it. Now all is said and done so just tighted the cover back down, and replace the harness and fire her up. Good luck and I hope this helps a little. I did this job for the first time in an Hr after work so its not that bad.

Tools is pretty much the same as above
13mm to take the cover off
5/8 socket to take the plugs out
channel locks in case you have to take the boots out
needle nose pliers to stretch the springs out if needed
Anti-Seize to the threads of the new plugs
A gapping tool for the gap of the plugs..I found that mine came out of the bax set at .050, and I went with that.
You also need the plugs of course...I went with the Champion plugs
You also need extensions to clear the engine when taking them out of the holes.
Once you get the plugs loose you can easily reach in there with your hand and pull them out. Don't be doped into buying those high as spark plug sockets for this engine they aren't needed.