Spark plug help!!

Discussion in 'General Discussions' started by JDHooker, May 19, 2011.

  1. JDHooker

    JDHooker Full Access Member

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    Ok, so I have been reading about changing my plugs on my 04 5.4, and I've been doing a lot of reading about them breaking and being a pain to do. I got the plugs today, pulled the first one, and it was an Autolite one piece plug. I was happy, because I assumed the previous owner changed them, and it may not be as tough as I thought it would be.

    The first three came right out with a 9/16 deep well socket, but when I got to the fourth one, my socket wouldn't go on it. I blew the hole out good, and I'm pretty sure there is no trash in it. I tried a 5/8 and a 15mm, and neither of them fit. If this plug wasn't changed before, will I need a special socket for the oem plug? Will a 9/16 deep well socket not fit it? I have seen the special socket that is used on these engines that is a deep socket with an extension made into it, but I thought a regular socket would work, since it worked on the Autolite plugs. Any help here guys? I'm scared that I have more problems ahead of me with this job. Thanks a lot in advance for any help.

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  2. JDHooker

    JDHooker Full Access Member

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    Has anybody ever seen a different size plug used in these trucks with a helicoil? After fighting this plug for the last 24 hours, I believe it has some type of helicoil in it, and it looks like it will take a 1/2" or 13mm socket to get the plug out. Any help is really appreciated.

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  3. twstdstng

    twstdstng Member

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    I have never seen a 5.4 3valve that needed to be helicoiled, but anythings possible?
     
  4. rrogers

    rrogers Supporting Member

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    be sure that you get all the trash out. i too thought i had this problem but it had trash in it
     
  5. JDHooker

    JDHooker Full Access Member

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    Man, I made a homemade hole saw out of a piece of copper pipe, and worked at it for two hours, but the tooth got stuck on something in the same place every time and it would not budge either way. That is what has me thinking that something else is my problem.

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  6. rrogers

    rrogers Supporting Member

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    very interesting. i had a terrible time with one cylinder and turned out it was packed with trash
     
  7. JDHooker

    JDHooker Full Access Member

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    Okay, so I got all of the plugs out and found thet the previous owner changed all but the back plug on each side. Both of them broke on me, but I got the other 6 changed out without a problem. I am planning on picking up an extractor tool tomorrow, but I expect to have a hard time with the two plugs because they are at the back, and I won't be able to see what I am working on. As you can see in the picture, the porcelain broke on one o fthem, but the other one just pulled apart and the small metal piece in the middle was the only thing that came out. Will the extractor tool work for me? Thanks a lot for the help.

    [​IMG]
     
  8. rrogers

    rrogers Supporting Member

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    Damn that sucks and the back ones are a *****
     
  9. JDHooker

    JDHooker Full Access Member

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    Yeah, I know man. Do you think the extractor tool will work on them?

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  10. rrogers

    rrogers Supporting Member

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    Oh yeah for sure just be harder to do
     

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