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spark plugs

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Posted by: ibanez7th

I have a V8 and I changed 4 of the plugs on Friday and didn't get around to finishing the rest. The car drove fine on Saturday. On Sunday the car seemed to misfire a little. More of a rough idle. On Sunday evening I changed the other 4 plugs. When I turned the car on the car idled roughly and the check engine light came on. I am lost now. I made sure I connected everything back and didn't disconnect anything else. Everything seems fine. I put BOSCH plugs in the car. I took four of the BOSCH out and put the 4 of the originals back in to see if that made a difference and it didn't. Any ideas??? I do not want to take the car to a mechanic. Much help is appreciated!!!!!!!! It is a V8 LS.

Posted by: Dead President

hate to say this but switch out all ur bosch plugs for motorcraft. i dont have the part number but any dealer should have it. i installed(just routine maintenance) mine the beginning of this year and still runs smooth. nothing but problems with other brands, just what ive read on this forum. also, i forget the gap but its on a sticker somewhere under the hood

give it a shot

Posted by: mholhut

I've been running Bosch platinums for over two years... no problems.

As for your rough idle... you still may want to double check the electrical connections to the COP's. On one of my plug changes, I was quite certain that I securred all the electrical connections, and the car still a misfire. I found that one of the connections wasn't snapped all the way, hence the misfire. Either that, or the COP isn't seated properly on the plug, which is unusual, but may happen.

Posted by: 2001LS8Sport

I have been told by no less than 4 different dealers that they have had drivablility issues with Bosch plugs...and in fact there was a letter out regarding that. Get the Motorcraft plugs and see if your problem doesn't disappear.

Posted by: ibanez7th

I went to Auto Zone and was told that Bosch spark plugs don't work well in the lincoln ls. I was recommended Champion. So I go home and put those in and the car works fine. No misfiring whatsoever. I still have the check enging light on but was told I would have to disconnect the battery to reset that.

Posted by: TheRebel

I tried Bosch once and they lasted 4 hours in my Mustang. I don't think very highly of them. It was rumored a while back that their platinums were prone to the tips breaking off and scarring the cylinder walls. I know your using champions now, which are a good plug but next time go with the motorcraft, autolite, or ngks for the LS. I think we discussed here once that NGK makes the replacement motorcraft and autolite plugs for the LS. I hope disconnecting your battery for awhile clears the check engine light.

Posted by: Osaín

I put bosch in my '98 Explorer once and they didn't do well either. However, they did great in my '86 Cutlass. I think OEM is the way to go with today's vehicles.

Posted by: ibanez7th

I did want the original but nobody carried them. They had to be special ordered and I needed them right away. I guess I could have gone to the dealership but they might have tried to con me into having them do it.

Posted by: Dead President

con you into installing something? i've never had any dealer do that? in the parts department thats what they are there for, TO SELL YOU PARTS. i've never been offered a quote to get anything installed

now if you try to buy parts at a lube shop, i could see why.

Posted by: ir1680

i can't speak for the ls, however i've pulled way too many dead bosch plugs out of other peoples cars over the years to ever use them. they are the only plugs i've ever seen burnt all the way down at their own recommended change interval. down with bosch... my factory plugs say ngk and motorcraft.

Posted by: mrzeee

I dont see how a dealer has to special order spark plugs??? it just totally freaks me out!! I think the guy just dont want to be bothered. If they charged you retail ($10.73) that is great money. The local distributor makes severals deliverys a day to the dealers and they all stock that part number. I have a few but could get 96 in an hour or less. Oh well more for me!!

Anyway the part number for the (V-8) motorcraft is AGSP-32F-SM (AKA #SP468) and LVC cost would be 4.76 each plus ups.
Max

Posted by: lseguy

When I had my valve cover gaskets replaced late last year at the Ford dealer..the service manager said he usually doesn't use Bosch, because they havent had "good luck" with them. But he agreed to use them, since I bought them in. (Bosch platinums).

8k miles or so later..the V8 is running just fine. Being a former BMW owner, I had become accustomed to Bosch quality.

Works for me.

Posted by: joshluvsla

Hummm is the spark plug swap hard to do? If so where do you guys recommend it should be done? and whats a fair price? I am going to buy the stock ones on team ford

Posted by: NateRW21

Quote:

Originally Posted by joshluvsla

Hummm is the spark plug swap hard to do? If so where do you guys recommend it should be done? and whats a fair price? I am going to buy the stock ones on team ford

Spark plugs are not hard to change; especially on the LS. I've also got an F-150 and to be honest, it was three times harder to change the plugs on that than on the LS. Just removed the center COP cover that is set into the cam cover (valve cover), one screw holding the Coil On Plug in place... pull up the COP, check for oil... blow out and dibris with compressed air. Pull the old plug, gap new plug, apply anti seize to threads, install plug, apply dielectric grease to inside of plug boot, reinstall COP (ensure it is fully seat onto plug). Then repeat 7 more times. If you're slow it won't take more than 2 hours. And it requires nothing more than a set of combination wrenches, 3/8" drive socket set (with plug socket), gaping tool, anti-seize, dielectric grease and a little time.

The back two screws on the left side cover (driver's side) will be your only hang up; they're pretty close to the brake booster so you've got to use an open end or box end wrench.

Posted by: Jim Henderson

I have never had good luck with Bosch parts including plugs and windshield wipers and who knows what else. Just don't seem to last as long, so much for fine German craftsmanship, heck most of them are made by Turkish or Middle Eastern immigrants anyway from what I have read.

There are some premium brand names that just don't stand up to their reputation. At least in my experience, Bosch is one of them.

Anyway, make sure all your connections are secure and clean. Also check to make sure you didn't break any wires going into connectors and such.

I have had good experiences with Champions, NGK and Autolite and Motorcraft. If I can, I try to get plugs that have a chrome plating or are shiney metal. The black colored plugs work fine but seem to have more rusting problems, and you don't want rusting problems with Aluminum heads. You might even consider a dab or antisieze on the threads.

Good Luck,

Jim Henderson

Posted by: NickLS

Josh, it depends on the LS.. If you have a V8.. on a scale from 1-10 it's about a 5. If you have a V6, then it's an 8

Posted by: joshluvsla

cool thanks guys!

Posted by: mrzeee

Hi all
I guess I need to make clear about the part number for the plugs I posted. I did not know the year of IBANEZ's car and ASSUMED it was a later model...my bad. This is the correct info for the "LS V-8" early and late...sorry for any confusion. Please notice the cut off dates.

12405 Spark Plug
>16-Jul-2001/13-Apr-2006;
AGSP-32F-SM
Motorcraft(SP468)

>22-Mar-1999/16-Jul-2001;
AGSP-32F
Motorcraft(SP467)

The V-6 listing is listed below as well

>18-Nov-2002/13-Apr-2006;
AGSF-22F-SMF4

>22-Mar-1999/18-Nov-2002;
AGSF-32-FSF6

>01-Mar-2001/18-Nov-2002;
AGSF-32F-SM
Motorcraft(SP470)

Posted by: joshluvsla

hey the plugs come gaped already right?

Posted by: Jim Henderson

Yes and no. Usually they come pre gapped but 2 problems.

1) if it is a plug that fits many cars, the gap may be wrong for yours.

2) If the box gets dropped, the gap may change to the smaller end of the range. I have had one or two plugs come to me with the electrodes almost touching.

So check the gap, it only takes a second.

BTW, had an interesting warranty experience last week. Was having a spark misfire problem. After a couple weeks of trail and error and the factory stepping in the factory rep said it was the NGK spark plugs in the engine which "aren't stock". Duh, turns out Ford does use NGK in the V8. But interesting the factory guy was blaming plugs. Either a smoke screen to deny my warranty or they have been having too much sensitivity to plugs.

Jim Henderson