What did you do to the expy today

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Mikes05expy

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I went from this......


To this......


The valve stem gave out about halfway into work. The bright side is the new tire will be here tomorrow.

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Man I thought you were gonna say you got jacked lol.

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01yellerCobra

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Man I thought you were gonna say you got jacked lol.

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Thankfully no. I was able to spend my lunch break swapping tires though. I really appreciated my hydraulic jack and inpact after that.

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ExpeditionAndy

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I took my Expedition to the dealer to get some leaks fixed. Had a leak at the left rear axle that I was aware of and found out that I had a few more so I'm having them taken care of as well. I get the truck back on Monday.
 

Lightnig

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Started to change the #3 and 4 plugs and COPS to resolve the 0304 codes I've been getting, but found my hand is too big, my arm is too short, and can't see.

Even after removing the battery, moving the heater hoses and various wiring out of the way I can almost see what I am doing until I get my hand in there. Once my hand is in far enough to almost touch the #4 COP, I can't see anymore and can't actually move my hand enough to actually do anything.

WTF? :boxed:

What kind of mutant alien was this designed to accommodate to change the rear plugs? I figure if my hand were half as big, with an arm half as thick and twice as long with an extra wrist, had another couple of elbows and a pair of eyeballs on my knuckles, then I could get in there and maybe change the COP...

:gayflag:

Can someone please tell me what Ford was thinking?





Since that effort was full of fail, I instead changed the lame 55w bulbs in my driving lights for a set of 100w's. Need to re-aim the lights now, maybe tonight once it gets dark enough.
 
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toms89

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Started to change the #3 and 4 plugs and COPS to resolve the 0304 codes I've been getting, but found my hand is too big, my arm is too short, and can't see.

Even after removing the battery, moving the heater hoses and various wiring out of the way I can almost see what I am doing until I get my hand in there. Once my hand is in far enough to almost touch the #4 COP, I can't see anymore and can't actually move my hand enough to actually do anything.

WTF? :boxed:

What kind of mutant alien was this designed to accommodate to change the rear plugs? I figure if my hand were half as big, with an arm half as thick and twice as long with an extra wrist, had another couple of elbows and a pair of eyeballs on my knuckles, then I could get in there and maybe change the COP...

:gayflag:

Can someone please tell me what Ford was thinking?





Since that effort was full of fail, I instead changed the lame 55w bulbs in my driving lights for a set of 100w's. Need to re-aim the lights now, maybe tonight once it gets dark enough.


Kind of hard to make accessible spark plugs when half the motor is under the cowl.. :(

Guess they could have move the motor forward more making the vehicle longer and/or sacrifice the weight balance/ wheel base. I agree it's a pita but not sure how they could improve it under the circumstance. It's all in the priorities of the designer I suppose.

"Can someone please tell me what Ford was thinking?"

Certainly was not sparkplug accessibility! LOL
 
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IMINYOURCHAIR

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I finally Investigated the right rear door window not lowering issue. Turns out the clips are glued in with silicone. now they have JB weld ;) took me forever to get the glass back in, wish I didn't have to remove it but it made it easier to prep the glass for the jb weld.

today I will try to get to running a wire from the acc delay relay to the turn on wire to the radio so it stays on until i open the door when I turn off the engine.

I want to just find a wire to pull from but so far all I found is the one going to the drivers door. which is on the door side of the GEM. :nono: so, I might end up un bolting that to grab that wire and make a quality splice.

Wish the int lights came on when I remove the key like my last cars did.
 

Lightnig

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One other thing I did accomplish yesterday, changed out the broken rear DS tail light assembly.

It had a chunk taken out of it when the previous owner went 'off road' with it (un-intentially, I believe). So in went a brand new light assembly I received as a gift at Xmas. My father was tired of seeing it busted so he ponied up for a new one from Ford.

Looks great too, nice and bright and shiny. The only problem is that now my PS one looks really dull and crumby in comparision.
 

IMINYOURCHAIR

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ran a new ACC wire to my radio. Ran It from the blu/blk wire from the window switch as it is switched from the acc delay relay. This keeps the radio alive when I initially turn the key off and then shuts it off when I open my door. Used a 5 amp inline fuse and also powered my siriusxm radio with it.

cftemv8.jpg
 

FordandPolaris

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Started to change the #3 and 4 plugs and COPS to resolve the 0304 codes I've been getting, but found my hand is too big, my arm is too short, and can't see.

Even after removing the battery, moving the heater hoses and various wiring out of the way I can almost see what I am doing until I get my hand in there. Once my hand is in far enough to almost touch the #4 COP, I can't see anymore and can't actually move my hand enough to actually do anything.

WTF? :boxed:

What kind of mutant alien was this designed to accommodate to change the rear plugs? I figure if my hand were half as big, with an arm half as thick and twice as long with an extra wrist, had another couple of elbows and a pair of eyeballs on my knuckles, then I could get in there and maybe change the COP...

:gayflag:

Can someone please tell me what Ford was thinking?





Since that effort was full of fail, I instead changed the lame 55w bulbs in my driving lights for a set of 100w's. Need to re-aim the lights now, maybe tonight once it gets dark enough.

It's all about the extensions... I had to use a boatload of various length extensions and two universal joints to get some of the plugs out.
 

Lightnig

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ran a new ACC wire to my radio. Ran It from the blu/blk wire from the window switch as it is switched from the acc delay relay. This keeps the radio alive when I initially turn the key off and then shuts it off when I open my door. Used a 5 amp inline fuse and also powered my siriusxm radio with it.

I've thought of doing that very thing myself, but never got around to sitting down and figuring the wiring. Sounds like another spring project for me...



It's all about the extensions... I had to use a boatload of various length extensions and two universal joints to get some of the plugs out.

I remember you saying that (more than once) before, and I had a nice selection of extentions, swivel extentions and universals ready to go. My problem was that I couldn't even get my hand in there far enough to even get a socket on the COP bolt head, let alone get an extention or ratchet on it to try to turn it.

I'll try again another day when it is warm enough out and I am in the mood to be a contortionist...


Quick question though, did you pull the COP wiring off before pulling the COP? I could barely touch the connector, and no amount of wishing would have let me get an actual grip on the connector to pull it while the COP was in place.



I pulled the fuel rail and did injector o rings just to make it easier

Considered that too, but I've never pulled a rail before and was concerned that I wouldn't get it back on properly, or back on without breaking something...
 
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FireRed5.4

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Just did all eight plugs and COP Boots/Springs on my 2004 5.4 2V on Saturday, 6 hrs. It was a nice day took my time...
1. Purchased extensions, a magnetic pickup tool, inspection mirror, three step ladder, PB Blaster, Carb cleaner, di-electric grease, anti-seize, 12pk bud light, roll of paper towels and more extensions .
2. Disconnected the negative battery cable, removed the intake shroud, power steering reservoir bracket, air filter box assembly.
3. Stuffed a clean rag in the intake and covered the alternator.
4. Put some safety glasses on and fired up the air compressor, used a wand to blow off the engine paying close attention to the areas around the coils.
5. Starting with #4 I disconnected the COP plug, locking clip broke (4 out of 8), used a 1/4 “ ratchet with one universal secured with tape closest to the socket and other various length extensions all taped so they would not pull apart, unscrew the bolt, used the magnet to retrieve the bolt on all. There is just enough room to pull out the COP.
6. Before removing the #4 plug, sprayed the hole with carb cleaner, blew it out with air (wear your glasses), checked it with the inspection mirror, sprayed the hole with PB Blaster, stuffed the hole with piece of paper towel, did the same with 3, 2, 1, Numbered the coils as I removed them to put them back in the same location after I replaced the ($6.00) boot and spring.
7. Started removing the plugs, I used the #1 hole to set up my extensions for the #4 plug, the holes are all the same depth, you can see the depth, angle and lengths needed to reach #4 and so on. To remove plugs I was using a 3/8 drive and close to 16” of extensions, at least one universal each time and all joints were taped to not pull apart. Use a good Plug Socket, one the rubber boot will not slip out of staying on the end of the plug, don’t want to be fishing it out later.
8. Replacing the plugs I used an 18” piece of clear hose/tube from my Wagner Power Sprayer as a starter, it is thinner and more flexible than fuel hose.
9. Same process for 8 thru 5, they were actually easy compared to 4 thru 1. Plugs 2 and 3 were the most corroded but still easy to break free, hmmm…, heater control valve is just above these plugs. For 97,000 miles the plugs looked good, all had a white film but there was no heavy build up like some I have seen, gaps were .059 average. Coil boots had a few cracks, most no longer sealing on the head. I do not sea foam or use other gas additives, I am the original owner!
 

FireRed5.4

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"did you pull the COP wiring off before pulling the COP?"

Yes, its a two hand stepladder move, and I'm not a little guy. Tie back the heater hoses towards the intake, lean into #4, (clip is on the bottom) left hand pinch the plug with your thumb and pointer finger, right hand long slim common screwdriver to push it off towards the left thumb. Some 14" 90* Neddle Nose would also work.
 

toms89

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Drove it around in the snow today.

On heavily salted roads... :bawl:

I can hear it rusting already!!
 

northernexp

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"did you pull the COP wiring off before pulling the COP?"

Yes, its a two hand stepladder move, and I'm not a little guy. Tie back the heater hoses towards the intake, lean into #4, (clip is on the bottom) left hand pinch the plug with your thumb and pointer finger, right hand long slim common screwdriver to push it off towards the left thumb. Some 14" 90* Neddle Nose would also work.

Hats off to you sir, I did all 8 plugs on my best a while back and it's a bug job but it def does feel good when it's finished...

it was a7 hour affair, I didn't have ago the tools I wanted when doing our and not to mention it was colder than Antarctica over here right now, even in my insulated garage with the heat going, -43 degrees Celsius is cold enough t to find its way into the garage
 

toms89

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Changing plugs on these can improve with practice but i'm sure most sane individuals choose not to do so.. lol.

I have done it many times just to check tune and engine conditions with my modifications. Did not really time myself but believe its maybe an hour to do all 8. #4, 7, 8 are the pita. The others go quickly. I know the right combination of extensions for each plug and some are done by feel as you really cannot see them.

Admitting mine is a bit different due to the lightning conversion but actually found it harder due to extra hardware in the way. When I pull the blower/ plenum my plugs are much easier to access.
 

Lightnig

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Thanks for the tips, much appreciated.

Might take another shot at it this weekend if it is warm enough out. Stupid lack of garage at home...
 

EightIsEnough

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Got six inches of snow today, and the plows could not keep up. However, I am still waiting for enough snow to make me use 4x4! Even in these WV hills.

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