Wasted spark systems should get either double platinums or straight copper plugs to keep firing even bank to bank (on one side the spark jumps centre to side electrode and on the other side the spark jumps from side to centre electrode). In COP (Coil On Plug) systems, the single platinum plugs should be just fine.
More trivia.... many of Fords new COP equipped vehicles feature mutlple spark discharges at low rpms..... i.e, the spark plug will spark multiple times for each power stroke.
-- Jim Warman snipped-for-privacy@telusplanet.net
What year is your Explorer? I put Bosch platinums in my 92 and they
> misfired at high rpm. Took them out and put Motorcraft back in and it ran
> fine. Maybe this was only a problem with the earlier Explorers. >
> Steve
>
>
>
>
> > > >
> > >Plug gap shouldn't affect mixture richness.
> > >
> > >But my experience with Bosch platinums in my 92 Exploder is that they do
> not
> > >work well at high rpm in Explorers. There was a lot of discussion about
> > >this many years ago in this newsgroup, but the general consensus was to > stay
> > >away from Bosch platinums.
> >
> > Must have missed that discussion. I ran Bosch Plats for 35K and never
> > had any problems at any rpm and they were like new when I took them
> > out just on general principles.
> >
> > > It has to do with the distributerless ignition
> > >system that the Explorer has and the fact that the current changes
> > >directions (unlike in a distributer, where the current always flows to > the
> > >plug). Bosch platinums do not fire well in distributerless systems. > > >
> > >If I were you, the next thing I'd do is change the plugs to an > inexpensive
> > >Motorcraft plug made for your car.
> > >
> > >Steve
> > >
> > >
> > >> Funny you should say that. This morning when I went out to find out > which
> > >> cylinder was running rich, I took out the number 4, 3 and 2 plugs. To
> my
> > >> surprise, the number 4 plug was a Motorcraft plug and the rest were the
> > >> Bosch Platinums that I put in. The people at Ford must've put it in > when
> > >I
> > >> took it in to get diagnostics done. What pissed me off more than > anything
> > >> was the fact that the plug wasn't gapped right. It was gapped at about
> > >.049
> > >> when it's supposed to be .054. Would that make it run rich? Anyway, > what
> > >I
> > >> did is I put the Motorcraft plug into the 3 cylinder to see if it's the
> > >plug
> > >> or the 4 cylinder itself. I'll let you know what I find out. Thanks.
> > >>
> > >>
> > >> > Standard Motorcraft plugs that your Ex came with
> > >> > should be fine. I was told not to go more expensive
> > >> > (such as splitfire or the "quad" tipped platinum plugs)
> > >> > as they don't do much for you and can cause more
> > >> > problems. I noticed on my previous vehicle that the
> > >> > plugs were causing more heat than anything else
> > >> > and the bottoms of the plug wires that meet at the plug
> > >> > ceramic had a discoloration from the ceramic turning brownish... > This
> > >was
> > >> > the cause, so I was told.
> > >> >
> > >> > Nothing to hurt by running the mfgr. recommended plugs while you're
> > >> > troubleshooting.
> > >> >
> > >> > Good luck!
> > >> >
> > >> > r/
> > >> > -IanCT
> > >> >
> > >> >
> > >> > > Well, looks like it didn't fix the problem so far. I had a couple
> of
> > >> > other
> > >> > > suggestions of what might be wrong. What are the chances of the > > >Oxygen
> > >> > > sensor being bad? Also, I was told that the "cheap" plugs might > not
> > >> work
> > >> > as
> > >> > > well as the "expensive" ones (that's what the people at Ford said > > >anyway
> > >> > > Ha)? I'm up for more suggestions. Thanks.
> > >> > >
> > >> > > > Fellas,
> > >> > > >
> > >> > > > Just looked over my hoses and other connections. I had one hose
> > >that
> > >> > was
> > >> > > > maybe 1/2 way off. This hose (if I can draw a mental picture) > went
> > >> from
> > >> > > the
> > >> > > > front of the upper manifold to the back and has a "T" connector > that
> > >> > went
> > >> > > to
> > >> > > > the PCV valve which I made sure was in all the way. Oddly enough
> it
> > >> was
> > >> > > the
> > >> > > > hose that my friend put on which was helping me. Anyway, I'll > let
> > >> you
> > >> > > > know how it turns out and if it fixed the problem. If not then > I'll
> > >> > > triple
> > >> > > > check my connections. Thanks again.
> > >> > > >
> > >> > > >
> > >> > > > > OK... it looks like time to start checking for vacuum > leaks......
> > >> > check
> > >> > > > > hoses, PCV valve, double check to be sure that you didn't miss
> > >> > anything
> > >> > > on
> > >> > > > > re-assembly (crap happens to the best of us), and of cours the
> > >> > > ubiquitous
> > >> > > > > intake gaskets....don't forget the injector O rings though I > would
> > >> > > > 'expect'
> > >> > > > > this to generate a cylinder specific misfire code. There is > always
> > >> the
> > >> > > > > chance that there are problems with the new injector but we > should
> > >> > > > eliminate
> > >> > > > > the easiest possibilities first.
> > >> > > > >
> > >> > > > >
> > >> > > > > --
> > >> > > > > Jim Warman
> > >> > > > > snipped-for-privacy@telusplanet.net
> > >> > > > >
> > >> > > > > > I did the battery cable thing and all looked good and felt > good
> > >> for
> > >> > > > about
> > >> > > > > > 10-15 minutes and then the light came on. Like I said, the > > >truck
> > >> > > seems
> > >> > > > to
> > >> > > > > > run pretty good. I can only tell something is wrong when I
> > >> > accelerate
> > >> > >
> > >> > > > > from
> > >> > > > > > a complete stop. Even then it's only a faint vibration. > When
> > >the
> > >> > > light
> > >> > > > > > came back on I got another reading and it is the P0172 (as > > >stated
> > >> in
> > >> > a
> > >> > > > > > previous post). I hope that it is just something that the
> > >> computer
> > >> > > has
> > >> > > > to
> > >> > > > > > get used to and it just works itself out *ha ha*. Thanks > again
> > >> > folks
> > >> > > > for
> > >> > > > > > the help.
> > >> > > > > >
> > >> > > > > >
> > >> > > > > > > Hello,
> > >> > > > > > >
> > >> > > > > > > I'm no expert on the codes, but I do recognize a few of the
> > >> > > acronyms:
> > >> > > > > > >
> > >> > > > > > > KOER = Key On Engine Running (hopefully your key is on if > the
> > >> > engine
> > >> > > > > > > is running!
> > >> > > > > > > KOEO = Key On Engine Off
> > >> > > > > > > CMDTCs Continuous Memory Diag Trouble Codes (they stay in > the
> > >> > > > > > > computers memory even after the engine is shut down.) Ford
> > >can
> > >> > tell
> > >> > > > > > > what errors you're having or had, even if it's not doing it
> > >when
> > >> > you
> > >> > > > > > > take it in. They are completely cleared though when you
> > >> disconect
> > >> > > the
> > >> > > > > > > batt as Jim described.
> > >> > > > > > > ODDTCs = ?? Diag Trouble Codes (bigtime guess for me!)
> > >> > > > > > >
> > >> > > > > > > Good Luck,
> > >> > > > > > > Ted
> > >> > > > > > >
> > >> > > > > > >
> > >> > > > > > >
> > >> > > > > > >
> > >> > > > > > > > My bad. Sorry about the "Test" deal. I've been having > some
> > >> > > > problems
> > >> > > > > > with
> > >> > > > > > > > my posts not going through. I didn't want to send a long
> > >> > message
> > >> > > > and
> > >> > > > > it
> > >> > > > > > not
> > >> > > > > > > > go through. Anyway, back to the problem. It was a P0172
> > >code
> > >> I
> > >> > > > > > believe,
> > >> > > > > > > > "System adaptive fuel too rich (Bank 1)". From what I'm
> > >told,
> > >> > > bank
> > >> > > > 1
> > >> > > > > is
> > >> > > > > > on
> > >> > > > > > > > the passenger side of the engine, which just happens to > be
> > >the
> > >> > > same
> > >> > > > > side
> > >> > > > > > > > that the injector I replaced is on which is the no. 4
> > >> injector.
> > >> > I
> > >> > > > > would
> > >> > > > > > > > love it if I didn't have to take apart the upper manifold
> > >> again
> > >> > to
> > >> > > > do
> > >> > > > > > > > anything else with those injectors. They're a pain in > the
> > >> balls
> > >> > > to
> > >> > > > > get
> > >> > > > > > to.
> > >> > > > > > > > Also from what I'm told is that the only way of telling > > >which
> > >> > > > cylinder
> > >> > > > > > is
> > >> > > > > > > > running rich, I need to take out the corresponding plugs
> > >from
> > >> > the
> > >> > > > > right
> > >> > > > > > bank
> > >> > > > > > > > and see how they look. I'm trying to take care of this > > >stuff
> > >> by
> > >> > > > > myself
> > >> > > > > > > > because the Ford folks are wanting to charge me $800 to > fix
> > >> it.
> > >> > > The
> > >> > > > > > truck
> > >> > > > > > > > is running just a little rough, just when I accelerate, > but
> > >it
> > >> > > > smooths
> > >> > > > > > out
> > >> > > > > > > > when I get to around 1500 rpms. A hell of a lot better > than
> > >> > what
> > >> > > it
> > >> > > > > > did. I
> > >> > > > > > > > had the people at Autozone clear the code for me and it > just
> > >> > > > returned
> > >> > > > > > about
> > >> > > > > > > > 10 minutes later. You're talking Greek when it comes to
> all
> > >> > those
> > >> > > > > > acronyms,
> > >> > > > > > > > but I'm willing to learn what I can to save me a few > > >dollars.
> > >> I
> > >> > > > > really
> > >> > > > > > > > appreciate the help. Thanks.
> > >> > > > > > > >
> > >> > > > > > > >
> > >> > > > > > > > "Jim Warman" wrote in
message
> >> > > > > > > > news:aGoJa.27706$ snipped-for-privacy@news1.telusplanet.net...
> > >> > > > > > > > > Oh, yeah, instead of a blank message marked "Test", why
> > >not
> > >> > just
> > >> > > > > send
> > >> > > > > > the
> > >> > > > > > > > > message and just pretend it says "Test"?
> > >> > > > > > > > >
> > >> > > > > > > > >
> > >> > > > > > > > > --
> > >> > > > > > > > > Jim Warman
> > >> > > > > > > > > snipped-for-privacy@telusplanet.net
> > >> > > > > > > > >
> > >> > > > > > > > > "Jim Warman" wrote in
> message
> > >> > > > > > > > > news:sEoJa.27704$ snipped-for-privacy@news1.telusplanet.net...
> > >> > > > > > > > > > You don't speak of any running problems so before we
> get
> > >> too
> > >> > > > > > worried,
> > >> > > > > > > > let's
> > >> > > > > > > > > > clear the PCMs KAM (Keep Alive Memory) to get rid of
> any
> > >> bad
> > >> > > > > habits
> > >> > > > > > it
> > >> > > > > > > > may
> > >> > > > > > > > > > have learned from operating with the cut wire. Remove
> > >both
> > >> > > > battery
> > >> > > > > > > > > > connections and touch the two cables together for a > few
> > >> > > seconds,
> > >> > > > > > should
> > >> > > > > > > > do
> > >> > > > > > > > > > the trick. Take it for a drive... if the code > returns,
> > >let
> > >> > us
> > >> > > > know
> > >> > > > > > > > exactly
> > >> > > > > > > > > > what the code is - the number, not the description > (it's
> > >a
> > >> > lot
> > >> > > > > like
> > >> > > > > > > > telling
> > >> > > > > > > > > > the computer guy that the error message said > "something
> > >> > about
> > >> > > > > > something
> > >> > > > > > > > > > illegal in a module...").
> > >> > > > > > > > > >
> > >> > > > > > > > > > I'm not sure what you're doing for a scan tool but > the
> > >way
> > >> > to
> > >> > > > > > address
> > >> > > > > > > > codes
> > >> > > > > > > > > > properly is to check Continuous Memory DTCs, write > them
> > >> down
> > >> > > and
> > >> > > > > > clear
> > >> > > > > > > > > > them...... next check On Demand KOEO codes - if you > have
> > >> > 'em,
> > >> > > > fix
> > >> > > > > > 'em
> > >> > > > > > > > before
> > >> > > > > > > > > > you do anything else.... if there are no ODDTCs, > perform
> > >> the
> > >> > > > KOER
> > >> > > > > > > > test.....
> > >> > > > > > > > > > if there are any codes here, they get fixed before > > >CMDTCs
> > >> > > > because
> > >> > > > > > these
> > >> > > > > > > > are,
> > >> > > > > > > > > > in effect, running ODDTCs (it's just that it's > checking
> > >> > things
> > >> > > > > that
> > >> > > > > > need
> > >> > > > > > > > to
> > >> > > > > > > > > > be active when tested)..... after that, we can look > at
> > >> > CMDTCs.
> > >> > > > > > > > > >
> > >> > > > > > > > > > HTH.
> > >> > > > > > > > > >
> > >> > > > > > > > > >
> > >> > > > > > > > > > --
> > >> > > > > > > > > > Jim Warman
> > >> > > > > > > > > > snipped-for-privacy@telusplanet.net
> > >> > > > > > > > > >
> > >> > > > > > > > > > > By the way, I have a 1998 Explorer EB edition 5.0.
> > >> > > > > > > > > > >
> > >> > > > > > > > > > >
> > >> > > > > > > > > > > > I have a small problem. To make an extremely > long
> > >> story
> > >> > > > > short,
> > >> > > > > > one
> > >> > > > > > > > of
> > >> > > > > > > > the
> > >> > > > > > > > > > > > wires to one of my fuel injectors was cut by a > > >mouse.
> > >> > > > Without
> > >> > > > > > > > knowing
> > >> > > > > > > > it
> > >> > > > > > > > > > > > was the wiring instead of the injector, I went > ahead
> > >> and
> > >> > > > > bought
> > >> > > > > > a
> > >> > > > > > > > new
> > >> > > > > > > > > > > > injector. When I found the faulty wiring, I > still
> > >> went
> > >> > > > ahead
> > >> > > > > > and
> > >> > > > > > > > installed
> > >> > > > > > > > > > > > the new injector. After I installed everything > and
> > >> > fixed
> > >> > > > the
> > >> > > > > > > > wiring,
> > >> > > > > > > > the
> > >> > > > > > > > > > > > "check engine" light comes on and when I read the
> > >code
> > >> > it
> > >> > > > says
> > >> > > > > > that
> > >> > > > > > > > I'm
> > >> > > > > > > > > > > > running rich on that side of engine (no. 1 pack > or
> > >> > > something
> > >> > > > > > like
> > >> > > > > > > > that).
> > >> > > > > > > > Is
> > >> > > > > > > > > > > > it the new injector that's causing the problem? > How
> > >> do
> > >> > I
> > >> > > > fix
> > >> > > > > > it? I
> > >> > > > > > > > still
> > >> > > > > > > > > > > > have the old injector just in case. Thanks a lot
> > >for
> > >> > the
> > >> > > > > help.
> > >> > > > > > > > > > > >
> > >> > > > > > > > > > > >
> > >> > > > > > > > > > >
> > >> > > > > > > > > > >
> > >> > > > > > > > > >
> > >> > > > > > > > > >
> > >> > > > > > > > >
> > >> > > > > > > > >
> > >> > > > > >
> > >> > > > > >
> > >> > > > >
> > >> > > > >
> > >> > > >
> > >> > > >
> > >> > > >
> > >> > > >
> > >> > >
> > >> > >
> > >> > >
> > >> > >
> > >> >
> > >> >
> > >> >
> > >>
> > >>
> > >
> >
>
>