Guys,
After being quoted $175 for a tune-up from Ford on my '02 F150 XLT 4.6l Triton V8, I'd like to try this myself, but was told it was quite difficult due to the location of the plugs, the price of the plugs ($10 each).

Suggestions, advice?

 

It's kind of a bear to get to the rear spark plug on the passenger side of the 4.6L. Other than that, a tune-up isn't all that demanding. If you've done a tune-up before, you shouldn't have any problems. A spark plug socket with a double elbo comes in handy on the 4.6L

My local dealer only charges $2.46 per OEM plug for the 4.6L. For $10 a plug, they had better be NGK Premium!

 

Yes what Worland said..go to autozone and get replacement plugs..
How many miles do you have,,,those tunes last at least 100,000 miles..

 

It's got a little over 60k on it and I've had it for a little over a year and have no record of maintenance done on it, so I thought I'd go ahead and do one so I know. Mostly highway miles between Texas and Cincinnati, OH.

 

We have a 98 with 140K+ miles,, Only problem we've had is coil Packs going bad.(2). I do my own work and when I replace the coil packs, I put new plugs in but the old ones looked like new..I'd pull a plug or two and see how they look. If they look clean leave well enough along..

 

Thanks guys, I appreciate it.

 

U$175 is a very good price to replace all 8 sparkplugs. The last few times I checked with my dealer they quoted U$300. I also read several posts here that indicate U$250 to U$350 for a tuneup to be the average.
I replaced 7 out of 8 plugs on my 4.6. If I'd found any shop that would have done it for less than U$200 I'd have gladly paid.
Expect a full days work to change all 8 plugs.
And at 75k miles, the Ford plugs looked very good.

Fritz

 

A mechanic at the auto parts store was telling me that you should never use any type of solvent to clean the throttle body on the late model fords, to use soap and water. He said there is a coating inside the throttle body that most solvent cleaners will remove and create all kinds of problems with tuning of engine. I have never heard anything like this. I have cleaned the throttle body on my '01 5.4 and I didn't have any problems.

 

I have to say, I feel sorry for you mod motor guys...took me 15 minutes total on my 302 Mustang, and still looks pretty easy on the Bronco...

 

jcp, i know what you mean, i still have a couple of old bmw cars that i have tricked out, and they are so easy to maintain, probably takes about ten minutes to change the plugs, lol!