How do you change spark plugs on a Mazda tribute 4 cylinder?

Answer 1

I'm not enclosing photos, just instructions, based on my personal experience, at having just finished changing the plugs, on my 2006 Mazda Tribute(Ford Escape) 2.3L engine. I'm putting this information, on line; because, in attempting to do this job, a few weeks ago, I ran into trouble. NOWHERE was I able to find the exact, on-hands-information, which I'm about to share.

Things you'll need: spark plugs, a 5/16"-1/4 drive socket or 8mm wrench, a 5/16" - 3/8 drive deep well spark plug socket, a long 3/8 drive extension, a can of silicone spray, needlenose pliers. ( I also found an extendable, magnetic pickup tool, with a head large enough to remove the spark plugs from the wells, indispensable.)

Starting from the "front" of the engine (where the drive belts are mounted), the engine cylinders are numbered, sequentially, 1-2-3-4. Easy enough!

There are FOUR spark plugs, each mounted at the bottom of about a 6" deep well, recessed into the valve cover and cylinder head.

Each spark plug has its own COIL mounted directly atop the spark plug well. The coil assembly sits on top of and connects to a spark plug boot, which extends down into the spark plug boots and which plugs onto the top of the spark plug. The boot is about 5" long, has a flared lip around its top, and has radiating fins, which help it to stay in place,inside of the well.

Inside, of the boot, extending from the bottom of the coil assembly and extending down to the top of the spark plug, is a simple spring, which carries the spark, from the coil assembly to the spark plug. Got it?

The easiest way to do this, is to remove the spark plug wires, then the coil assemblies, then the spark plug boots. (The coils and boots may or may not come away as a single unit.)

THE COIL ASSEMBLY AND SPARK PLUG BOOT COME APART EASILY and GO BACK TO TOGETHER EASILY. DO NOT PANIC!

Begin by removing the coil wire from each coil assembly. The coil wire just plugs onto the back end, of each coil assembly. Simply grasp the black plug, where each coil wire plugs on, and pull it free. (No special tools or techniques involved.)

The coil wires are almost impossible to get confused; but you should mark them, if you feel the need to do so.

(There are two posts, which have gray, plastic caps over them. Simply spray a little silicone spray onto the upper threads of each of these posts and pull the plastic caps off. Later, the plastic caps simply shove back down onto the upper threads, of the two posts.)

After each coil wire assembly has been removed, just lay these aside.

Next, you'll need to remove the coil assemblies, trying to take the plug boots with them.

For this, I used the 5/16-1/4 drive socket, with a 6"-1/4 drive extension, and, of course, a 1/4 drive socket wrench.

Remove each of the FOUR studs, which hold the coil assemblies in place.

Starting with the #1 coil assembly, firmly grasp the coil/spark plug boot assembly with both hands. You should GENTLY TWIST the entire assembly, while exerting GENTLE UPWARD pressure. (If you're the lucky kind--I was in 3 out of 4 instances--the entire assembly, minus the spark plug, will simply pop out, nice and clean!)

[If the assembly WILL NOT pop out neatly, DO NOT PANIC!

FIRMLY pull up, on the COIL ASSEMBLY, until it pops free, of the plug boot. (You will have the connecting spring to which I referred, dangling from the coil assembly.)

Next, spray a little silicone spray, down the inside of the boot, onto the top of the spark plug.

Use your needle nose pliers to open a small space, between the plug boot lip and the plug well.

Spray a little silicone spray into this opening.

Sill holding the plug boot, with your needle nose pliers, TWIST the plug boot assembly back and forth a few times.

With the needle nose pliers, FIRMLY PULL UP, on the spark plug boot

You should be greeted, with a sweet POP, as the plug boot comes out of the plug well.]

With the coil wire, assembly, and plug boot removed and lying aside, you're ready to replace your 1st spark plug!

Using your 5/16" spark plug socket, long 3/8" extension, and 3/8" wratchet, reach down, into the spark plug well and SLOWLY remove the spark plug. (My spark plugs were OLD; so it was took some gentle coaxing to break the thread bead and to get the plugs going.)

After you've removed the plug, spray a little silicone onto the threads of the new plug and onto the inside and outside of the spark plug boot.

Insert the new plug, torquing it to specs.

Slide the rubber spark plug boot into the well and onto the top of the spark plug.

Mount the coil assembly, with the spring in place, onto the top of the spark plug boot, pushing down GENTLY, but FIRMLY, until the coil assembly is properly seated.

Replace the securing stud.

YOU'RE READY TO MOVE ONTO THE #2, #3, and #4 SPARK PLUGS!

Follow the same instructions, then replace the coil wire assemblies.

YOU'RE DONE!