Any car mechanics here? I have a question

my trouble is my 1999 ford expedition. after getting a needed oil change and tune up done.. (a stricly oil change place did the oil change, hubby did the tune up). the problem is that the wire to the number 7 spark plug will not stay on the plug.

pretty much every other day, I can feel the rumble and hear the ticking as the spark from the plug to the wire cap is arching. then I pull over, pop the hood and crawl into the engine to push the wire back onto the plug. I am sure the site of me hunkered on top of my engine must give some passerbyers a good chuckle, but its aggrevating me. any ideas as to why it is doing this?

hubby and I were discussing it and thinking that either the plug is not good (even though its new) or the wire itself is not good (even though its new as well). thanx for the help. :D

you can buy single spark plug wires. i know they have them at auto zone. i work there. just bring up the bad one so they can match it up. good as new. you need dielectric grease to put it on too.

kewl thanx. I'll mention it to hubby. hopefully that will help. :D

The conductor in the wire boot may be a little loose.Try squeezing the boot with your fingers or some pliers just a little so it fits tighter on the plug.

There are meny different types of wires but most have a clip that should snap on the spark plug, if the clip is broken or loose it might not stay on right. Some spark plugs also have a screw on head/tip and if that is missing it maynot clip. Remove another wire and compare clip and plug to make sure it looks the same. It may need to just be pushed more on to get it to snap on.

Duct tape fixes everything.

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Originally Posted by WickedBalls

The conductor in the wire boot may be a little loose.Try squeezing the boot with your fingers or some pliers just a little so it fits tighter on the plug.

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I think he tried that.. but I know that when I've pushed the wire back onto the plug I can hear and feel it "click" into place. i'll mention it to hubby to try squeezing it again to see if it will help.

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Originally Posted by West Coast Jungle

There are meny different types of wires but most have a clip that should snap on the spark plug, if the clip is broken or loose it might not stay on right. Some spark plugs also have a screw on head/tip and if that is missing it maynot clip. Remove another wire and compare clip and plug to make sure it looks the same. It may need to just be pushed more on to get it to snap on.

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was wondering if we could have gotten a batch of bad wires, cause a few of the other wires have come loose as well, but only once.. the number 7 wire/plug is the biggest culprit. thanx Raul.

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Originally Posted by AndrewGeibel

Duct tape fixes everything.

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:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :bow: wow, that's usually my motto too..

do you know for sure that you have spark plugs. my 99 ford expedition has individual ignition coils in the same place the plugs would go. they are about 60 dollar a piece. when one goes the car will run bad. you should be able to take it up to autozone and have check it eith the dianostic tool for free. it might give a code especially if your check engine light is on. either way im getting rid of expedtion as soon as i get the chance. it has been alot of problems.

Sometimes the clip looks like a C or almost closed circle. If it is too wide in diameter to snap on you may be able to squeeze it (gently, not too much) with a pair of needle nose pliers a wee bit smaller so it fits snug.

the diagnostic tester will not say anything if your check engine light is not on. depending on which plugs you got, yours may be under warranty. i'd def check that first. cheap wires are what they are, cheap.

i beg to differ the dianostic tool will get a code if one is still stored in the computer. the check engine can be out but the code not cleared. either way autozone has a website with repair manuals on it and they sell them at any auto parts store. the manual are reallly helpful and decently priced.

It's possible that the arcing from the wire to the plug may be depositing metal on the wire, making it not sit right on the plug. I can best suggest to clean the plug out or replace it, and use a conductive paste to help avoid arcing again.

i had one(individual ignition coils) go bad in my expedtion. it took a while for check engine to come on. if you dont my me asking its a99 ford expedition with what size motor and is it 4WD?

thanx guys. Okay, I definitely know that I have spark plugs and not ignition coils as I purchased the parts for a tune up (plugs, wires, filter and pcv). My one sister-in-laws bf used to work for ford as a mechanic and he has the computer reader, which, when hooked up to my car, told him it was one of the plugs. Thats how we realized that the one kept getting loose. As for it leaving deposit in the cap, thats a possibility. I will also look into getting the conductive paste. In the meantime, I will pull the wire and see if I can squeeze it a bit tighter to fit better until I can get to the store. Like I mentioned earlier, it last for a day or two and then I'm sitting on my engine to push the wire onto the plug. thanx everyone for the help and suggestions. Its nice to have someplace to ask questions. :D

your welcome. sorry i couldn't be more help. i definitely try changing the wires then.:)

Generally when a spark plug wire is attached properly to the plug you can feel it snap into place and when you lightly tug on it, it stays on. If you don't feel that snap when you push it on, you probably don't have it on there right.

I have pushed it on and heard and felt it "snap" on, put perhaps as was suggested by some others it might not be snug enough. I'm going to try the squeeze method tomorrow, providing I need to leave the house to take my son to school. if not, I'm staying inside in my jammies :P

The conductive paste will definitley do the trick, but it will not be a permanant fix.