[jfjohn]

On my 96 taurus gl, I'm getting a misfire on #6. I was sitting at a traffic light, the car started bucking and then the ses light started flashing after I started to go. I shut the car off and restarted it and then it only displayed a steady light, no flashing. They say to start with a new spark plug but I guessing it's not that because the problem only lasted about 10 seconds or so and then started running better. I'm thinking it's fuel related or a flakey injector. What do you think? Thanks.

 

[Poppy]

LOL.. I'm thinking you are lucky because that is the easiest plug to get to!

I'd pull the plug an take a look at it. How many miles are on the ones that are in there?

 

[jfjohn]

Yes, it was the easiest to get to. The plugs are just at 100k. I pulled it and found the center electrode was worn down about 50-60% of when it was new. I still had the original plugs that I pulled when the car had 57k, the awfs 32pg orignial plug looked pretty good so I popped that one back in. It's funny how the car had two different sets of plugs when the car was new. some just said 32p and the others 32pg. the 32pg were in better shape. So far, so good. The car seems to run much better. We'll see.. Thanks for the reply.

 

[Poppy]

Well jfjohn,
I think I am going to mark this thread RESOLVED and in a few days close it.

If it is not resolved and you want to open it back up, any mod can do that.
I'm glad it was such a simple fix, you know that you should replace the other plugs too, as they are likely just as warn.

Glad to be of help.

 

[Canuck623]

Yes, it was the easiest to get to. The plugs are just at 100k. I pulled it and found the center electrode was worn down about 50-60% of when it was new. I still had the original plugs that I pulled when the car had 57k, the awfs 32pg orignial plug looked pretty good so I popped that one back in. It's funny how the car had two different sets of plugs when the car was new. some just said 32p and the others 32pg. the 32pg were in better shape. So far, so good. The car seems to run much better. We'll see.. Thanks for the reply.

I will explain for everyone why the plugs from the factory are different. This may shock and amaze at the same time. The 32 is the heat range, we all know that. The P and the PG stand for Platinum and Platinum Ground. Ford uses a waste spark set up and one bank of plugs actually fires by getting the current through the ground side of the plug and the return path is through the wire back to the coil. So to save a few bucks Ford only puts the Platinum on the positive side of the plug. If you look at them you will see what I mean. 3 of the plugs will have the Platinum on the ground electrode and the other 3 will have it on the center electrode. the ends have different colored paint on them so they are easily recognized at the assembly plants. Figure a few 100,000 plugs that you can save a couple bucks on and you are talking a pretty substantial chunk of change. :idea:

 

[Jonzo77]

i've never been able to change plugs in a car that was newer than 10 years old, but i will have to look at that sometime...
thanks for the info!:thumbsup:

 

[jfjohn]

I will explain for everyone why the plugs from the factory are different. This may shock and amaze at the same time. The 32 is the heat range, we all know that. The P and the PG stand for Platinum and Platinum Ground. Ford uses a waste spark set up and one bank of plugs actually fires by getting the current through the ground side of the plug and the return path is through the wire back to the coil. So to save a few bucks Ford only puts the Platinum on the positive side of the plug. If you look at them you will see what I mean. 3 of the plugs will have the Platinum on the ground electrode and the other 3 will have it on the center electrode. the ends have different colored paint on them so they are easily recognized at the assembly plants. Figure a few 100,000 plugs that you can save a couple bucks on and you are talking a pretty substantial chunk of change. :idea:

Thanks for the info! Just curious though as to which cylinders get the pg plug and which ones get the p plug? Is it bad to mix pg plug with the pp plugs that I already have in there?

 

[jfjohn]

Changed out the plugs in the bank facing the front of the car. Those were equally as worn. For some reason, those plugs were worn more than the bank closest the firewall. Maybe because the sparkplug wire is shorter up front making for less resistance and more spark?

 

[Canuck623]

I would have to look that info up. I think bank 1 is P and bank 2 is PG but don't quote me. No I don't see how mixing them up would cause any huge issues. Ford did it that way for emissions certification. they would work fine with no platinum or with it on one side or the other. The reason they put it on the "hot" side is so the plug will last longer.