How to Change Spark Plugs on a 99 Ford Contour 4 Cylinder
Ford released the Contour in the 1995 model year as the replacement for the recently discontinued Tempo. In the 1998 model year, Ford slightly redesigned the Contour. The 1999 Contour came standard with a 130-horsepower, 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and had a 2.0-liter V-6 available, which produced 170 to 200 horsepower, depending on the application. Mercury recommended replacing the spark plugs every 60,000 miles as a part of its basic maintenance schedule. Failure to follow this schedule could result in poor engine performance, decreased fuel economy and even engine damage.
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Things You'll Need
- 4 new Motorcraft AZFS-22PP, or equivalent, spark plugs
- Spark plug gap tool
- Spark plug wires (optional)
- Ratchet
- 3-inch extension
- Spark plug socket
- Torque wrench
Instructions
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1
Allow the engine to cool, if needed. Removing spark plugs from a hot engine could cause damage to the cylinder head.
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2
Check the gap on all four new spark plugs, using a spark plug gap tool. The All of the Contour's engines require a spark plug gap of from 0.048 to 0.052 inches. The recommended spark plugs for the Contour are non-adjustable, so exchange any incorrectly gapped spark plugs for new ones.
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3
Open the Contour's hood and locate the spark plug wires on top of the engine.
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4
Remove one spark plug wire, by grabbing the thick, rubber boot on the engine end of the wire and pulling up with a twisting motion.
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5
Inspect the spark plug wire for defects such as splitting, excessive age, cracking or brittleness. If any of these defects exist, replace all four spark plug wires.
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6
Remove the spark plug, using a ratchet, 3-inch extension and a spark plug socket. The rubber insert inside the spark plug socket holds the spark plug inside the socket during removal.
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7
Pull the old spark plug from the socket and insert a new spark plug into the socket. Hand-thread the spark plug into the engine, using the spark plug socket and 3-inch extension.
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8
Torque the spark plug to 9 to 13 foot-pounds, using a torque wrench, 3-inch extension and a spark plug socket. Set the spark plug wire on the spark plug and press down until the wire "clicks" into place.
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9
Repeat Steps 4 through 8 until you replace all four spark plugs and wires, if applicable.
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10
Close the Contour's hood.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Never coat the spark plug threads with anti-seize or any other chemical. The heat from the engine can melt this coating and cause problems within the engine.
