Crankshaft pulley and sparkplugs

[Birk]

I've started the process of changing timingbelt on my Ranger (2000 mod, 2,5, 4 cyl), and that crankshaft pulley is really stuck.
How do you guys get that pulley off?
Special tool?

And I pulled out two of the sparkplugs, seems like the gap is 1,8 mm on both of them. Isn't that alot? Should be 1 mm according to the tech pages.
Could this be the reason that the engine missfires sometimes?
Guess it's time to change all 8 plugs then...
On the tech pages, they specify sparkplug SP-432, what brand is that?
BTW: the sparkplugs that was in the engine now is Motorcraft Platinum AGSF 32 FM.

Except these issues, this engine is a breeze to work with, plenty of space in the front

 

[Captain Ledd]

Everyone seems to have trouble with the crank pulley except for me. I did my timing belt at 200,000 (when it broke) and that was the first time it had been off.

I just used a 3-jaw puller (I had the radiator out) and it slid right off, after the first few (easy) turns with a wrench, I just turned the nut by hand. But since my recent conclusion that it had jumped time I've had it off again, and this time I just pulled it off completely by hand wiggling it back and forth.

Hopefully they didn't change the structure of them for 2000, but the outer ring is solid all the way to the snout (curves around the back), the inner ring is mounted on the rubber so don't yank on that. Normally the ring is on the outside so a 3-jaw is a no-no.

I double check all my spark plug gaps regardless. Normally they've been pretty good. Are they new and gapped too large or do they look worn and gapped too large? Either way, these engines seem to be picky about their plugs, might as well get new ones.

 

[Birk]

Yes, I got hold of a 2 jaw puller, the pulley came right off. Had to remove the radiator to get clearance, as you did. BTW my car has 198000 km now.

I don't know how old those sparkplugs are, but with that large gap, it's time to check/replace them all.

And those new sparkplugs I ordered was expencive, platinum plugs...

 

[LeftOfSanity]

Yes, I got hold of a 2 jaw puller, the pulley came right off. Had to remove the radiator to get clearance, as you did. BTW my car has 198000 km now.

I don't know how old those sparkplugs are, but with that large gap, it's time to check/replace them all.

And those new sparkplugs I ordered was expencive, platinum plugs...

Maybe someone else can confirm, but I thought I read somewhere this engine doesnt like the platinum plugs?

Or was it just the Bosch platinums?

 

[Birk]

Motorcraft SP-432 sparkplugs, recommended by the tech page, are platinum.
Those are not available here in Norway, so I ordered NGK TR-55 platinum.

 

[--weezl--]

ford motors do not like platinum plugs, they also don't like many companies... i would suggest autolite plugs when you can use them... the standard plugs, nothing special, no v-electrode, no quad electrode... no platnium... just the standard autolite plugs...

autolite is what ford uses, autolite makes the plugs for motorcraft if i remember correctly

 

[Birk]

As far as I know, isn't this 2,5l a Mazda engine?
And the tech library recommend Motorcraft SP-432, and those are platinum.

Or am I wrong here?

 

[--weezl--]

mazda=ford

they have been making eachother's vehicles since the early 80's

 

[Captain Ledd]

I just pulled a set of Autolites' out of my truck. One was missing an electrode, as in only a hole was left. Barely had 50k on them.

 

[rrbrian222]

A few years back, I had the stealership change the plugs in my 95 2.3L. They installed AGSF-32C copper plugs. I'm curious if at some point before the end of the Lima 4 cylinder Ford switched to platinum? If I had the time, I;d download the .pdf version of the owners manual from a 2000 and check. Maybe the OP or someone else knows?

 

[Bryan22]

They probably put copper plugs in because they don't last as long and want you to come back for another change sooner. I'm pretty sure the LIMA plugs have been the same for a long time right up until the end. If you went into for and asked for the plugs to do the work yourself i'd be willing to bet they try to sell you the plats for $11 a piece.