Need Spark Order

[rich060685]

I have a 98 ranger 4.0 that my brother took the plug wires off of and they got mixed up.

I need to know the order to hook them back up correctly if any know a diagram.

Thanks in advance.

 

[RonD]

Look here, just below the specs: http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/4_0_Page.shtml

Coil>>>front of engine>>
4 6 5
3 2 1

NOT 6 5 4 , lol, I always get that wrong

 

[rich060685]

Look here, just below the specs: http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/4_0_Page.shtml

Coil>>>front of engine>>
4 6 5
3 2 1

NOT 6 5 4 , lol, I always get that wrong

So this order in this listing is correct? I ask because I found multiples online and believe I tried this one and it ran harder and stalled more often with it from what it used to.

http://www.therangerstation.com/Magazine/January2011/sohc_plugs_wires.htm

I actually think i have the crossing wires reversed atm and they are the back 2 rather than the front to from what i see here. Will try that tomorrow when I wake up.

 

[RonD]

A V6 will have 3 "matched" pairs of pistons to balance the crankshaft, 4cyl will have 2 "matched" pairs, V8 4 "matched" pairs.
"Matched" means the pistons for both will be at Top Dead Center at the same time, one at the end of Compression stroke, the other at the end of Exhaust stroke.

Distributors showed the "matched" pairs the same as Coil Packs do
2.9l firing order(same as 4.0l) was 1-4-2-5-3-6
To see the "matched" pairs, split firing order in 1/2 and put one above the other
1-4-2-
5-3-6

1 and 5 are matched pairs
3 and 4 are matched pairs
2 and 6 are matched pairs

So that is where a firing order comes from, the reason it is the way it is.

Firing order for Coil Packs is based on the Waste spark system and the "matched" pairs for the pistons at Top Dead Center.
Ford Coil pack for V6 only has 3 coils in the pack, not 6, to do this they use a Waste Spark, meaning a spark is sent to a spark plug without being needed to ignite an air/fuel mix, so spark is "wasted".
On a Waste Spark system a spark is sent to a "matched" pair at the same time, and remembering one is on end Compression stroke(needs spark), and the other is on end exhaust stroke(doesn't need spark), it works fine.

If you now look at the firing order for the 4.0l Coil pack it makes sense
Coil pack coils are [:] [:] [:], 3 coils mounted side by side in one case
Coil>>>front of engine>>
4 6 5
3 2 1

3 and 4 are matched pairs
2 and 6 are matched pairs
1 and 5 are matched pairs

So unless Ford changes the physics of the crankshaft and "matched" pairs the firing order is correct as listed above

4.0l SOHC has the same firing order because as far as I know it uses the same crankshaft as the 4.0l OHV(the one you have in the '98)