The parts in the ignition system in your Ford Taurus work together to supply sufficient spark energy to ignite the fuel in the cylinders. As the spark plugs, plug wires, distributor cap and rotor wear, the electrical resistance in the system increases. This leads to misfires, poor fuel economy and even damage to the catalytic converter. Perform a tuneup every 30,000 miles to prevent these symptoms.
Allow the engine to cool. While the engine cools, adjust the spark plug gap on the new spark plugs, using the spark plug gapping tool. Use the tool to bend the side electrode to open or close the gap between the side electrode and the center electrode on adjustable plugs. On non-adjustable plugs, check the gap and return the plug(s) if the gap is not correct. The proper gap for the Taurus is 0.044 inch.
Grasp the spark plug wire boot with the spark plug wire puller and twist the boot a few times to loosen it from the spark plug. Twist and pull the boot to remove the wire from the plug. Examine the spark plug wire for damage. Replace the spark plug wires as a set if one or more are damaged.
Clear dirt and debris from around the spark plug and use a 5/8 inch spark plug socket, extension and ratchet to unscrew the spark plug from the cylinder head. Install a new spark plug into the cylinder head by hand. Torque the spark plug to between 17 and 22 foot-pounds, using a torque wrench.
Apply a small amount of dielectric grease to the inside of the spark plug wire boot and push the wire onto the spark plug until it snaps over the spark plug tip. Gently tug on the boot to verify it does not easily slide off the spark plug wire. Repeat the procedure for the remaining spark plugs and spark plug wires.
Mark the cap position of all of the spark plug wires using a permanent marker. Twist and pull the spark plug wire boots to remove the wires from the cap.
Unscrew the two Phillips-head screws that attach the distributor cap to the distributor and lift the cap off the distributor. Pull the ignition rotor off the distributor shaft. Replace the ignition rotor and distributor cap as a set to avoid premature failures caused by uneven wear patterns.
Apply a small amount of dielectric grease to the inside of the spark plug wire boots. Snap the wire into its respective position in the distributor cap and slide the boot over the cap terminal. Repeat the process for the remaining spark plug wires.
