In 1986, Mazda released the B-series of compact pickups. Starting in 1994, Mazda based the B-series pickups on the same platform as the Ford Ranger. This marked the second time Ford and Mazda teamed up to produce a pickup truck, as Mazda manufactured the Courier, Ford's original compact truck. The 1998 Mazda B2500 came fitted with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that produced 119 horsepower. Mazda recommended changing the spark plugs in the B2500's engine every 60,000 miles. This basic maintenance item helps keep this compact pickup running as well as possible for years to come.
Check and adjust the gap on all four new Motorcraft AWSTF-32F, or equivalent, spark plugs, using a spark plug gap tool. Mazda recommends a gap from 0.042 to 0.046 inches on the 2.5-liter's spark plugs.
Trace a spark plug wire toward the driver's side of the engine until you reach the spark plug's rubber boot. Pull upward on the spark plug boot with a slight twisting motion to remove the spark plug wire from the spark plug,
Inspect the removed wire for any visual abnormalities, such as: cracking, peeling, splitting or excessive age. If any defects exist, replace all four wires while replacing the spark plugs. Keep in mind; only remove one spark plug wire at a time to retain the correct ignition firing order.
Remove the spark plug using a ratchet and spark plug socket. Pull the old plug from the spark plug socket and press the new plug into the socket until the rubber insert inside the socket holds the plug in place.
Hand-tighten the spark plug into the engine, using the spark plug socket. Attach a torque wrench to the spark plug socket and tighten the spark plug to 7 to 14 foot-pounds.
Apply a thin coat of dielectric grease to the inside of the spark plug wire boot and press it onto the spark plug until it clicks into place.
Repeat Steps 2 through 6 until you replace all four old spark plugs with new ones.
