two simple questions.

1. I ave a 2005 S-type 3.0- before I go searching around- where is the
OBD diagnostic plug located


2. How hard is it to r&r the spark plugs and the wires?

Thanks

Tom- stuck in Dallas!

 

1) at the base of the dash below the steering column, slightly to the left.

2) real easy once you remove the intake...So, actually, pretty time consuming. Real question is why you would want to do that on a 05?

 

Thanks for the info. the only reason, I would want to change plugs is my general inclination toward sooner than necessary and preventive maintenance. i have zero problems with the car. how long would you expect the plugs to go when i drive about 9-10K miles a year and mostly city driving. I bought the car with 31k and it now has 39k. What type of plugs are standard in the 3.0?
would the Platinum Ir Fusion by Bosch be of any practical advantage?

 

Leave the plugs for another 30K. But read OBD regularly looking for any incomplete monitors, bad fuel trims, codes, and if you can do them misfires and also O2 sensor graphs.

 

Your factory spark plugs are iridium, probably Motorcraft (so are mine) since this is essentially a pepped-up Ford Duratec V6. Platinum plugs would be a big step DOWN. Although Denso and NGK make the best iridium plugs, these Motorcraft plugs are very good also. Don't waste your money by changing your plugs at 39,000 miles. Your owners manual calls for a plug change at 100,000 miles and that is very accurate. I changed a factory set of Denso iridium plugs on a Lexus SUV to get it ready to sell. They had more than 120,000 miles on them and still looked and ran like new. Had I not planned to sell the vehicle, I would have put them right back in and done at least 200,000 miles on them.

If you doubt the condition of your plugs, it's easy to pull the three on the drivers side of the engine (here in the U.S. that's the left side of course). Just remove the plastic dust cover over the engine and you'll see the row of three coils sitting on top of the three plugs. But as previously mentioned, you can't pull the three passenger-side plugs without removing your intake manifold.

If your car is giving you no problems I guarantee that your three drivers side plugs will all look new. Don't even think about changing them until 100,000 miles as your owners manual says. These iridium plugs are that good.

When I do change my plugs I'll go with NGK iridiums (assuming we keep the car that long). But not until at least 100,000 miles....

 

What he said....

 

Yeah, but I meant at least another 30K. As Jon says, they're good plugs. (If you get misfires, by all means change the related plug, but 95% it'll be the coil.)

 

my s-type is at 98k miles and i am about to replace the spark plugs. i just purchased a set of bosch platinum IR fusion plugs. are the fused iridium plugs also worse than the OE iridium, or are they a suitable replacement?

also, any suggestions on when to replace timing chain, tensioners, chain guides, etc?

thanks!

 

I have played around with different plugs in various cars MB, BMW, caddilacs and always came to the same conclusion. Always go with what is written and recommended in the owners maual. the mercedes and the bmw both hated the "performance" plugs. didnt matter the brand.The Caddilac(northstar v8) i didnt see a postive or negative change.im sure the designers of these motors have spent a couple more hours on R&D than the plug Mfg. have and hopefully nailed down whats best for the motor.

 

lylon - do some searches and you'll find plenty about chains, tensioners, chain guides etc