Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Zetec Maintenance Spark Plug Options?

I am looking for spark plugs for a 96 4-cyl Contour. I wanted to get what came with the car because they went 130k miles and are still running. Unfortunately, they have lost so much material that they are gapped at 3.5mm. Also unfortunately, I have not been able to locate any of these AZFS22P Motorcraft plugs, so I checked into alternatives, and it seems that the current M-Craft plug is $10 each? Even the plugs on my SHO (an odd height) come in under $40 for 6 platinums. I just had to spend over $300 to fix a shop's oversight last year, and this is a backup car. I'd like to avoid spending another $40 on four plugs, but I don't want problems like some have reported with the autolites. Let me know your experiences with other brand plugs and their cost if you would.

Thanks!

David

Not sure what the model number was but I just went to Murray's automotive and bought the OEM ones from them for like $8-12 (double plat.)

The current and correct Motorcraft plug is only $4.50 each AutoZone...

The Autolite plats are also fine with no real problems..

Steve

Ok.... ...which ones are the correct ones?

just tell them you need spark plugs for a zetec and the should give you the right ones atleast they did me i was looking for some "performance" spark plugs at the time and they didn't have any so i just went with the oem ones

Get the double platinum plugs, and premium wires (I bought Boesh for like $36 as opposed to $26 for a regular set). Plugs should run like the previous posts listed: $4.50. Of course you could pay more for wires, but not for your purposes.

Can anyone provide the number on the spark plug (motorcraft) that is the correct, cheap plug? You never know what they are going to hand you when you ask for a plug for a specific car. I have called around and have been getting different numbers at every store so far.

Thanks again!

Motorcraft AYFS22FM (alternate # is 4112)

Autolite APP5364

Either will work fine and are recommended.

All are about 4 bucks at major autoparts stores.

Steve

I have a 1996 Zetec Contour and the replacement Motorcraft sparkplug is AZFS22PP, STOCK # 4Z1. These are the correct double platinum plugs that replace the factory single platinum plugs in the 1996 Zetec Contour. The factory plugs only had the platinum disc on either the ground electrode or the center electrode. Depending upon which cylinder the plug was in. Ford did this to save $$. The replacement Motorcraft plugs are double platinums for ease of installation so you can't install the different single platinum plugs in the wrong cylinder. I changed my factory plugs at around 52,000 miles. They looked fine but the single platinum disc was basically burned away so the gap did open up. But they still ran fine. When changing your plugs make sure you use a SMALL amount of antiseize on the plug threads. DO NOT get any antiseize in the plug itself. I paid $3.50/each at Strauss Auto Store for the Motorcraft plugs.

Whimsey