My wife has lost her free mechanic. I will NEVER AGAIN work on her POS 2000 Ford Explorer. This is one of the most mechanic unfriendly cars I've ever worked on.
It's a POS to change the oil because the stupid drain plug is on the side of the pan and drains right on the frame.
NOW, I just spent the last 5 Hours changing spark plugs. Some engineer was smoking crack the day he put the plug on the passenger side furthest back towards the firewall. Right next to it are several heater hoses, A/C parts, vacume tubes, ect. Such is the crowding on that side of the engine that there is a wopping 2 inches of space to stick my hands through to get to the plugs. Well after trying finess this plug i finally resorted to brute force wich only resulted in me tearing the boot in half leaving an inch and a half of rubber on a barely accessable plug.
AFTER 4 HOURS of trying to get this stupid boot off (using everything from channel locks, to needle nose, to kitchen knives) it finally came off BY HAND! Yup all I had to do was undo the wheel well cover and all sorts of space just seemed to open up.
My hands are completly scratched up and it hurts to type so no more venting for me!