Recently decided to take my 2005 f-150 for service to get spark plugs, etc. changed. Two days later I got a call that the dealer broke 3 plugs while trying to take them out and wants to remove cyliner heads to finish the work. Just like that a $400 tune-up went up to $3100 and i'm stuck with the bill, unless i want to take the truck as is and tow it home. Dealer first claimed that don't know why it happened and next day changed their story to it's a known issue with Ford you should deal with them. Ford blames it on dealers poor workmanship and i'm stuck in a rental car trying to figure out how to get out of this. Did anyone have this problem and manage to get out of it wihout getting hosed. Any help would be appreciated.

 

It is a known issue, many TSB's regarding this matter can be found. Special tools are sold to revove the damaged plug without removing the head. My question would be why did they keep going when they knew they already damaged one? They should have stopped immediatly and called you, some of the blame lays with them for this IMO. Ford has the most popular truck on the road for over 30 years, they should have known about this problem if they were a reputable shop

 

They are charging YOU for THEIR mistakes???!!!!!! I would be going back there and raising Fn hell....to the point of about knocking someone out. There is no way in HELL you should have to pay for that...If I was in that situation I know I would be making them fix it, and if they tried to put a bill for anymore than what the original tune up costs I would tell them to go to hell...

They are just trying to rub their mistake off on you so it doesnt have to come out of their pocket.

 

Until now i had no idea about this issue i have 7 months left on my lease, figured that i would trade in for a newer model when it expires but i came up to 120000 kms and figured if i had some work done it would run better for the remainder of the lease. They called me after the first one broke and said they would keep going with it and get it done but had no idea how long it would take. Seems to me like they didn't know about this issue until it became a problem for them too. Guess i figured who better to work on a ford then ford mechanics and the shop has been in my area for a long time. If i knew a tune up could go this bad i would have waited out my lease or just returned it early and pay the penalty, probably still cheaper than 3000.

 

I did raise hell but they don't seem to care they gave me two options, pay or tow it away. I'm not gonna go down easy, but it's not looking good so far.

 

tell those fuc^ers that since they broke it, they can fix it! part of paying someone to fix something means that they get to **** around w/ the truck if something else goes wrong, and you shouldn't take that kind of ****. THEY broke the plugs removing them, and THEY should eat the labor cost of extracting them. since when should you have to pay for a mistake a mechanic caused trying to perform a job which a price was set on? NEVER! continue to raise hell, speak to the general manager, if he won't listen, ask them for corporate ford's complaint #. Dealerships usually don't like to contend w/ corporate hq busting their *****, let alone in addition to a customer, if you catch my drift...

 

if that doesn't work, i would take the truck, and work on it in their parking lot. at the very worst, you will have to pull the heads, do you have the experiance necessary for this?

 

I don't have the experience to do it although i know people who do and could help me, but it still shouldn't be my problem. So far the people at ford that i called wouldn't even let me talk to a supervisor apparently they are all busy and might call me back within 48 to 72 hours. The idea with the parking lot sounds great though that might get some attention.

 

I still can't understand how i can give them my truck in perfect working condition and get it back f'd up, and then be made at fault for their mistake. Can't even complain to the local news station cause they spend too many advertising dollars on their network.

 

The dealer should have TSB 08-1-9. Check it out.
You can bring it up by looking at this members thread. JJr8214 dated 02-11-08 12:24 AM with the title Sparkplug Removal Instructions 5.4 L 3 V.

It is hard to believe the dealer or Ford Motor Co. is not responsible for this mishap.

 

Get your leasing company involved - or is it a FoMoCo lease?

 

put it on the street right in front of their shop with a big sign in the back that says something like "This dealer broke my truck and want me to pay $3000 for their mistakes" If its a public rode they can't do sh^t. Just roll your truck a foot everyday because of potential by laws.

 

Are there any local consumer advocate organizations in your area? I'm thinking like FightBack with David Horowitz (although he's retired).

 

That Sucks Big Time... you know if they did the job right, they wouldnt have to take the heads off. Just use the spark plug shell extractor tool. Im guessing the porcelain part is stuck in there.

 

oh yeah, i forgot to mention that if they do not comply and foot the huge surcharge, i would not even pay the original price they quoted you. all i would say is that payment is due upon completion of job, right? you didn't sucessfully complete the job, therefore, you don't get a cent!