Anyone hear anything new on the spark plugs breaking off ordeal? . Curious as to how the dealers are handling this. Early on it sounded as if the customer was the responsible party as to repairs to broken plugs in the head. With Ford only offering a TSB on how to remove them.

Anything change?

 

I talked to the dealership's shop today and they said to waite until 100,000 and change them because they charge the same if they break all 8 of them or none of them...thats why they charge so much to change them. So changing them now at 42,000 wont benifit me at all...I will just waite and if I still have the truck at 100,000 I will let them change them then. They admitted it was a flaw in the design in 04/05s but that Ford would not do a thing about it.

Maybe in a few more years when a lot of 04s and 05s starting hitting a 100,000 something will be done, but I doubt it!

 

i just did my spark plugs myself, it was painful, but then again all the jobs everyone says are "cake" always kick my butt, but they came out pretty tough, but ok, FOLLOW the TSB carefully, i used pb blaster, and bought the NICKEL high temp from the dealership at 20 bucks for a little jar, but i mean that jar will last forever.... i say just do it yourself, you will be more careful than some young careless tech that hates his job or is hung over. only one came out without much effort or creaking and groaning, the rest, when i felt too much resistance, i sprayed (through a hose) some penetrant and just went to work on other plugs, than i came back and turned them in brought them out and repeated it till it was out... just remember no matter how much noise they make coming out, if they arent hard to turn, than proceed cause either your good or your already screwed.. and to tell you the truth, i prolly could have reused them, they didnt look to bad and i got 50k on em, i think they will last till 100k, and they even will come out then too, just be extra careful



pb blaster $8
antiseize, ford xl-2 i think $20
or go to a dealership with a little container and spoon and ask them for a bit of their stuff, they prolly feel sorry for ya and give it
autolite ht-1 (8) $80

ford tune up $320
head job $1500

save a little cash and have some peace of mind

 

you guys say 04 05? did they change something on 06 + ??

I assumed it was all 04+ 5.4's

 

LMFAO! That's funny right thar!

I see Ford is expanding their services, but still charging too much LOL!

Thanks for making my morning!

bubba

 

You assume (almost) right; anything with a 3V head - MGT 4.6, 6.8V10, etc.

 

Real fast funny story, my uncle was one of the head engineers who signed off on these spark plugs. When we had our vacation last week with him I brought it up and he said, ah yes I remember those......... They did it because apparently the line guys were saying how much easier they were etc,(I dont get that) but anyways, he was one that had to sign off on them.

Im hoping when I do my plugs in about 6k he ll be ready to help or pay for my new engine. Since hes now an Engineer for a competitor and took a killer buyout from Ford, Im sure he could just buy me a new truck if anything happens

 

Supposedly, for the 06 and up, they are putting the nickle anti-sieze on them. So, the TSB is for 04-05. We will see down the road if 06's are really able to avoid the problem.

 

Nope. There was none on mine... sorry.

But there is now lol

 

Yeah, but they built that truck knowing who was going to get it! Built it special just for you!

Seriously, I have my doubts any of them are "fixed", and if some are, I bet it started mid year sometime.

 

Yeah, the special they wuz runnin' - free beaver with every truck sold

Well, mine's a Job 2 build, if that makes any difference....

Honestly, there was a post around here somewhere from a line guy stating they are still installing them dry.

bubba

 

where i live there's ALOT of fords on the road and very few people have heard of the sparkplug problem. but on here there's a ton of people with the issue what's the deal?

 

Hi.

Well, off the top of my pointy li'l head:

> bad news luvs company - boards are all about reporting problems
> a lot of enthusiasts/ maintenance-savvy dudes here
> general populance is generally ignorant, unless the mad media spoon-feeds them in easily digested sound bites
> even now, some dealers deny the problem exists - until you wave the TSB in their faces
> the "if it ain't broke, don't fek wid it" crowd is still a majority
> ostrichs
> ghey / inept politicians, and those who aspire to be LOL!



bubba

 

Do a search and be prepared to read a lot of posts. It only affects the 5.4, 3v engines, so 04 and up. People go in for a spark plug change and get hit with a repair bill of $2500 because plugs broke off, the heads had to be removed to retrieve the pieces.

 

thanks, was just curious about the problem... so far i've NEVER been let down by my ford...