Spark Plug Removal NIGHTMARE!
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 614
Likes: 0
From: BURBANK ILL
That sucks my friend! I am thinking about doing this myself but I may just pay the dealership to do mine. I like to think to myself that I am fully capable of changing a spark plug but thanks to those highly intelligent Ford engineers they have put some doubt in my mind. That doubt may just put $249 in my local dealerships pocket "IF" the plugs come out in one piece!
Thanks Ford--I hope when you guys are begging for money to bail your a$$e$ out of a financial crisis you get the same answer we get when we ask you guys to help us out with the spark plug crisis which is "Sorry your SOL!"
Thanks Ford--I hope when you guys are begging for money to bail your a$$e$ out of a financial crisis you get the same answer we get when we ask you guys to help us out with the spark plug crisis which is "Sorry your SOL!"
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 436
Likes: 0
From: alabama
im not going to try it... i have the extended warranty on my 2004 5.4 3v... how much are dealers charging ? i have 62k ... going tommorow to have oil change and will find out what my dealer charges...will it void my warranty if a local shop does it?? thanx
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 4,480
Likes: 0
From: Nashville, TN
I agree. Some people still don't think it's an issue.
The Lisle tool works great as long as you haven't already pulled out the piece and left the ceramic inside the head. The purpose of the tool is to allow removal of the broken tip without leaving the porcelain in the head.
I had planned on keeping my 04 F150 for at least 10 years...until I saw that they had this issue. Good luck with Ford removing them. If they have to pull that head, you're probably looking at $600+.
The Lisle tool works great as long as you haven't already pulled out the piece and left the ceramic inside the head. The purpose of the tool is to allow removal of the broken tip without leaving the porcelain in the head.
I had planned on keeping my 04 F150 for at least 10 years...until I saw that they had this issue. Good luck with Ford removing them. If they have to pull that head, you're probably looking at $600+.
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 4,480
Likes: 0
From: Nashville, TN
Yes, the truck is back at the house.
They got them out without pulling the head but it wasn't easy.
Nor was it cheap.
Here is the breakdown.
Tow 2 x $90 = $180
Labor for 2 plugs = $480
TOTAL = $660
So $660 to change two broke sparkplugs.... this was an EPIC FAIL on FORD's design of this part.
This is the kind of stuff that turns consumers away from FORD.
This is the kind of thing I will remember when purchasing my next truck.
I've always been loyal to Ford, but this is chipping away at that loyalty.
They got them out without pulling the head but it wasn't easy.
Nor was it cheap.
Here is the breakdown.
Tow 2 x $90 = $180
Labor for 2 plugs = $480
TOTAL = $660
So $660 to change two broke sparkplugs.... this was an EPIC FAIL on FORD's design of this part.
This is the kind of stuff that turns consumers away from FORD.
This is the kind of thing I will remember when purchasing my next truck.
I've always been loyal to Ford, but this is chipping away at that loyalty.
Technical Article Contributor
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,331
Likes: 0
From: New Port Richey, FL
That sucks. I've got about 10 or so Ford dealers within an hour of my place. When it comes time for a plug change I'll call around and find one that will take care of the problem if THEY break any. There's got to be at least one who will take care of the problem if they're the ones who break one. No way would I try this myself. Then you don't even have a chance of the dealer covering the cost of repair.
Member
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
From: West Valley, NY
I have an 04 screw 5.4l. Put a roush charger on it at 20,000 miles 2 months ago. Had to change plugs for that setup and really had to work at like 4 of them back and forth to get them out in one piece! This is fords idea so they don't spit them out as the previous years! Not impressed!
