2004 F150 Engine Running Very Rough / Flashing CEL
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Joined: Mar 2005
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From: Burleson/Athens/Brownsboro, TX
forgot to note:
the service advisor warned me that while they had a very good record pulling out spark plugs fom these engines that there is a chance that it could break in 2 (as we all know) and if it did it would involve more shop time to get the broken plug out.
so i confirmed with him that if this happend i would be charged more as it would take longer to get the broken plug out.
i am happy he warned me ahead of time about this potential charge and although it didn't happen in my case the more i think about it i'm thinking these Ford service dept's should not be charging customers more $$ due to time if the plugs break on removal. this is not the customers fault, it's Fords fault for using a plug that tends to do this in their engines.
the service advisor warned me that while they had a very good record pulling out spark plugs fom these engines that there is a chance that it could break in 2 (as we all know) and if it did it would involve more shop time to get the broken plug out.
so i confirmed with him that if this happend i would be charged more as it would take longer to get the broken plug out.
i am happy he warned me ahead of time about this potential charge and although it didn't happen in my case the more i think about it i'm thinking these Ford service dept's should not be charging customers more $$ due to time if the plugs break on removal. this is not the customers fault, it's Fords fault for using a plug that tends to do this in their engines.
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Jim
Jim
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From: Minnesota
Yes, it's Ford's fault, but Ford has issued a TSB and designed special tools and takes the position that that should be enough. The dealer should not lose if one breaks and Ford is not going to pay, so that leaves us, the customer. If you owned a dealership, would you absorb the cost if one broke? It sounds good, but could get expensive for the dealership.
I understand that, but on the flip side, what is the incentive for the dealer to be careful and not break any? Besides an irate customer, which doesn't seem to bother most dealers much anyway.
Last edited by plmn; Sep 1, 2009 at 12:23 PM.
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Sorry -
I thought I updated this last year! I ended up replacing the VCT solenoid on the affected bank (2). Part of the screen had broken and was jamming/preventing free movement. It is easy to remove and inspect and I believe the cost of a new VCT solenoid was $75 from Ford. If you remove it you can check for free movement by slowly/gently shaking it. The plunger should move from end to end. You can also just swap the Bank 1 and 2 VCT solenoids and see if the problem changes to the other bank.
Good luck -
I thought I updated this last year! I ended up replacing the VCT solenoid on the affected bank (2). Part of the screen had broken and was jamming/preventing free movement. It is easy to remove and inspect and I believe the cost of a new VCT solenoid was $75 from Ford. If you remove it you can check for free movement by slowly/gently shaking it. The plunger should move from end to end. You can also just swap the Bank 1 and 2 VCT solenoids and see if the problem changes to the other bank.
Good luck -
Member
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 16
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Sorry -
I thought I updated this last year! I ended up replacing the VCT solenoid on the affected bank (2). Part of the screen had broken and was jamming/preventing free movement. It is easy to remove and inspect and I believe the cost of a new VCT solenoid was $75 from Ford. If you remove it you can check for free movement by slowly/gently shaking it. The plunger should move from end to end. You can also just swap the Bank 1 and 2 VCT solenoids and see if the problem changes to the other bank.
Good luck -
I thought I updated this last year! I ended up replacing the VCT solenoid on the affected bank (2). Part of the screen had broken and was jamming/preventing free movement. It is easy to remove and inspect and I believe the cost of a new VCT solenoid was $75 from Ford. If you remove it you can check for free movement by slowly/gently shaking it. The plunger should move from end to end. You can also just swap the Bank 1 and 2 VCT solenoids and see if the problem changes to the other bank.
Good luck -
