Any update on the huge spark plug issue with these 3v 5.4's? ive got 37k on my truck and want to do plugs but i dont wanna break them myself and be . any update on if ford will cover this if they break them or if their still charging out the ***?

Also i was looking at RockAuto.com and see 3 different types to buy
1.) AUTOLITE HT15 PLATINUM
2.) AUTOLITE HT1 PLATINUM
AND 3.) CHAMPION #7989 DOUBLE PLATINUM - says enhanced design over the OE style.

Anyone have any opinions/experience on what is the best to get? from what ive been reading the old posts the champions werent even out yet.

Also from what ive read on here none of these spark plugs are gappable and come ready to be put it?

 

I'd choose stock Motorcraft plugs and follow the TSB to a T.

http://ww2.justanswer.com/uploads/jm...sb08-07-06.pdf

 

You need to use the Advance Search, enter spark plug and sparkplug, do some reading. Lots of opinion.

 

Answer is:

4.) NONE OF THE ABOVE. Use OEM Motorcrafts for best results.

Exactly. You will need the correct plug socket and adapters/extensions, Ford carb cleaner, nickel antiseize, and dielectric grease.

Dealers have pretty much settled out at around $350 parts and labor (higher in high labor cost areas), plus around $80 per each broken plug. Don't trust any dealers that have substantially different policies, claim ignorance, or insist on head removal if they break any.

 

I would disagree that dealers have setled out at $350. I jut polled three dealers in my city yesterday.

Dealer #1 - $627 + 45 per broken plug. Warned it could top out at $1300!!
Dealer #2 - $200 + 12 per broken plug
Dealer #3 - $267 + unspecified extra labor charge per broken plug.

Threads elsewhere - here and other forms - often show dealers quoting $400+

GLC is right - don't trust any dealer who doesn't seem to know and understand the problem orlike my #1 - included in that chrge is a $175 injector cleaning they do first. Where in the tsb does it say to clean the injectors? I haven't seen that.

So shop around for the best price and competent techs. My #2 guy assured me he seldom breaks plgs anymore since the tsb came out and he follows it to the letter.

With 82K miles I'm due up as soon as i can spare the $200.

 

I'd have to agree with him since that's what my dealer charges regardless. They very seldom have any problems with plugs and are fair on their price. Of course there's a Ford truck everywhere you look down here.

 

thats rediculous that ford doesnt do a recall or some **** on this issue, it would make people never want a ford again if it happend to them. i just got the TSB from a post from Stealth in another thread i dont see anything about cleaning injectors in it either.

so use motorcraft? where you guys getting those, Autozone?

Wouldnt you think that someone might come out with a better one that doesnt get stuck in there like that? i know it should help if you put the anti-sieze on the new ones but still, what a ****ty deisgn.

BTW Smokin Lariat, where did you purchase your grille in your sig? i love the style of that thing.

 

My dealer, same as Stealths, charged me $350 less a 10% coupon. Did mine at 65,500 with no problem and they did not clean the injectors. Now has 96,000 on it and they have never been cleaned. Still running great. The same dealer did anouther member's truck at 133,000 and none broke.

 

dang, yeah i really dont think i want to deal with this myself with all the issues that can be ran into. i will probly have my dealer do it once i reach 40k miles. where do you guys pick up motorcraft plugs?

 

I agree MCLINE - I guess it can't be a recall cause iI think those are limited to safety issues - but I've said it before and will again, FORD should mandate a set price for this and then eat any additional charges - it's not the dealer's fault, it is plain and simple faulty engineering - I think the term is manufacturing defect? The TSB seems to have helped mitigate the damages, but IMO Ford has not done enough.

I'd never heard of this until AFTER I bought the truck and yes, knowing in advance might have changed my purchase decision. I take some of the blame for not doing my homework, still Ford could do more to help us - many of whom are longtime, loyal Ford drivers - I've had 3 of my last 4 vehicles were Fords.

On the grilles - those are Roush grilles. How I got mine is a long story - but if you want one, check out - I think it's Fomoco66 here on the forum. He's launched a small business building them. I just read where he's torn a muscle in his leg so he's slowed down a bit but his work is excellent and he's got some great prices for the combo upper and lower.

Otherwise, you can do like I did - before he went into business - and buy two of the grilles at about $99-109 each from Roush Overstock on ebay, mount one, cut the other up to build the lower. You'll need to fashion some brackets. Good news is, one grille makes two lowers, so get a buddy to go together with you and the cost is not bad... but it's easier dealing with Fomoco. Just search for Roush lowers or Roush lower grilles hre and you should find em.

 

My opinion differs. I feel there is very little to worry about now since dealerships have been supplied the proper removal and install techniques, and with forums like this on the web should an average Joe run into problems he can easily find information he needs.

This small issue will not keep me from buying a Ford.

 

haha sweet deal man, thanks il hafta check him and ebay out see what i can find, i lvoe that style i hate the ones that cover the ford badge up.

thanks for the info everyone and Stealth hopefully your right about the dealers having the issue down to not run into any problems. your prolly right it about it being not so bad i just shy away from more technical stuff like that with cars/trucks i feel more confident working on my little Z-400 and small basic motors like that haha

 

A local Dealer here quoted me $373.00 for the plug change.....Not bad!..

 

I put champs in after 70,000km. old ones looked like new, I followed TSB like the word of god and had no trouble. I got 50,000km on the champs now.
The reason for champs, is their a 1 piece design that can't break in the future.
I'm a journeyman tech and have seen what CAN happen if TSB is not followed, had a tech in a hurry break 2 and could not get them pulled with mac tool. ended up R&I HEAD. NOT CHEEP. You can buy a lot of champs with $1500.
Some guys will show a picture of a chewed up champion spark plug and say that is proof not to use them, hey I've been pulling wrenchs long enough to see just about everything fail. If seeing one fail is enough reason to condemn a entire line then you will never trust anything.
You look hard enough and you can find SOMEONE. SOMEWHERE, who has a beef with SOMETHING!!!

https://www.f150online.com/forums/v8...ew-1s-yet.html

 

Hey Stealth - I was saying had I been aware of the plug problem when I purchased the truck in 07 - it might have changed my decision then. I agree that now it's much less of anissue solong as you fnd a dealer who understands the issue and follows the TSB. My only objection now is that Ford continues to allow dealerships to charge pretty much what they like - there is no standard and there should be - IMO.