Spark plug class action lawsuit
#31
This is getting ridiculous... changing plugs around the 50-60K mark is acceptable, but changing them at 37,000 miles seems overkill. Soon, people will be so scared, that they'll be changing their plugs every 3000 miles, like an oil change.
#34
Shoot, 50% of the time I regret ever buying a second 5.4L 3v truck. The spark plug issue, and the exhaust manifold issue and quality of materials used for it push it over the edge. I wish I waited it out with my old 2004 truck for a couple extra years, could have been in a 2011 FX4 by now. These are good trucks for the quirks they have, but I never ever heard of a broken spark plug until the 5.4L 3v.
#36
#37
I guess I'm special or lucky. My certified Master Mechanic brother did mine for the cost of parts, but I do tip him when I can.
#39
Received my letter last week as well. Wish I could charge them for my labor and materials I used back when I did it. Changed mine at 60k right after I bought the truck from an individual. Ran several tanks of seafoam through the gas tank in preparation but that did absolutely no good. Every turn of the rachet made an awful screaching sound, but after 8+ hours of turning each a quarter or half round at a time, working them back and forth, spraying penetrating oil in the wells and letting them soak, they all came out in one piece. Turned the engine over without the plugs to blow out the penetrating oil, put the new plugs in with some plug grease, and cranked her back up with no trouble. Saved myself HUNDREDS because every one of those suckers would've broken if some mechanic who was in a hurry tried to do it.
#40
I just got one in the mail also. My plugs have never been changed out on my 2006, I'm at 81,000. I'm wondering if maybe Ford will change them out for me, at a discounted price, if I call the dealership service dept.. I got a quote a couple months back from a local shop here in Tucson, for $525.
#42
Sent my letter in right away, here's why. All plugs replaced by at 34k by dealer doing warranty work for cam phasers and lashes, 4 plugs broke. At 98k truck died, flat bed trucked to dealer who found #2 cylinder misfire and replaced all plugs, 5 broke. $800 cost and they did not use the new 1 piece plug. 25 miles later CEL comes on, limped it back to dealer. #2 burned valves and warped head meant $$ for new head, or $$ for used motor, or $$ for new motor. Chose new motor for $7,800 more. Neither dealer nor Ford would make any adjustment on the first $800. So I don't expect much from Ford on this plug suit either. To me Ford is now just another 4 letter word.
#43
Ford doesn't have a 1 piece plug. You can only get them aftermarket. The "new" SP-515 is still a 2 piece.
#44
You are ripping people off. Book labor for a plug change is 3 hours, but it's legitimate to charge extra for broken plugs requiring extraction. Charging everyone 7.5 hours is shameful. The local dealer here charges 3 hours plus 0.5 hour for each extraction. Even if all 8 break, that's still only 7 hours. You know as well as I do that a good tech can have those plugs in and out in an hour using an impact if none break, but book is
Thankfully I did mine with a mechanic friend of mine, none broke and it was a total success.. But I did get an estimate from a dealership near me before hand. IIRC i was quoted $425. They wanted the truck dropped off the night before and even offered a free rental for the day.
#45
You are ripping people off. Book labor for a plug change is 3 hours, but it's legitimate to charge extra for broken plugs requiring extraction. Charging everyone 7.5 hours is shameful. The local dealer here charges 3 hours plus 0.5 hour for each extraction. Even if all 8 break, that's still only 7 hours. You know as well as I do that a good tech can have those plugs in and out in an hour using an impact if none break, but book is book.
Ford doesn't have a 1 piece plug. You can only get them aftermarket. The "new" SP-515 is still a 2 piece.
Ford doesn't have a 1 piece plug. You can only get them aftermarket. The "new" SP-515 is still a 2 piece.
Ford tech first replaced plugs with tho old style but after the engine blew he said the new style plugs are one piece. So I wonder what I have in my new ford reman engine. Maybe I don't really want to know.