I'm the original owner of a 01 Lightning. Last night, luckly close to home while driving at normal speed the L blew out the #7 plug. I Limped it home and parked it. Spoke with the Blue Oval boyz today and their first response was you'll need to replace the head because of stripped threads. He said they would try to install another plug but the % has been high that the head will need to be replaced? I recoverd the plug and the coil pack, plug threads looked fine if that means anything.

Was looking for any comments or feedback from members that may have gone through this issue. Was it a head replacement or simply replacing a lose plug with a new one.

I did recently starting hearing a slight mechnical ticking noise from the motor area. One dealer diagnosed it as two bad coil packs. Packs were replaced, guess what sound was still there. Fought with the service manager about the $800 bill and he finally credited my account and asked me to pick up the truck because they couldn't identify what was causing the noise. Think there could have been any coorelation with the blown plug. Makes so much noise now I couldn't hear the ticking noice if i tried.

Appreciate any and all feedack, Broken down in PA.

Rick

 

The ticking was the plug. Most people know that when you hear the ticking a plug is about to go. I hope you don't have to pay for this.

 

Ticking noise was definately the plug thats what mine did. I tried to put a plug back in but there were no threads in the head at all but the plug looked fine. Ford replaced my head under warranty.

 

Olefafl and Bdazsvt, Thanks for the replies.

Bdazsvt was your truck still under 3 year 36,000 mi warranty. Kind of erks me that Ford had the truck prior to the blown plug and didn't know what it was. Shame on me for not checking here sooner.

 

Ya EVERYONE knows ticking is a loose plug EXCEPT FORD
These frigging dealerships scare the schitt out of me
(thats why mines NEVER been there once)

Seems to me "they" owe you a free head / s

Very sorry to read this RJG, if Ford doesn't own up to their FukUp,
talk to the Big L Tuners and they may be able to put an insert in just the way it is, and save you mucho $$

 

that ticking was the loose plug!

Instead of replacing the head, you can have "timecert" installed in the hole and it will be good to go. Some people do it with the head on the engine, other take the head off.

 

RJG,
I am just down the freeway from you and would like to know which FORD dealer you went to. I want to make sure I DO NOT GO THERE! Sorry about your plugs. Will Timeserts work for you (oopsie, I-menace beat me to it):
http://www.timesert.com/html/triton_repair.html

Cheaper than heads but if you have the $$, ported heads and cams then!!

 

Kromdom,

I moved from SoCal to PA. The dealer was here in Delaware. When I was in SoCal Fritz Ford in Riverside was where i took it. no problems with them. I'm really kicking my self for not posting the question when I first starting hearing the noise.

It's also very disturbing that the dealer had it and didn't have a clue and blamed in on the coil packs. I think I'll call the Fords SVT Dept on Tuesday and explain what happend and see if they might throw me a bone since the dealer missed diagnosed. The other sad thing is so far it doesn't sound like anyone has been able to re-install a plug without head work.

Rob, everyone except me and Ford. I need to start keeping better company.

Thanks for the link, Rick

 

I had to deal with a blown plug not too long ago... I'd seriously consider using a TimeCert for the repair...

 

The Ford dealer near me has a new tool just for installing timecert in the 5.4 and the V10's with the heads on the truck. They charge about $400 to $500.
Mike

 

RJG

You, me, lots of us didnt know when we bought them that this was a prob. Unfortuately if you were around the forums longer you'd have seen tons of post on this and everyone has the same horror story afterwards, "I heard a ticking noise and wasn't sure what it was", it sucks but when your not aware of this prob, you would never even think about checking a plug.

BUT FORD IS WELL AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND HAS BEEN FOR YEARS AND YEARS. Although you cant blame it on them, you can do your homework and talk to them with knowledge and fact and say, "hey you know dam well that X amount of 5.4's have spit plugs, and you know the tell tale sign is a ticking sound, and you know thats what I bought it in for, and you know this is a common problem you've been dealing with for years. If you guys would have checked the obvious bla bla bla....

Personally I dont think you got a leg to stand on, Ford got alot of that No Schitt with them. But I'd be pissed and def talking to them too

I hope you can cert it on the truck and get going fast

 

Dude the ticking noise is the plug backing out of the hole!!!!!

WHoever these mechanics are should be chastized and made to pay for the head/plug replacement!

I luckily made it 500miles with the ticking (was a road trip moving to my new house) I knew it was the plug backing out but what could I do!~ I took it to my local dealership and told them I know the plug is backing out, check all the plugs. mine was #7 also.

Hope you learn from this!

 

Wow 400 to 500? thats to high! I charge 1 to 1.5 hrs. labor 8 buck for the time sert. and I usually repair the coil. Cost about $150 at my shop. BTW Ive been using Time Serts for over 20 years!

BTW the best way to prevent premature plug ejection is to check your plugs often!

Scott

 

Can he say that




hehehehe @ Scott

Wow good to know Scott, nice one......
Tell me something, are all 8 cylinders fix-able (or cert-able) on a Lightning with the heads still installed and in the vehicle ???
Not that I am saying someone should do all 8, just wondering if all 8 are fix-a-ble with heads on and in the vehicle. That back one "on both sides" has got to be a MF ???

 

When I call SVT to get my build number and date for the "2003 Build Numbers" post can they tell me if my truck got the updated threads? I read not all 03's got updated heads, is that true or did all 03's get the fix? Thanks.