This is my first post but I've been reading this site for a while and have found lots of good info. 2002 L , with no mods, 44000 miles. Launched a plug Saturday night , leaving a stoplight, at about 30 mph bang!!! You know the rest. Its sitting at the dealers waiting two days now for an answer from Ford. Dealer says they don't do inserts, will only change head. I have my fingers crossed that Ford will authorize it but I doubt. The dealer says the low miles should help my case. If not my question is simple; Which insert is better. The timesert seems like the way to go. Any thoughts? Thanks:

 

With your low mileage and NOmods, and the documented common occurrances...I wouldn't accept NOas an answer! One way or another I would make Ford pay for the repair!

 

I know of a few dealers who have done inserts, but if you can get a new head for free, that would be the best thing.

 

ford should fix it.my brother has a 99 f150 and i have a 2000 lightning.both trucks spit plugs.about 2 years apart.ford replaced the heads on both,gave a 1 year powetrain warranty for each.we paid $500.00 of the bill.

 

I blew a plug almost a year ago and was in the same situation. I read all sorts of good/bad info about the different types of inserts but the consensus was that they are more of a band-aid than a real fix.

The cost for a new cylinder head was around $3000 installed.

I went to my local dealer and he was able to get me a new cylinder head installed for $500 with the powertrain warranty pushed up to 100k.

I've heard that this is Ford's way of fixing these things without a recall.

 

I launched a plug #3 about 100 miles North of Portland OR. $240 tow bill and $292 at Ford dealer and they put a new plug in the hole and sold me a new coil and said it just backed out, no pulled threads. I saw the threads and they were silverly collored but threads were clean without aluminum material. Dealer said that Ford redesigned plug and made one that seats deeper. They said that my 02 had the redesigned plug.

I was driving 70 mph, that's it. Are you sure that the threads are shot?

 

The Time-Sert kit is the way to go

http://www.timesert.com/html/Triton-repair.pdf

 

i blew out a plug and my wonderful dealer would only put in an insert,
i called svt and they called the dealer and told them that the fix for a norm. asspirated vehicle is an insert but in our trucks it is new heads,
my dealer seemes to try to get by with the easiest fix,but they went ahead with a new head after the call

 

they sold you a 'bill of goods', when the plugs launch they do REMOVE the threads, Yes ford has a redesigned plug that is longer and can reach the last thread in head, but you are now relying on 1 thread to hold the plug in.. it will again! The only real fix is either a new head (also redesigned with more threads 4 instead of 2) or an insert kit Time-Sert or Helicoil is the only way to go w/ an iinsert; and this can be done on the truck by a competent shop or back yard mechnic w/ a grea deal of ability.

 

The joys of owning a 03/04...no spark plug launching feature.

Forget the head and inserts, just JB Weld the plugs in, lol.

 

Ford has put an extended warranty on my truck, at no cost and is replacing the head with a $100.00 deductable!!! There is a God. It took a lot of phone calls but customer support out of Cali was great and took care of everything. Now I'm thinking I should spring for the other head while they have it torn down. Have to check with dealer to get a price. Thanks for all replies.