Hey all u Ford guiness out there I could really use your help!!! I have a Ford F-150 5.4L 4x4 with 183,000 km's on it. I had a head removed a few months back cause I thought i'd be a good truck owner and replace the spark plugs but the shop snapped two of them off. About two weekes ago I found that on acceleration, at about 2000 rpm the truck would really lag for about 3-4 seconds or so and then get its power back all of a sudden. Not sure if the rpm has anything to do with it or if its just a fluke everytime. Even on the highway if your crusing at 100-110 Km an hour and u give it a little throttle to pass someone it seems like your pulling a 7000 lbs. trailer, the motor sound changes but it lacks the power. Even if I am excelerating from a light and press the pedel down a little too much it bogs. I've have a cat back system installed and a K&N intake system installed well before this problem started. Any ideas??? Thanks in advance.

 

Is it a 3 valve 5.4? And if so, did the shop actually remove the head? There are tools that remove the broken plugs without head removal. If they did remove the head, it is possible that the shop got the cam timing a little off when they reinstalled the head. I would first pull codes and see if you have any misfire codes. They start with P030x. The last number is the particular cylinder misfiring. If you have no codes, and everything else seems in order, I would be contacting the manager/owner of the shop that did the work.

 

Did you have the work done by a ford dealer? Sometimes the dealer is the best option. With the plug breaking issue I wouldnt let anyone but a dealership do the plugs on those 3v motors. They probably could and should have been able to remove the plugs without removing the head.

 

Wow I had no idea that a tool was out there that could take the broken spark plug out without removing the head ... maybe i should of joined this site a long time ago. It is a 3V with aluminum heads. I used to rebuilt 350 small blocks from carb to pan with my eye closed but all this new computer stuff has got me all turned around. I haven't had the check engine light come on ... would there still be codes in the computer without knowing it?? Either way the problem seemed to get worse and worse after the job had been done. It was a real nightmare ... after i got it back for the forth time I was stuck up at 5000 ft with a broken shift cable, i guess when he put the cab back down on the frame the cable was resting on the exhaust somewhere. Lets just say after all the problems i might just have to take it to Ford. The experience with the dealers though is that u pay alot but don't get a better result. Do you think that it might be high carbon deposits and i might have to get something to flush it all out? What would be the best thing for this? Thanks for all your help.

 

Hey, I am a Ford factory trained, certified Ford Chassis Master, and have worked at the dealer for 13 years. I have come to realize that people talk crap about dealerships and all. Yeah, the prices usually are higher, but the technicians are well-trained. I have seen people spend over $1000 at a Pep Boys (for example). Customer took it there because it was running badly first thing in the morning and the CEL was on (03 Windstar 3.8). They replaced spark plugs, wires, coil pack, fuel injectors cleaned, throttle body cleaned, oil change, and an alignment. After they couldn't "fix" it, they sent them to us. We charged $90 to tell them that they had a vacuum leak due to the intake bolts. After we told them diag and labor to fix it cost $300-400 to fix, they stormed out and started cussing us because we were "ripping them off, and that's why they don't come to the dealer". Now remember, they paid the original bill that was over $1000 for the first repair and didn't blink an eye. By working at a dealer, I knew that there was a tool for the plugs and purchased my own kit. Plus, I don't have to remove the cab to take a head off, or change the engine in an F150, and still can have it back to you in one day(if the parts are available). And finally, if I did remove the head at least I know how to retime the engine so it won't run like crap and the customer comes back multiple times.

 

Nothing personal RyDew1212, that just hit a nerve. Had to vent.

 

Im sure its not a knock on all dealers, but there are shady dealerships out there and it only takes one to sour people on them. I personally dont take mine anywhere else, but have questioned some of their practices. Like a tranny flush, I was told that it did a good enough job that the filter didnt need to be replaced, even tho I offered to pay more to have it replaced. Is that a standard practice? This last issue I had with the clutches in the rear diff going bad, I had to point to the manual on the warranty issue, the service manager didnt know 2007s had the 5yr/60k powertrain warranty, AND questioned whether the rear end was part of the power train. Its crap like that that makes people doubt their abilities.

 

Hey no worries Bronc... I just had my own experiences is all. Not so much a Ford dealership but I had a Dodge Diesel before this and I was rapped at the end of it all. I can appreciate the training all the dealerships put out and how qualified the mechanics are, hell I'm a journeyman myself. I'm starting to figure out that it was a mistake but when the dealer said it would be a min of $3000 bucks to do the same job I got done at a baseball teammates shop for $1200 u have to admit 95% of people would go for the $1200 bucks. I guess bottom line always comes back to u get what u pay for. I'll have to start with a $90 dollar diagnostics fee to start. The only thing I don't want to hear is that after they diagnose it that it can be multiple things and have them suggest that you start with the least expensive and work up. That's what happened at the dodge dealer and it rolled out $1500 later with no engine problem at all but a bad torque converter.

 

Well, I can tell you that if I looked at it, all I would recommend is what it would be to repair your problem. This is a bad time for everybody. Most people try to recommend everything in the hopes of getting something. I don't tend to do that. In fact, come April, I'm changing professions. Can't live off $300 a week take home. I'm going back to building aircraft carriers. Only place they can make em is where I live. Plus I put in 8 years there prior to fixing cars..However, I was fixing cars for 12 years since high school in 86