Aftermarket COP for 1997 5.4
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Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2004
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Aftermarket COP for 1997 5.4
The Story:
I got the p0304 error yesterday, and needed to get the truck running right, right away. I was going to swap 2 of the COPs and recheck the code, but had to walk to autozone when I realized I was out of dielectric grease. While there I just bought the replacement COP ($39.99). The #4 COP was such a pain I didn't even want to screw with pulling it out, replace, repeat.
The "duralast" replacement COP is an absolute PIECE OF ****. The rubber boot on it is very, very soft. Therefore when you're trying to reach back through all the hoses, wires, and everything else to push it on you can't. It's too soft to push down onto the plug. Also while trying to maneuver it back there the boot would rotate on the COP, and even popped off.
I wasn't going to turn changing 1 COP into a 2 hour ordeal so I pulled the #1 COP, and installed it on the #4 plug which took all of 3 minutes, then put the ****ty duralast on on the #1 plug. I put dielectric grease in the end of the new one, and also in the end that goes onto the COP.
I'm not real happy about putting an old COP on #4, but didn't have much of a choice.
Now the question:
Are all of the aftermarket COP's this crappy? I mean if I order from global, or uneek will I get these super soft booted COPs? Would I be better off going to NAPA? Or are the Ford one's the only quality ones?
I got the p0304 error yesterday, and needed to get the truck running right, right away. I was going to swap 2 of the COPs and recheck the code, but had to walk to autozone when I realized I was out of dielectric grease. While there I just bought the replacement COP ($39.99). The #4 COP was such a pain I didn't even want to screw with pulling it out, replace, repeat.
The "duralast" replacement COP is an absolute PIECE OF ****. The rubber boot on it is very, very soft. Therefore when you're trying to reach back through all the hoses, wires, and everything else to push it on you can't. It's too soft to push down onto the plug. Also while trying to maneuver it back there the boot would rotate on the COP, and even popped off.
I wasn't going to turn changing 1 COP into a 2 hour ordeal so I pulled the #1 COP, and installed it on the #4 plug which took all of 3 minutes, then put the ****ty duralast on on the #1 plug. I put dielectric grease in the end of the new one, and also in the end that goes onto the COP.
I'm not real happy about putting an old COP on #4, but didn't have much of a choice.
Now the question:
Are all of the aftermarket COP's this crappy? I mean if I order from global, or uneek will I get these super soft booted COPs? Would I be better off going to NAPA? Or are the Ford one's the only quality ones?
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 5,522
Likes: 6
From: Utah
Since 97 even oem ones have gotten more cheaply made. Go to E-bay search "DG508" and buy a set there they are simular to the OEM cops even the boots on them are much less well made now. You can get a whole set for about $80 on e-bay..
Technical Article Contributor
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 25,641
Likes: 19
From: MI
Your on the right track sort of. Any auto electronic part/sensor/coil can be bad right out of the box. Global and Uneek are the best bang for the buck. I've personally done 5 or 6 Global installs without issues. It seems the higher up in price, your chances increase on getting a bad ones lol. I mean really, that's just how it is.
As far as track record, Globals the best thus far, but Uneek is fairly new and they have been reliable so far. I would go for one of the two. Personally, Globals are my choice, they have never done me wrong.
BTW- Make sure you have Motorcraft plugs in that 97 5four. Not Autolites (specially dplats 103's)!! - You'll be in for a headache you don't want.
As far as track record, Globals the best thus far, but Uneek is fairly new and they have been reliable so far. I would go for one of the two. Personally, Globals are my choice, they have never done me wrong.
BTW- Make sure you have Motorcraft plugs in that 97 5four. Not Autolites (specially dplats 103's)!! - You'll be in for a headache you don't want.
Last edited by jbrew; Jun 11, 2009 at 09:56 PM.