Broke down and took the truck in for the spark plug change this morning. Just turned 120,000 miles on the 2005 5.4L. Within the last 5,000 miles or so the truck start skipping a little under load and at low RPMs (1200 or so). The skipping and misfiring gradually got worse, and while on a long trip this weekend the check engine light finally came on, flashed a few times, then went off. I bought the plugs months ago with the intentions of doing it myself, but my local dealer told me they would do it for $350 and not charge for any broken plugs. They also said they have a very good track record and basically never break them. Figured I should jump on that deal.

Anyway, they just called and said it should be done by lunch. Crossing my fingers for a smooth operation.

 

That's a pretty good price!....good luck!!!

 

Dealer just called. All plugs came out without breaking and the truck is ready for pick up. Couldn't be happier!

 

Congrats GT->My sons 08 had 171K on the 5.4L with never a spark plug change. I ran Redline SR-1-12oz through 3 tanks of fuel before taking it in to have our mechanic change them. He was really nervous about having to charge me close to $800 if all of them broke. He had never had one with that many miles on it come in with never a plug change.

He was totally amazed! Not one broke. He now recommends Redline SR-1 fuel additive to all his customers. He did put the new motorcraft 1-peice spark plugs in.

 

Motorcraft does not have any 1 piece plugs for the 3v. The new SP-515's are still 2 piece.

 

Thanks glc for correcting me. I know he installed motorcraft. Maybe he started talking about another brand during our conversation that was a 1 piece design and I miss understood him.

 

Unless he had the revised 2008 heads which were one piece to start with.

 

After checking my invoice, around $85 of that $350 they charged was for new boots. So, for under $300 they will perform the labor and not charge extra for broken plugs, which they claim they never run into anyway.

This is Bobby Jones Ford in Augusta, GA in case anyone is interested.

 

Congrats on getting it done and at a good price. So how long did it take them to get it done? I need to get mine done as I have 103k+ on mine and a slight misfire at tmes when going up hills. Happens more at lower RPM's like below 1500 above 1500 when going up hill truck runs fine. But when behind slow pokes is when I notice the misfire. I'm going to have to start pricing the stealerships in the area to see which one will give me the best deal on the plug change and have it done in less than a day. As I would have to drop it off first thing in the morning and have it back by early afternoon so I can get to work since I currently work a 2nd shift job. So if I can find one that can get it done in 4 or 5 hours max that will be great.

 

Start putting Techron in the gas now.

So you don't have to get up early in the morning, most dealers have a night key drop - leave it on your way home from work.

 

Who would have ever though that anyone could get away with charging $350 to change spark plugs... glad I never owned a 3v mod motor

My dad's got a 06 lariat 5.4 and he's got 175k with the original plugs, he's scared to swap them out. I dont blame him. Stupid *** design.

 

$350 is actually a very good deal if that includes broken plug extraction.

 

I dropped the truck off the night before so they had it when they opened. They called me at around 7:30 that morning to let me know they had the truck and were starting the job. It was done and ready for pickup before lunch. They are within walking distance of the Augusta Mall; you could drop the truck off, go walk around for a while and be on the road by lunch.

Same thing I said. I would have had to get a Lisle tool as well, so tack on another $100 if I was to buy one new. It was worth $200 to me for someone else to do it and for me not to have to worry about it. They claimed they never have issues breaking them, and did not seem to think the high mileage on my truck was going to be an issue. I did not ask if the followed the TSB, and frankly didn't care.

Good investment if you ask me.

 

It's not if you were born before 1990

 

Huh?