My truck just Spit out a SPARK PLUG

I was driving to the pond to go Catfishing when like a SHOT .....my Truck started farting and sputtering.

I pulled over and lifted the hood

I knew exactly what it was from the sound....I reached in and grabbed the coil

The PLUG came with it

The coil ear is broken off and the PLUG is TOTALLY destroyed.The electode is peened right over and it looks like it got HIT (piston maybe?)...

I HAVE NO WARRENTY (80,000 miles)....I just bought this truck 3 months ago and I am SOL.

Any Idea what I have to get done to fix this??

I am going to go drink now

Today is BAD


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1999 F350 Super Duty XLT 4x4 5.4L
Rancho RSX shocks w/stablizer,Superchip,Full Custom Exhaust w/ RACE MAGNUM…...
*NEW* Hear The Truck!…..This came out SICK Enjoy…..

 

Hhhhhmmmm. I'd check the threads on the head. If they are shot then you will most likely have to get a new head. Since the heads are aluminum the threads are most likely gone and I don't know of a way to re-thread it. Do a search in the L forum. I remember reading some stuff about them having spark plugs coming out like that. If the head is good or can be fixed without removing it, I'd have someone boroscope the it to see if there is damage to the piston or anything else.

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1997 XLT Teal 4.6L Flareside 4x4 ORP. Automatic, Reg. cab, 3.55LS, tinted windows, bug deflector, Dual exhaust, K&N Generation 2 air filter, BullDog keyless entry/remote start, Modern 16" wheels, bedliner, Covercraft tonneau cover, White faced gauges, electronic shift on the fly, Clarion ADX5655z Double Din Cassette & CD, 4 Pioneer TS-A6865 speakers and superchip.

Future mods: Supercharger, headers, NOS, tranny upgrade(heavy duty gears, clutch packs, etc.), performance torque converter, composite driveshaft, bore cylinders 30 over, new pistons, crank, and rods, get performance heads or port the ones I have, gauges for the a-pillar, new L if they still make them and I like the way it looks, and a Z06 Vette or BMW Z3.




Click here to see more pictures

 

If the threads are gone, they do make something called Healy coil kits (not sure of the spelling). You basically use a tap to create new threads in the head. You then screw a sleeve into the head that is threaded on the inside with the proper size for the spark plug. The sleeve looks like a coil spring. They come in many different sizes.

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2000 XLT Sport 4X4 supercab
5.4 Auto, 3.55 ls, Class III Towing Package with correct radiator!!, 17" ORP tires/wheels

Mods: Rhino Liner, Extang tonneau cover, 9005 fog lights, K & N Filter, WMS Velocity Tube
Wish list: Gibson SS, Rancho RS9000s

 

I actually had that same thing happen to me once with an Opel Rekord I was driving back in the mid 80's when I was stationed in Germany. Spit out the plug, broke the ceramic insulator part, the whole deal... I drove it a couple blocks like that to a service station, had Hans und Franz take a look at it... they said the plug had somehow just vibrated loose and the compression had just blown it out... Their solution? Sold me a new plug. I put it in and drove the car for 2 more years with no trouble at all! I hope you are as fortunate.

 

RI995.4L,

This problem has happened before. Try the local dealer for some help. They might pay for some of the repair. If not got to your local mechanic and ask him to "Heli-coil" it. Check out http://www.helicoil.com/products/helicoil.html for mor info on what a heli-coil is.

Regards

Jean Marc Chartier

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SEE us play;
http://www.F150world.com/michapter/
00 F-150 XLT SC Flairside 4x4 4.6 w/5spd 3.55LSD
Warn XD9000i, skid plates, Draw tite class III,
Rancho RSX Reflex shocks, MAC 8.8 Axle Girdle
BFG 285/75 R16 MTs,
Borla Cat Back, Hedman Headers,
Custom air intake system with modified
air box, Ported Throttle body,
Shortened MAF sensor tower,
K&N air filter,
Superchips

 

Heli-coils are great stuff. It's used all the time on boats where stainless steel bolts strip out aluminum threads. Happens all the time.

As for our engines, didn't I read somewhere that we shouldn't Heli-coil our heads? Personally, I'd give it a shot. Nothing to lose other than the time and cost it took to put the Heli-coil in. If it works, great. If not, then you gotta change the head.

BTW, don't these things happen because somebody probably cross threaded the plug, pulled the plug while the engine was hot, or over torqued it at some point? In other words, isn't this usually caused by negligence? I sure hope this kind of stuff doesn't "just" happen...

[This message has been edited by Dennis (edited 05-11-2001).]

 

My father-in-law had this happen twice on a Dodge 4 banger (serves him right). Helicoil both times, first time wrong, second time right. He just sold the truck with around 210K, so it is possble to fix without removing the head. Good luck.

 

The fuel filter housing/cap has those on the engines I work on. Some idiots tighten the bolts to tight and **** them up. After they get ****ed up we just take the heli-coil out and put a bolt in with a nut on the other end instead.

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1997 XLT Teal 4.6L Flareside 4x4 ORP. Automatic, Reg. cab, 3.55LS, tinted windows, bug deflector, Dual exhaust, K&N Generation 2 air filter, BullDog keyless entry/remote start, Modern 16" wheels, bedliner, Covercraft tonneau cover, White faced gauges, electronic shift on the fly, Clarion ADX5655z Double Din Cassette & CD, 4 Pioneer TS-A6865 speakers and superchip.

Future mods: Supercharger, headers, NOS, tranny upgrade(heavy duty gears, clutch packs, etc.), performance torque converter, composite driveshaft, bore cylinders 30 over, new pistons, crank, and rods, get performance heads or port the ones I have, gauges for the a-pillar, new L if they still make them and I like the way it looks, and a Z06 Vette or BMW Z3.




Click here to see more pictures

 

RI99 ........

Dennis is correct here. These things shouldn't just "happen." It sounds to me like and old self install of new plugs that went awry and a good warning to those installing new spark plugs that they better know EXACTLY what they are doing.



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Dunbarton "The Middle Aged Kid" '99 XLT SC SB 4x2 4.6 auto 3.55 ls The occasional Z-71 Eater! Wedgewood & Denim, SuperChipped, Airaid FIPK, HD electrical and cooling, power seat, Rhino Liner, Extang Classic tonneau cover, Mobil 1. Man, I got it all! (New Jersey)

 

SOL is right if you fix it the right way. I can't remember if I read it on an SSM or on the Ford Shop manual, but if went something like if your thread on the head is bad (meaning your plug was cross threaded or you blew a plug causing your threads to go) that you needed a new head. I think it was on the SSM and I left it at work so Monday I can look it over.

 

I've never heard you can't heli-Coil these heads, but I guess it could be true. Lots of racers Heli-Coil every hole in their heads before they assemble it. It's worth a try before a new head..

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2000 F150 XLT 4x4 Short Bed. Amazon Green, 5.4L, SuperCab, ORP, Tow Package, Sliding Rear Window, Electronic Shift, Keyless Entry, LT265-70-17 Tires, Clarion Pro Audio, Herculiner Bedliner, Air Silencer Removed.

1994 SVT Mustang Cobra. #1032 of 6009. Black coupe with black leather int., 3.73 rear, Bassani Exhaust, Aluminum D/S, Bridgestone RE-71 255-45-ZR17

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