I have a 98 F150 5.4 4x4 with 140000 miles and i just blew my first plug. It was the number 7. The threads on the spark plug looked fine so i took it to the dealer to replace the COP (I was going out of town for a week and i would not be able to replace it myself). Upon my return the vehicle was driving the same before i took it in (after the blow plug). The Ford mechanic stated he was able to screw the spark plug all the way in with no problems - doubtful. Well I was driving it to work the following day and would you believe it, number 7 blew again. I attempted to reinsert the spark plug but there were no threads -amazing.

What are my options?

 

I had the same plug problem with my 4.5L Expidition. I does have approx. 145,000 miles but the plug just blow right out about a month ago. It sounded like a lawn mower or machine gun. I believe it was the #3 cylinder. The mechanic at the local shop was able to fix it but stated he never saw this happen before. I'm not sure a believe him. Its been about 3,000 miles now and the truck is miss firing. I first thought the injectors might be fouled but now I believe it has something to do with the blown plug. I wonder if Ford will ever admit there's a problem here. I also have a 1992 F-150 with approx 199,000 miles. It has a 5.0L and runs like new. I've never done anything but change the oil. Why can't the new truck run like the old.

 

Add another to this list.

Yesterday morning I was driving to work and happened to look at the odometer. I was thinking about changing the plugs at 110K.

I left work and was accelerating on the entrace ramp and POW. I knew exactly what happened. Managed to limp home and got it to the shop this morning.

The mechanic has been seeing several of these issues. I'm lucky that he's only going to charge $400 for the new plugs, parts and labour.

So I guess I get my plugs changed at 110K.

I'll try not to think about changing the transmission fluid at 120K.....

 

Where is this shop at? I got several quotes. I have the parts and they still said from 900-1500 bucks.

 

Sorry to hear of your misfortune. I have a 01 Navigator with a loss of compression on a cylinder with 68K miles and I'm looking at a 4k repair bill. I too am amazed at this condition with so few miles on the vehicle. I have another vehicle with 180K miles and rolling strong. I am thinking there is some kind of factory defect that has caused this issue. I have filed a complaint with Ford and I will post my interaction with them weekly.

Good Luck to you!

 

Is there a sticky feature on these forums? If so it should become a sticky forum with the links to the appropriate numbers and web addresses. I called Ford this morning about mine going out and seeing just how many people have had this issue and this is only one forum. They of course said they can't do anything, but it was good that I filed a complaint as there aren't many reports there so we need to get everyone to call and complain. Let them know this is a major issue!! I also called the other company (NHTSA) and they are sending me the form to file a complaint there as well. It's getting a helicoil by a buddies dad this weekend who works for Ford so hopefully it will hold until I can get rid of her. It's a shame I love the truck even with all the problems I've had this is the final straw. I think it's going to be Chevy trucks from here on out. Only ford may be a new Mustang in the future, but that's it.

 

Hi all,

Just to make sure effected owners are aware, it seems a powerful class-action lawyer has been hired to take up this cause with Ford on behalf of all owners.

I did some on-line research on this lawyer (Donald Ricketts), and he's the real deal, an experienced (largely-retired) class-action lawyer who runs a gentleman farm in Valencia, CA. Do a search, and you'll find accounts of other big class-action lawsuits he's been involved in, including against tobacco companies. I dare say he'll get Ford's attention.

The content of a recent e-mail I received from him is below:

@@@

The e-mail you received from me was part of a mailing to approximately 350 Ford owners who suffered a spark plug blowout. Many of those who responded asked for a fuller explanation of the case and where it is going.

The action was filed by my client, XXXXX, in Los Angeles on June 7, 2004 (the case no. is XXXXX). It was filed on behalf of XXXX, individually, and on behalf of all other Ford owners – a class action. Thus, for the present, it includes you and all of your rights are protected (however, see below).

Based upon the information provided by many owners, and research and investigation I conducted, I am satisfied that the case has a great deal of merit. There is no doubt in my mind that the blowouts were the result of a design/engineering defect. Equally importantly, and perhaps even more damning, is the fact that once Ford became aware of the problem (early on) they could have largely prevented future blowouts by requiring that the plugs be inspected and tightened, if necessary, periodically. The manuals only specified service at 100,000 miles.

The suit seeks to recover the cost of repairs for those who had the problem, require Ford to notify owners who have not yet suffered a blowout, issue a recall, and extend warranties.

Although the suit is filed as a class action, it may not go forward as one until the court allows it to, or “certifies the class.” Thus, although the case is now filed on behalf of all Ford owners (a national class), it is likely (though not certain) that the court will restrict it to a California class only, and anyone outside California would not be included or protected.

To guard against this you could file an action yourself in your own state (individually and on behalf of a class of the owners in your state) or you could join the present case as a named plaintiff and as the representative of owners in your state. If either of these possibilities interests you, you should contact me or any lawyer to discuss it. I would not be able to represent you if you filed in your own state (because I am not admitted to practice there), but if you wished to join the existing case here in California I could represent you and would be happy to do so. You would not be responsible for attorney’s fees and costs. You would need to sign an attorney-client agreement that I will be able to provide for you.

In any event, because you are in the class at present, I am your attorney and communications we exchange are subject to the attorney-client privilege and are confidential. Please feel free to call or write should you have information that would be helpful in prosecuting the case.

Thank you for the information and help you have already provided.

Sincerely,
Don

P.S. You will receive status reports from time to time on the case. If you do not wish to receive further information, just tell me and you will be removed from the list.


D O N A L D_ W ._ R I C K E T T S
Attorney at Law
28855 Kenroy Ave.
Santa Clarita, CA_ 91387-1721
Phone_ (661) 250-3091
Fax:_ (661) 250-1767

@@@

I'm sure you could contact him if interested. His e-mail is:

scfarms@socal.rr.com

E-Mail: scfarms@socal.rr.com

PS my heli-coiled plug repair blew out last year (and realize heli-coiling is NOT a competent repair, just for this very reason), and it completely took the threads with it (not to mention part of the aluminum cylinder head, leaving a big gaping hole where the plug used to be).

For the repair ($2,500 more down the drain), the cylinder head was removed and a machine shop welded a metal plate to the head. It has held for the past year, so knock on wood...

Chris

 

Hello there from Ontario Canada
I am a newbie and need some help. My husband and I have a ford f250 super duty 2002 truck. At the end of May we had a spark plug blow out passenger side. Upon inspection from the ford dealer mechanic he stated three were also loose on the other side. At the time we brought ours in he had two other ford pickups with the same problem in the shop. This was in Thunder Bay Ontario. We replaced the head at $3200. cost. We are anticipating the other head to go. I spoke with ford company who admited it was a problem but should not happen again as the new head was from a different cast. However no financial help. I was advised about "Camvap" Canadian Motor Vehicle Arbitation Plan they have a website check them out. I filed the application to have my case heard by them. Further internet seaches showed this was by no means an isolated case. It appears to have been very common for a number of years, and ford refuses to help. Anyway if any one can email their similar problems with names addresses and locations. I will mail them into Camvap prior to my hearing which is to be done tele conference on August 23 2005. I know this is short notice, however if I can convince the arbritrator of the problem it might help others who have had past blowouts and ones that will come who have the defective aluminum casts. I would appreciate any emails I can get to be used as evidence. Thank you all in advance. Lets make ford be responsible. 807-854-1519

 

Hello again,
This is just an update. I had a plug blow on easter sunday. Got a quote to have it fixed. About $3000. So I got new heads done the work my self. Then Would not start. New battery. Still nothing. Got fed up with it and had it hauled to the dealership. They said the battery was shot along with the cables. That was $871. Then they said that the starter was bad. Another $300. After all that they said the engine locked up on them. So a long story short paid almost $6000 for a rebuilt engine. Plus all the time i put in with the other parts I bought. Grand total.... $7500 for an enginge that doesnt have as much power as my old one. But call me an idiot I still love Fords.

 

not only spitting plugs but also breaking exaust man. bolts. there is no question ford has manufactured faulty heads.

 

I had the same problem, used this kit, did it in my own driveway with the head on the vehicle in about 2 hours. Problem happened at 79,000 miles. Sold the vehicle with 108,000 miles...never had another problem. No more need for the kit. It has 4 inserts and all of the tools necessary to complete the job. Additional inserts can be ordered from Timesert if you want to do both sides at the same time. This product works! I have one for sale on ebay, auction # 7992320365. I am not a dealer, I only have one kit so act quickly.

 

Saturday night, a mechanic friend was helping me change the spark plugs in my 1999 F-150 Ext. Cab 4.2L V6. It has 75K miles, and I just bought it in October. The plugs were a bit tight, but when we got to one, it snapped off completely, shearing off right inside the cylinder head. Looking at the half-a-plug that came off, it looks like it had actually cracked long ago (possibly another mechanic tried to remove it, heard a crack, and then "ignored" it?), so it's basically been useless for a few years anyway. I'm not a mechanic, so I don't know all the jargon here, but my friend said you could literally see that when the plugs were first installed (they appear to be original factory plugs), they used none of the "grease/no-seize/whatever it is called" to prevent the plugs from essentially adhering to the inside of the cylinder head. So it looked like it had almost fused together.

Is there any way to fix this without having the entire head pulled? I've heard you can try to drill in a bit and work it back out that way?

If I do have to have it pulled, is it better to rethread it, if needed, or replace the head? What kind of estimated cost am I looking at? I'm in the north Dallas area.

Thanks,
Mark "Soon-to-be-more-broke-than-usual-in-Dallas"

 

Launched the #1 plug. First time I saw that plug # listed on here unless I missed it somewhere. I'm going to try that Timesert kit I saw on here. Looks like a good company and the inserts are supposed to be stronger than heli-coil. $350 is better than an entire head job. Plus I'll be able to fix more plugs WHEN the next one blows out. Yeah, I wrote Ford a nice 2 page e-mail on how much they have been ticking me off lately. Amazingly, my 1978 Bronco ran without these stupid problems for the 10 years I drove it. I'm thinking about selling the F-150 and putting the Bronco back on the road. I miss tuning carbs. Later all.



1999 F-150
5.4L

 

Does anybody have an actual number of members here that have blown a plug now? Two plugs?

 

Hi,
I am also one with the blown sparkplug synsdrom
1999 E150 5.4l 80,000 miles, original plugs, no warning signs, ticking or hissing just a loud pop. I have also had 2 exhuast bolts snap.