I bought a 2004 F150 FX4 new. I used to be active in the forum in years past, however life caught up with me and I have been away for a while.
My truck just ticked 51,000 miles and I now have an air bag issue. While researching the code 4-2 on the site, I discovered the spark plug issue.
I called my dealer to schedule an appt for the airbag and asked him about the spark plug issue. The service manager said that he was unaware of any issue with the spark plugs and that I should not worry about it until 100,000 miles. I told him I wanted to be proactive and either change out the plugs, or take them out and put anti-seize on them to prevent any breakage in the future.
He told my that it would be unnecessary for me to do that, but he would be willing to change out the plugs. I asked for a price quote and he said the plugs would be $8.95 per plug, and three hours of labor at $75 per hour.
I feel that 296.60 is kind of crazy to have the spark plugs changed, however I don't want to have to pay thousands in the future for broken plug removal.
Basically my question is: Should I pay the 300 now to have them changed out, or take the service advisors advice and just wait. I'm already thinking I'm going have to pay $$$ for this airbag repair (since I am out of warranty by 1,000 miles... figures....)
It is a known issue however ford dealer service are trained not to acknowledge the spark plug problem unless or until ford corporate stands up and takes care of this issue. In the meantime if you plan on keeping the truck past 100k or so I would have the plugs changed out. Unfortunately right now, if the ford service departments breaks any of the plugs, you the customer will probably be on the hook for any and all additional charges incurred to fix the truck. Another reason the dealer will not admit there is a spark plug issue. Myself I will probably not have mine changed out until I see a recall. However I'm not planning on keeping my 04 past 100k either.
$300 is a good price. Most I have seen are around $450.
I bet everything that the mechanic will break a plug. For a couple reasons: it is a **** y design, and is almost unpreventable, he hasn't even heard about it so he won't take the precautions needed to get them out successfully, and he will charge the hell out of you to get them out.
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79 Bronco 400 C6 NP205 D44 9" 4.56 gears Lockers 6" lift and 37" SS Iroks
77 F-100 302 C4 D44 31" M/Ts
04 F150 Lariat Screw 4x4 2"AS 32x11R17 Hankook M/Ts or 34x10.50-17 SS LTBs
I've read several posts where the dealer said a broken plug would be covered. They break it, they fix it. I suspect some dealers would not do so...
CMOS
this situation stems from if the plugs were causing an issue (missing, etc.) If you take your truck in for "routine" maintenance and plugs break... you're SOL and pay for it.
I've got four letters and 3 phone calls from Ford saying as much when it happened to me... and it cost me $500. It cost them brand loyalty.
Get the tsb number from here and go back to the dealer and tell him you have the tsb. Tell him you'll pay the 300, but if they break any, it's at their expense. I had mine changed at 54K and 2 broke off. If you're planning on keeping the truck, change them now. Dealers expect customers to be ignorant and don't want to have to cough up, so most people won't fight the system.
Twinsdad98
what did they charge you to replace the 2 broken ones It seems that the problem is that if they break getting them xtracted whithout damage to the threads or head
If one breaks and they get it out by following the tsb with the special tool there shoud not be a large increase in cost I got price $350 in Canada plugs & labour dealer said they have done a number of them with no problems so far
300 is pretty decent remember its dealer service it aint cheap never is i would do it just to make sure nothing serious happens down the road and costs you thousands
I am looking at an 05 with 15,000 miles on it. I wonder, should I just go ahead and remove them and put the anti seize on them now?
FoMoCo,
IMO, I don't see any reason to do so now. If you pull them at 35-40K you should be just fine. Remember, it's not the threads that get locked into the heads. It's the long Anode plug shaft that fuses into the head wall (VERY close tolerances between the shaft and head wall).
I did mine at 41K with no problems at all. YMMV.
CMOS
PS: I did put some nickel based anti-sieze on the threads when I replaced the plugs despite Ford saying not to.
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2001 Sport-Trac, 2WD, 4.0, 5R55E Auto, 4.10 gearing
"Faith in Government defies both history and reason."
It is a known issue however ford dealer service are trained not to acknowledge the spark plug problem unless or until ford corporate stands up and takes care of this issue. In the meantime if you plan on keeping the truck past 100k or so I would have the plugs changed out. Unfortunately right now, if the ford service departments breaks any of the plugs, you the customer will probably be on the hook for any and all additional charges incurred to fix the truck. Another reason the dealer will not admit there is a spark plug issue. Myself I will probably not have mine changed out until I see a recall. However I'm not planning on keeping my 04 past 100k either.
NOBODY IS TRAINED TO SAY ANYHING. THAT IS ONE DEALERS WAY OF DEALING WITH THE SITUATION. THE DEALER THAT I WORK AT DOESN'T MAKE ANY EXCUSES.
NOBODY IS TRAINED TO SAY ANYHING. THAT IS ONE DEALERS WAY OF DEALING WITH THE SITUATION. THE DEALER THAT I WORK AT DOESN'T MAKE ANY EXCUSES.
OK I take your word for that so tell me what your dealer does if u break a couple and can't get them out of the head using the special tool who stands the cost????
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