I have a 07 with the 5.4 engine and it has started to jerk or miss sometimes when I'm pulling my trailer. I'm thinking about changing the plugs, but the dealership is telling me they will break off in the head. Has anyone had this happen to them? Any help? Thanks

 

Search the site this has been discussed in detail. Don't let the stealership scare you out of your hard earned money. Lisle tool makes the job straight forward. Good Luck!

 

I've searched the site and found a lot of info, but I'm disabled and don't think I'm going to try doing this big of a job myself. I've had 3 different back surgery's and it's just to much for me to do. Thanks

 

Take you truck to a different dealer or two, there are dealerships that are more honest than others.

 

"the dealership is telling me they will break off in the head."

They may break off in the head. Check your build date also. Not all 2007's were affected.

At your mileage it is time for new plugs & a low-grade misfire is a very common indicator. I agree that you should take your truck to a few dealers or even an independant shop you trust. This problem has been around enough that they should be able to handle it with minimum issues. If they can't, move on to someone who can.

Hope this helps. Good luck.

 

Careful with the independent shops. https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...ug-change.htmlI would call around to a few dealers to get a quote. A good price should be about 2.5-3hrs plus 0.5hr per broken plug. Most competent techs can get them out without breaking any.

 

My son-in law and I changed the plugs in my 07 Screw with the 5.4 about a month ago. My truck had 91K at the time, and was experiencing misses, backfire and sluggish behavior. We did NOT follow the instructions for the Service Bulletin that gives pretty good instructions of what to do when performing this job. The job took us 3-1/2 hours to do, and 5 of the 8 plugs did in fact break off. My SIL had already purchased his removal tool from the Snap-On truck, I believe the tool was $125, and I am not sure which brand/model he got, I only know it worked, Thank God. Starting with a cold engine is important here folks. Disconnect the computer harnesses that are located on the passenger side firewall to assist you in giving you more room to work. Disconnect your COP wires, remove the COP's, and loosen the plugs no more than 1/4 turn. I recommend only 1/8 turn. Pour approximately 1 oz of carburetor cleaner in the plug hole, and let it set for a 1/2 hour minimum. Work the plug back and forth a few times while trying to remove it. While it is not mentioned in the Service Bulletin, I recommend running a really good fuel injector cleaner, and a good quality gasoline in the last couple of tanks of fuel prior to changing the plugs. I believe that would help break the carbon down that causes the plugs to stick, and then break. Beyond what I have said here, it is anyone's guess if you are going to break any or not. I recommend you purchasing the extraction tool prior to attempting this work. Also, when using the extraction tool, it is crucial to make sure you bottom out the plunger when forcing the ceramic down into the broken piece of the plug to give you the best possible chance of getting the tool to thread itself into the broken piece. We had 1 plug, of course the hardest one to get to, passenger side rear, that we could not get the tool to thread into. We didn't have the plunger bottomed out, leaving us enough room for the tool to thread itself into the broken piece. Once we bottomed out the plunger, we were successful in completing the job. My truck runs like new again, and I am glad that I was able to have my SIL help me with this, and that he already had the tool. For those of you that don't have access to someone that already has the tool, it may be a good idea to find a few people to go in with you on the cost of the tool? For some it may not matter, but $125 is alot to some people, I know it is me. The cost of the plugs is not cheap either, $20 each from the dealership. I again got lucky because my SIL gets parts at cost, $12 each. Hope this info was helpful to somebody.

 

I had a 5.4 when they first came out and since I drive about 50,000 miles a year was likely one of the first to enjoy 6 of the 8 plugs breaking off in the heads. This was well before the Removal Tools and TSB. It is caused mainly by carbon build up. The dealer should perform a complete cleaner on you fuel system before changing them. I have no idea how well the removal tool works but sounds like ajc1460 had some luck. If bad goes to worse and you can't get the broken plugs out then off comes the body then the heads......this gets expensive. By now most Dealers are fairly good at getting them out with no issue but due to the complexity of the job, it is expensive.

 

I do the plugs completely opposite of conventional wisdom. First, get the engine hot!! Either drive it hard for 10 miles or let it idle with the radiator partially blocked for 15-20mins. Then using a 3/8 air impact gun run the plugs out as fast as possible. I might break one plug every 5 sets. My theory on why this method works is twofold. One, getting the engine hot expands the aluminum cylinder head relieving some of the grip on the ground shield. Second, the impact gun spins the plug so fast it doesn't have time to break and comes right out vs turning a little, stopping, and turning some more. It just works

 

I agree with 70f100. I did exactly what he did. I got all mine out in 45 minutes. None of them broke. I used a Dewalt 12volt cordless impact wrench. Worked like a dream.

I was nervous through out the removal process. Felt great when all came out. I did have to extraction tool on hand, just in case.

 

Changed plugs in my 07Screw,got all of them out no problem! As for the price,I live in Nova Scotia,Canada,bought the plugs from Tousley Ford in MN,after duty fees and all charges they were still 80 bucks cheaper than buying them here!

 

Check your build date if it was built after Oct. 07 will have updated heads and plugs will be no problem, if built before that beware a ford dealer broke 7 of 8 in my 04 at 50K