My motor in my 2001 F250 super duty blew one of the spark plugs about a month ago. I still use it as my everyday vehicle mainly to work and back home but I admit I've not been smart about the situation but I'm the only one able to work my wife has pancreatic cancer and can't work and her little monthly check she gets basically buys food and odds and ends. With that being said again not smart to drive it in it's current condition but unfortunately the bills won't hold out on me paying them so I can have the extra money to fix it so I do what I got to do to make sure the bills get paid and by doing so I have to CHANCE it everyday and drive it like it is. The bad thing about this situation besides the blown spark plug is that I just traded my f150 in which was paid in full only to take on $179 payments each month but I did it because this truck is a flat bed as the previous owner took the stock metal bed off and put 2x6s on it and made it a flat bed. The wife and I go collect scrap everyday as a hobby and extra cash so when I seen this truck I had to have it. What a mistake it's been since I got this truck. All 4 rotors need replaced, All the break pads are almost ground down to nothing. The driver's side rear caliper needs replaced as the piston in it is sticking out from the caliper and has literally dug into the rotor. So my questions are......1. How hard is it to re thread the hole? 2. Since the spring inside the long rubber part on the coil pack blew threw the rubber part and I got to replace the rubber part should I replace that coil pack too that was on the plug that blew out? 3. Since I still am making $179 monthly payments on this truck and I owe $1800 still until it's paid in full. Should I spend the money to get the breaks and the re thread kit whick is 2 grand alone just for the breaks, and another few hundred for the re thread kit, plug, rubber piece and probably the coil pack that was on the blown plug.plus an alignment and tires soon. I have had it two months already put a brand new starter on it that was $150 or should I chalk it up as a loss on this truck since it's got almost 200 grand on the motor or suck it up and pay the few grand for parts and labor plus the $1800 I have left on it before it's paid off. There has been some engine work already done the alternator is brand new the fuel rails are newer and I didn't know until the shop I took it into to get a estimate that the same coil pack where my plug blew was zip tied on. SMFH the dude at the auto shop showed me when I took it to get my estimate. I'm torn on what to do. The dealership I'm leasing it from won't give a single penny towards the repairs because it's as is with no warranty since it's a used vehicle. Please someone give me some advice on what to do. I don't have the 3 grand to fix it at the moment and even if I did as I said I'm torn on what to do. Thanks in advance for any/all replies/advice....

 

If the rig is worth it to fix is really your call. It does seem like it going to take some work and if you dont do the work money. You could get a decent running vehicle for the three grand you have. That will have to be your choice.

If you do fix it, start with the brakes. This not only puts you in danger but people around you also. I would take it to a Discount Tires if you have one around you for a quote. I find them reasonable on their price with the backing of nationwide company. They also have a card payment option if you qualify so it wont to a lump out of pocket sum.

Next get that plug taken care of. This is not hard but does require someone that knows what they are doing so it doesnt blow again. They have a kit which is spendy but you dont want to cheap out on this. If you dont have a shop you trust or cant do it yourself its best to have a ford dealer ship handle this. They will be the best for a sure fix. The coil will likely be best to replace. Good luck to you.

 

I did some research after I posted this and in Michigan where I live there is a federal law that allows me to take the truck back to the dealership I got it from and either trade it for a different vehicle or get my money back if the dealership doesn't want to fix it which they won't as I've already went down that road with them they flat out said we sell cars AS IS so we're not paying for it to get fixed. Lesson learned for sure on my part. I need a vehicle to work but I need to work to have a vehicle know what I mean. This truck isn't worth putting the 2 grand that the cheapest place wants to do the breaks then I'm sure another at least grand to fix the plug then another I'm sure 500 to re wire the lights and put the original stock ones back in. I've already paid $1700 on the truck and still owe $1800 to finish paying it off. My wife's dr bills and scripts of medicine she needs all the time is crazy expensive we had to sell my business and all the equipment I had for lawn care last year to pay for her surgery and meds. We had to move in a small 1 bdrm apt from the house we was renting too so fixing it out of pocket right now isn't an option unfortunately. I'm thinking about picking up a second job just to pay some of the bills down that we got behind on a little due to her cancer meds cost. We will figure something out we ALWAYS DO! Thanks for the input for sure. And I'm glad u said not to cheap it on the parts/tools to do the plug I was gonna go to AutoZone today and get a $17 kit to fix it and try and watch a couple YouTube videos on how to do it. You saved me a HUGE headache for real. Thank you and God bless!

 

If you are going to drive around with a spark plug missing, make sure you have disconnected the electrical connection to that cylinder's fuel injector.
UPDATE- Since you seem to be on a budget. One plug that ejected on me simply unscrewed without wiping out the alum head threads. There is a chance you may be able to screw in a new plug and torque it down 18 ft-lbs and be good to go.

 

How do you do that j?

 

There is electrical connectors that go to the injector and the coil pack. Just disconnect them. Do when its a little warmer out so you don't break the plastic connectors. You'll want to press the locking tabs in as you pull them out.

Which cylinder blew the plug? If it is one towards the front of the motor, you can just do it yourself. Harder to do the 4, 5 and 10 plug but still doable Lots of Youtube videos on how to do it. Also the brakes...any basic hand tools you can do them yourself.

 

It's the 3rd one in from the front of the motor looking at the back and it's on the passenger side. I have no hand tools really just a few wrenches and screw drivers. Midas told me that all 4 rotors need replaced there to bad to turn they said, also needs break pads for each and the driver's side rear caliper piston is stuck out and gouging the rotor. I'm definitely not a mechanic by any means. Sure I can fix **** on my own vehicles but literally never worked on anyone else vehicle but mine. What I've done in the past mechanic wise never screwed up again as long as I had the vehicle but working on cars especially the seriousness of what's wrong with my truck takes a lot of patience which is something I LACK at times. I thought about doing it myself but then immediately shot the idea down lol. Still well over a grand for all the parts which I don't have at the moment. Insurance, truck payment, rent, utilities, food, and essentials are what I have enough for until we're caught up on her bills for her cancer meds and treatment and the surgery she had. Definitely won't have it before winter and can't drive this the way it is come winter so I'm thinking different vehicle which sucks because we both love this truck other then the stated issues it's a goddam tank I've put a ton on the bed literally and didn't even feel it. So I'm torn.

 

It's the 3rd one in from the front of the motor looking at the back and it's on the passenger side. I have no hand tools really just a few wrenches and screw drivers. Midas told me that all 4 rotors need replaced there to bad to turn they said, also needs break pads for each and the driver's side rear caliper piston is stuck out and gouging the rotor. I'm definitely not a mechanic by any means. Sure I can fix **** on my own vehicles but literally never worked on anyone else vehicle but mine. What I've done in the past mechanic wise never screwed up again as long as I had the vehicle but working on cars especially the seriousness of what's wrong with my truck takes a lot of patience which is something I LACK at times. I thought about doing it myself but then immediately shot the idea down lol. Still well over a grand for all the parts which I don't have at the moment. Insurance, truck payment, rent, utilities, food, and essentials are what I have enough for until we're caught up on her bills for her cancer meds and treatment and the surgery she had. Definitely won't have it before winter and can't drive this the way it is come winter so I'm thinking different vehicle which sucks because we both love this truck other then the stated issues it's a goddam tank I've put a ton on the bed literally and didn't even feel it. So I'm torn.

 

I drove my 5.4 over 500 miles home pulling a 5,000 lb trailer with a plug blown out, as stated above just unplug the injector and some ear plugs would be nice.

My 2003 F250 that I got new has probably blown out the spark plug 6 different times over 200,000 miles and two engines, there is a cheap fix that I have done a couple times and never had a problem with, that is the Dorman-42025, I always kept a extra in the glove box and the tools to put it in. The last time I had one blow I got the cal van kit and inserted all 8 and I hope I have finally solved that problem

 

Yessir, I hope for your sake you solved your problem with yours. I drive mine EVERYDAY as usual and I do construction and collect scrap with it cause mine is a flat bed made of wood. It's loud as hell but I keep oil in it and just drive it normal it's the only option I have at the moment so. I am going to look up the kit you mentioned and go from there. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR SHARING YOUR EXPERIENCE THAT HAS WORKED FOR YOU LETS HOPE IT WORKS FOR ME ALSO.