98 5.4L 15 pass van missing
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98 5.4L 15 pass van missing
Well, about five months ago, my number 8 plug blew out and cost me about $700 to have fixed (OUCH). It has about 120K on it and just started missing. I took it into the shop and they say there is a compression problem with my number 3 now and that it needs the head pulled to do a valve job (DOUBLE OUTCH). They quoted me about $1,900 for the job to be done saying it's very hard to pull a head on this engine since it's in a van. I've viewed many of the other postings and saw several things simular to this however none of them seemed to need to have the head pulled.
Any Ideas? Should I get a second oppinion?
Any Ideas? Should I get a second oppinion?
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Joined: Apr 2004
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No it didn't. This happened a week ago when I was in Arizona. I drove the van back to Southern California. I only noticed it at low rpm's. I have driven it about 10 times since I noticed the missing and one of those times was for about 300 miles. I'm getting ready to bite the bullet and get it fixed, but I am concerned of the honesty of the repair shop and if there is anything else that this could be rather than requiring pulling the head and charging me $1900+
Let me know what you think,
Thanks
Let me know what you think,
Thanks
Thread Starter
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New User
Joined: Apr 2004
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Mechanic used JBWeld to put my plug back in (OUTCH)
Well, I had a more trusworthy mechanic check it out and he found the the other shop basically had jbwelded or epoxied the spark plug in. Since JBWeld does not conduct electricity, the spark plug is not grounded well and hence the misfireing is still happening. This new mechanic was pretty upset at what he found. I of course am too. Has any ever heard of fixing a stripped plug this way?
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Joined: Dec 2001
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From: Louisville,Ky.
No, I don't think that that stuff was designed to replace threads!!!
So they charged you $700.00 for a pack of JB Weld? Wow, talk about a mark-up!!
I guess they told you that your #3 cylinder was dead to cover the unacceptable repair job that they did the last time. Maybe they were going to actually replace the head this time.
How did the new shop recommend fixing it? I know that Ford recommends replacing the head and not repairing it.
Good luck, I would report them to the BBB!!! if not small claims court.
Jimmy
So they charged you $700.00 for a pack of JB Weld? Wow, talk about a mark-up!!
I guess they told you that your #3 cylinder was dead to cover the unacceptable repair job that they did the last time. Maybe they were going to actually replace the head this time.
How did the new shop recommend fixing it? I know that Ford recommends replacing the head and not repairing it.
Good luck, I would report them to the BBB!!! if not small claims court.
Jimmy
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