04-06 Plug Warning
Junior User
Joined: Feb 2007
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I just got off the phone with my local ford dealer and explained the spark plug issue and he has never heard of it. He said they stand by Ford's 100,000 mile plug warranty. Also, they have changed several plugs on the 04's with 100,000 miles and no issues. So, what's the deal. Is it hit and miss??
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2004
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The dealer stands behind the 100K plug warranty? What 100K plug warranty, its a recommended maintenance change not a warranty? The warranty is 36K miles or 3 years. I guarantee if you have a plug problem after the base warranty the dealer is going to charge you in some form! It may be labor only or a combination of both parts and labor.
The dealer may have changed plugs on earlier models, but what was the mileage, more then 50K. The problems being discussed are those trucks that have not had any issues and follow the maintenance change of 100K.
I would ask him why there is a TSB for plug breakage and ask him how many have gone the 100K distance without using the special extraction tools!
There are few reported on this forum that the plugs did break! The dealer quoted prices which involed changing the heads. Obviously they did not read the TSB or they were looking for a quick buck. Either way there have been some reported plug breakage issues on this forum.
The dealer may have changed plugs on earlier models, but what was the mileage, more then 50K. The problems being discussed are those trucks that have not had any issues and follow the maintenance change of 100K.
I would ask him why there is a TSB for plug breakage and ask him how many have gone the 100K distance without using the special extraction tools!
There are few reported on this forum that the plugs did break! The dealer quoted prices which involed changing the heads. Obviously they did not read the TSB or they were looking for a quick buck. Either way there have been some reported plug breakage issues on this forum.
Last edited by KevinM; Feb 26, 2007 at 11:46 AM.
Junior User
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That is exactly what I asked the dealer. I told him people are changing their plugs based on the maintenance schedule and he said they haven't had problems changing them out. Even if I bring in my 04 and change the plugs now, at 20,000 miles with no problems, and they break the plugs it will not be covered anyway. Warranty will not cover something that doesn't have a problem.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2004
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That's the point they haven't had the issue or seen many with the issue because the 04 was the first 5.4 3V that is in the TSB. The dealer has not seen many 04's with 100K because the average mileage driven per year is 15K. He will not really start getting any volume in for plug changes or 100K tune ups untill 2010!
New User
Joined: Jan 2007
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It almost seems that unless Ford receives thousands of emails in 1 or 2 days from everyone that had plugs break and the dealer then charge them $3,000-4,000 to pull the heads to fix the issue...they probably wont do anything about it. Until they are flooded and the servers go down due to the high volumes of emails....they will not even bat an eye. Just look at how many had to die or be injured with the tire issue a few years ago before they would own up to it with Firestone and swap out tires. By then it was too late because the litigation had already started. I love my truck but I'm almost to the point of trading it in...and I have only owned it for a month. Since I got it well below blue book value, I could probably break even and go with another company that hasn't had these issues. It's either that or starting saving now and praying that I wont have plug issues until I can afford to get the heads pulled if the plugs break.
Junior User
Joined: Aug 2004
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From: imperial beach ca
I have a 2004 Lariat with 23000 miles and had been going back and forth on this issue and if I should have the plugs changed and get the anti-seize applied. The dealer
charged me $316 for the plug change. They called me up after I dropped it off saying the manager wants me to come in and sign a paper saying if they broke anything it would be up to me to fix it. My warranty expires in June which is why I wanted to do this now. Needless to say, I got hot and said I'm not signing anything and that they are a Ford dealer that sold me a Ford product and they're supposed to be able to change spark plugs in it. I had also given them a copy of the tsb. Finally the manager called me and apologized and said they would change the plugs. They came out okay but all had that rusty looking carbon dust on them. I talked to the mechanic who did it and found out he didn't use any penetrant removing the old plugs, just warmed the engine. So he didn't exactly follow the tsb. I got the old plugs and just for the heck of it I held that sleeve with vice grips and gripped the plug with a wrench and was unable to break the sleeve loose from the plug. I don't plan on messing with them for a good long time now although I'm not sure how long that anti-seize stays on the plug.
Just thought some might be interested in my experience.
charged me $316 for the plug change. They called me up after I dropped it off saying the manager wants me to come in and sign a paper saying if they broke anything it would be up to me to fix it. My warranty expires in June which is why I wanted to do this now. Needless to say, I got hot and said I'm not signing anything and that they are a Ford dealer that sold me a Ford product and they're supposed to be able to change spark plugs in it. I had also given them a copy of the tsb. Finally the manager called me and apologized and said they would change the plugs. They came out okay but all had that rusty looking carbon dust on them. I talked to the mechanic who did it and found out he didn't use any penetrant removing the old plugs, just warmed the engine. So he didn't exactly follow the tsb. I got the old plugs and just for the heck of it I held that sleeve with vice grips and gripped the plug with a wrench and was unable to break the sleeve loose from the plug. I don't plan on messing with them for a good long time now although I'm not sure how long that anti-seize stays on the plug.
Just thought some might be interested in my experience.
Junior User
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 61
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From: imperial beach ca
Originally Posted by KevinM
Good for you! Glad you threw it right back in their face.
line when you go in for an oil change before the "recommended" 5000 mile
interval. My wife's reaction was "what if it was me?". I pointed out the tsb
says it's covered under warranty if a plug is damaged but obviously at
100,000 miles it's way out of warranty. They sure were suspiciously leery
to make $300 for a 2 hour job, which is what it took them.
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Elder User
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Originally Posted by Danny0295
I just emailed my dealer inquiring about the plug change issue. I included the TSBs listed here and am waiting to see what they say. If I need to get them changed on a regular basis to negate this freezing and breaking problem, I think I'm going to buy the plugs elsewhere and have them install them. It appears from what I have seen on here that the dealers are charging a small fortune for each plug (some around $18 apiece). When I hear back from teh dealer, I will let everyone know.
Elder User
Joined: Jul 2006
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Simmy: Sorry but I do not beleve your guy a TSB comes directly from ford motor company, but I can tell you one thing for sure on this plug issue no one form ford will give you a straight answer on anything, it is what it is a design flaw!!
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2003
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From: Sussex County, DE
Spark Plugs fall under the emissions equipment warranty and therefore are guaranteed for 8 years or 80,000 miles, unless the vehicle is a ULEV which then goes to 10 years 120,000 miles. If an 8 year 80,000 mile emissions warranted vehicle has a stated interval for spark plugs that is different (IE more frequent or less frequent) then they are warranied up to the first replacement interval. That means if they are stated to be 100,000 mile plugs, then they are warrantied untill that point.
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2003
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From: Sussex County, DE
Originally Posted by 04 FX4 Lineman
That is correct but it is not a plug problem it is getting them out, they will probably go 150K I am sure there are some exceptions but then getting them out is the issue and that won't be covered.
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2005
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From: Copperas Cove, Tx
It is a sad state of affairs when you have to prove you know what is going on with their product to get anywhere! Then it will only take pulling two teeth to get them to do it! Big manufacturers think they are untouchable because of haveing the finances to retain so much legal council. They will postpone everyone into dept and declare victory over us little people.