tick and pop
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Freshman User
Joined: Jan 2007
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tick and pop
I started my truck this morning to warm up came back about 5min later got in put in gear there was a ticking sound and then POP! And now the coil over the spark plug is laying on the side and the spark plug blew out! What the heck happened?
Mountain Pass
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 203
Likes: 6
From: Port St Lucie, FL
Is this a 5.4? My old f-150 w/ 5.4 did the same thing and thats when I got rid of it. They said it was a common problem in those engines because they only have a couple of threads to hold on to and that if they are not torqued right then they come blowing out. Best of luck getting this fix and I hope its not like mine where it was the very back one and they had to pull the engine to fix it.
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It's a 5.4L '01 F250. It was the drivers side second from rear plug. Blew the coil over plug apart. I'm thinking it was a stupid mistake on my part when I changed the plugs. I think I didn't have it torqued properly and it came loose. I got the plug back in and it seems secure. It runs with no strange noises. Code reader only says there is a problem with the ignition coil. NO KIDDING! It's in pieces. Having a mech check it this afternoon.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 203
Likes: 6
From: Port St Lucie, FL
Ya sounds like you managed very well. When mine came out it striped all the threads and they were going to have to re-drill it to get a spark plug back in.
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I had a hard time getting the plugs in b/c my socket extension handle kept letting go of the spark plug socket (leaving it securely fastened to the sparkplug down deep in the hole!). I must have worked the plug loose trying to get the socket to let go and it finally worked it's way out. Lesson learned. At least I HOPE that is what happened. The mech is going to check the threads this afternoon. (fingers crossed)
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Wow..... you are so lucky that it did not rip up those threads in the head. I believe Ford made a change to correct the problem .... I don't know what year they did so.
Anyway, many people here will tell you to be careful changing spark plugs on these V8 and V10 engines. Use only OEM plugs and a little anit-seeze, and some dielectic grease on the plug/boot area.
Make sure you have all the ratchet acessories you need to get to them, and then use a torque wrench.
And how the extension kept letting go of your spark plug socket ...... I believe there are "locking" ratchet extensions, I've been meaning to find one.
Anyway, many people here will tell you to be careful changing spark plugs on these V8 and V10 engines. Use only OEM plugs and a little anit-seeze, and some dielectic grease on the plug/boot area.
Make sure you have all the ratchet acessories you need to get to them, and then use a torque wrench.
And how the extension kept letting go of your spark plug socket ...... I believe there are "locking" ratchet extensions, I've been meaning to find one.
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Joined: Feb 2007
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blown plug
I am discouraged to see so many responses telling you to replace the head. I had this problem happen to me yesterday while driving on the freeway. I called Kragens, bought a new coil which has the boot included for $59.99. I also bought a spark plug for $2.49.
A simple search online gave me directions with pictures on how to change the coil. It involves unbolting the fuel injector rail which is a pain to realign, but the repair was simple and quick.
I have absolutely no mechanical experience prior to this beyond oil changes. Kragens has the healey kits for $14.99.
You don't need to replace the head, you don't need to buy a new engine, you simply just replace the boot, and if the threads are blown, the healey kit should fix that.
For Under $100, you can do it yourself with a difficulty rating of 4 out of 10.
A simple search online gave me directions with pictures on how to change the coil. It involves unbolting the fuel injector rail which is a pain to realign, but the repair was simple and quick.
I have absolutely no mechanical experience prior to this beyond oil changes. Kragens has the healey kits for $14.99.
You don't need to replace the head, you don't need to buy a new engine, you simply just replace the boot, and if the threads are blown, the healey kit should fix that.
For Under $100, you can do it yourself with a difficulty rating of 4 out of 10.
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Joined: Sep 2000
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From: Stephensville WI
Originally Posted by themerritts
I am discouraged to see so many responses telling you to replace the head.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,082
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From: VA/NH
What's up Marine? A good trick for putting the plugs back in next time is using a piece of rubber fuel line. You can slip the end of the plug in it, lower it in the hole and thread it in. That way you'll know for sure it's threading right before you start torquing it down with a ratchet. It works well for getting it out too. Another good trick I remember from having a 5.4 is if you drop an o-ring or something else in the hole you can use a long funnel and a vacuum cleaner to get it out. I hope your threads do wind up being ok. Good luck.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 203
Likes: 6
From: Port St Lucie, FL
Originally Posted by themerritts
I am discouraged to see so many responses telling you to replace the head. I had this problem happen to me yesterday while driving on the freeway. I called Kragens, bought a new coil which has the boot included for $59.99. I also bought a spark plug for $2.49.
A simple search online gave me directions with pictures on how to change the coil. It involves unbolting the fuel injector rail which is a pain to realign, but the repair was simple and quick.
I have absolutely no mechanical experience prior to this beyond oil changes. Kragens has the healey kits for $14.99.
You don't need to replace the head, you don't need to buy a new engine, you simply just replace the boot, and if the threads are blown, the healey kit should fix that.
For Under $100, you can do it yourself with a difficulty rating of 4 out of 10.
A simple search online gave me directions with pictures on how to change the coil. It involves unbolting the fuel injector rail which is a pain to realign, but the repair was simple and quick.
I have absolutely no mechanical experience prior to this beyond oil changes. Kragens has the healey kits for $14.99.
You don't need to replace the head, you don't need to buy a new engine, you simply just replace the boot, and if the threads are blown, the healey kit should fix that.
For Under $100, you can do it yourself with a difficulty rating of 4 out of 10.
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Freshman User
Joined: Jan 2007
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Just got back from the mechanic... In a rental car! Threads are stripped. They are going to do a reverse tap. A lot better than replacing the head that the dealership was going to do ($4000). I don't know about the healey kit. My mech recommended against it, unless someone thinks or knows different.