<TABLE cellSpacing=2 cellPadding=2 width="80%" border=0><TBODY><TR bgColor=#ffffff><TD>Consumer News & Alerts | March 26, 2007

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FEDS IGNORE FORD SPARK PLUG RISKS



http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2007/03/ford_spark_plug_fire.html


The tax-supported federal employees at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) don't see anything wrong with big Ford truck engines that spit spark plugs out of the engine -- sometimes all the way through the hood. There's no safety hazard, insists NHTSA. But try telling that to Dan of Huntington Beach, Calif. His F250 Ford pickup spit out a spark plug and started a fast-moving fire. "It went up so fast we lost our cameras, computer, GPS and just got out ourselves," Dan told us.

Other consumers agree the problem is a hazard. "Truly this is a dangerous situation because the fuel rail is right above the coil and spark plug. If this rail and injector break when the plug blows out this could result in a fire," said Robert of Quarryville, Pennsylvania, whose 2001 F250 Super Duty Crew Cab blew its #3 spark plug a few weeks ago.

All this gets a "What, Me Worry" response from NHTSA and Ford, both in full stonewall mode. Read the full story for more disturbing details. Meanwhile, a beleaguered Ford mechanic tells us the Triton engines are "dropping like flies" and mechanics are being blamed for the manufacturer's oversight.



Tailpipe Fires



http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2007/03/ford_tailpipe_fires.html



Perhaps, for once, Ford hopes to head off problems before they get out of hand. The company has halted sales of its big, "super-duty" trucks -- and recalled 2008 models -- after tailpipe fires were reported in three of the big diesel trucks.

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IMO the plug issue is blown way out of proportion, it is a lot like the Firestone tire fiasco a few years back. If you keep your plugs changed every 60K and torque them correctly you will most likely 99.999% of the time not a have a problem. As for the fire that sounds like a 1 in a million chance, out of another 1 in a million chance that yor plug blows to begin with.

So to put it another way, if it saves only one life is it worth it? NO, I am sorry but there are risks in everything and sinking Ford financially because there is a very slim chance your neglected engine could spit a plug is not worth it.

 

There WAS a full-blown investigation by the NHTSA about 4-5 years ago.

Problem? Overzealous lawyer got in the middle, and made statements that were UNTRUE. When the NHTSA interviewed the owners, the falsehoods came up, and that severely limited the investigation.

If you read the Consumer Affairs article, there is a lot of inflamatory information in there.

"loss of power" w/a V10. 9 cylinders still going. 10% loss is total loss of power? And GOD FORBID you get zapped by a COP - my, the horror...

Comparing the NHTSA issuing recalls for Hondas to "no recalls" for the Fords. No? Remember the cruise-control fires?

This fire, if true(!?), is the FIRST documented sparkplug blowout causing a fire.

It's a '97 with how many miles? No one says. Who did the plugs last (if at all)? No one says.

A 1997 is 10 years old. If you didn't do the plugs already, well, chances are you're going to lose one with ANY MOTOR.

 

Oh, and a quick check of that website shows whoever owns the domain is hiding behind a privacy-protection service.

It's not "Consumer Affairs" running the website.

From the website:

Click to learn more...



Who are you?
ConsumerAffairs.Com is an independent Web-based consumer news and resource center. We are not a government agency, not affiliated with any other consumer organization and not affiliated with any of the corporations whose products are reviewed on our site.

Are you non-profit?
No. We do not receive any taxpayer funds and we do not seek or accept contributions from foundations or corporate interests. Our site is supported solely by advertising.

 

thought it was "interesting" and was hoping to get the real scoop and see if this is really an issue...however, it appears this has been discussed in the past...my apologies.

 

I looked at that website and it looked completely fake. They never substantiated anything they said, and there was no real hard information present.

IF this DID happen, as others have said, it may very well have been the only one in history.

And on the side of the "Ford cover ups"...can you really blame them? With the amount of bad press they're getting lately, if it were me...I'd try and solve everything as quietly as possible! Seems like most of the complaining about "Ford" I've been hearing is mainly the fault of the individual dealer, NOT the company.

Sorry, went on a rant there...

 

Here's a snippet from the domain's WHOIS record:

Registrant Contact:
Whois Privacy Protection Service, Inc.
Whois Agent (pxgwsxfx@whoisprivacyprotect.com)
+1.4252740657
Fax: +1.4256960234
PMB 368, 14150 NE 20th St - F1
C/O consumeraffairs.com
Bellevue, WA 98007
US

But... For consumeraffairs.org ("The not-for-profit arm of ConsumerAffairs.com!")

Registrant Contact:
ConsumerAffairs.Com, Inc.
James Hood (jhood@consumeraffairs.com)
+1.2132918086
Fax:
1601 Cloverfield Blvd., 2nd Flr., South Tower
Santa Monica, CA 90404
US


Go here for some info, especially the lawsuits brought against him. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ConsumerAffairs.com

ConsumerAffairs.com doesn't take any money except web ads.

But ConsumerAffairs.ORG does take money from a law firm.

Go figure...

 

Good info there, Art

 

Most of the plug problems are shade trees changing there own plugs on aluminum heads with out proper torque too tight you strip too lose you get the picture.