I'm bringing this topic up after so long because I just had Injectors #7 & 8 and the Cat. replaced under this Program. Let me explain what happened first.
I had just gotten back from a 120+ highway miles trip during the day. In the evening I attempted to take a 25 mile trip and the CEL began flashing. The truck was running fine [at 75350 miles] before this but would barely run and was very hard to start afterwards. The codes shown were P0308- 8 cylinder misfire; and P2198- O2 Sensor Signal Stuck Rich (Bank 2 Sensor 1).
To make a long story short, I brought the truck in and they said that the injectors caused the problem and it was covered under 07M08. BUT the plugs were all shot and would cost $540 + tax to change them. After I picked up the phone from when I fell off the chair, I told the Serv. Rep. to leave the plugs and I'll take care of them. The call ended.
An hour later, he called back and said that I needed to replace at least four (4) plugs [#1,2,6 & 7] to have the truck run right. This cost $182. Since he said it had to be done, I told him to go ahead.
When I picked up the truck, it ran as poorly as when I brought it in then within two (2) miles the CEL began flashing again! The code was, again, P0308- 8 cylinder misfiring!
I brought it back and discussed it with another Serv. Rep. I finally decided to replace the other four (4) plugs and it cost me an additional $217.

Does this sound right?

If injectors 7 & 8 went bad shouldn't plugs 7 & 8 be covered?
If the truck was running fine and the plugs were firing fine before the injectors went bad, would ALL the plugs be bad after Injectors 7 & 8 went?
The first Serv. Rep. said he was giving me a break at $540. This was because they were already under the hood and had some of the engine disassembled. This still seems high and $182 + $217 = $399. A bargain?!?
Do I have to worry about cylinder wall/piston scuff? What about the oil being thinned out by excess fuel?
The worst part is that the truck still feels sluggish and the normal mileage of 9.5 to 10.5 mpg depending on the type of driving is down 1 to 1.5 mpg.
Finally, the first Serv. Rep. wrote down the wronge mileage [by 400 miles] and didn't change it when I told him about it. What ever happened to attention to detail?

Any comments from anyone on any of this?

Thanks,

Later...
Brewster...
[Link to original thread- Stuck fuel Injection - Extended Warranty.. - Ford Truck Enthusiasts Forums]
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I would imagine that those plugs should have been covered. Call the 1-800 customer service number and see what they say about it.

 

Yeah, I think you got hosed. If the bad injectors caused the plugs to foul, they should be covered. But if the plugs are just worn out (75k miles) then they technically would not be covered. But considering they have to pull the plugs to even know whether they are fouled or burned, it would just be good business to throw in new plugs in those cylinders.

I would just change the oil rather than worry about that aspect.

 

Krewat, Thanks for the input. I'm gonna call now.

Do they actually pull them or do they use an oscillascope(sp)?

Later...
Brewster...

 

They probably just told you what the scan told them. But they don't really know unless they pulled them. Which is why you want to always ask for the old parts for any repair that you pay for.

Now that I think about this a little more, you told them you would replace the plugs yourself. But you didn't do that. Maybe you should have done the work they said it needed before getting worked up over this. I still think they were taking your for a ride, but you did say you would do the work so you should have done it and see if they were right.

 

Last week, I checked with my local dealership on the cost of replacing the spark plugs on my 2005 F350 5.4L. He stated that the base cost was $329.00. He also stated that IF a plug broke, there would be an additional $45.00 per cylinder repair cost. I honestly think that I am going to replace the plugs myself. He also stated that Ford now recommends replacing the spark plugs at 60K miles due to the tendency of the spark plugs to "seize" in the heads.

 

I was going to but when he called back about the four, he said that the truck wouldn't run if I didn't replace at least the four plugs, 1,2,6 & 7. It didn't make sense to me that 8 wasn't included in these but I need the truck. After I picked it up and it was barely running, I didn't want them to say I did something when I replaced the other four and, quite honestly, I didn't have the time to drop everything immediately and replace the other four plugs.
I also found it interesting that the other four plugs, 3,4,5 & 8, only took about 50 minutes as I watched the truck go in and out. This included plugs 4 and 8 which are the ones buried in the back of the block. And all of these conversations took place within 24 hours. There weren't days in between.
Sorry to be so long-winded but that's why I didn't just do them myself.

NOTE: I've used this dealer before and have been very happy with them. I also always went to another service rep. I don't know if this actually matters but... Also, the reason I'm not putting the name of the dealer in is because I'm do like the dealer and am usually treated fairly. I feel, maybe wrongly, that I was treated unfairly this time. I'm posting here to see if you guys think I'm being unreasonable and I appreciate your feedback.

Later...
Brewster...

 

Would you say that replacing the plugs has fixed your problem? It seems like you are saying that it did.

So if that's true, then their diagonsis was correct, and new plugs were needed. I think they would have had a hard sell to Ford if they had replaced all your plugs under warranty. So if Ford won't pay them, you have to.

I do not think we can say all the plugs went bad because a few injectors failed. So their prices may seem high, but they did fix the problem.

 

The truck is running O.K. now. As I said in the first post, it still feels sluggish and my mileage is down 1-1.5 mpg. This isn't many mpgs but it is 10-15%.

I would have expected that plugs 7 & 8 would be covered. I was also suprised that plug 8 which had a stuck injector wasn't one of the ones initially replaced.

I don't think they all went bad because of the injectors but I also have never seen nor heard of that many plugs going bad at the same time. I honestly don't think they did anything intentionally. I also can't rationalize why the plugs fired fine, then the injectors went, then the plugs wouldn't fire.
From the bill, each plug costs $18.19. Say $20 for round numbers. The initial quote of $540 was $160 for plugs and $380 for labor [$100/hr.]. The Serv. Rep. also said he was giving me a break since they were already in there. That's 3 hours and 48 minutes to replace them which is a "break" since they were already in there.
The second set of four that they replaced while I waited took about 50 minutes and they included plugs 4 & 8 which are buried in the back.
At this point, I've paid $400 for the eight plugs to be changed. That's still $160 in plugs and $240 in labor/2 hours and 24 minutes.
I know some shops go by the hours spec'ed in the book but I can't help but feel like I was taken advantage of because I was without my truck [driving it more would dump more fuel and possibly damage the engine again], needed my truck and was unable to immediately get the job done my self. Opportunity cost?

If you think I'm whining and should just accept it, please say so. It won't hurt my feelings.

Thanks!

Later...
Brewster...

 

I don't think you are whining, and I think they could have treated you better. It's always painful to take it to the dealer for a warranty repair, and get blindsided by a big bill. But realistically, it's impossible to know what caused what, and what was just a symptom. You have to put yourself in your dealers shoes. They know that Ford won't pay them to replace the plugs, and their diagnostics says that is what is required to fix the truck. They are stuck in the middle. But where I have a problem here is that they obviously turned this into a side profit job. It would be great if they could have done the plugs at a cost plus labor rate. Maybe they did help you out when the price went from $540 down to $399, and considering the added cost of handling it 2 or 3 times.

The moral of this story is that even when warranty work is free, it often is not free at all. I'll bet that after all that hassle of returning it, you wish you had just approved the $540 bill when they had it the first time. It was a hard fought $141 savings.

Oh, I don't think you have anything to worry about with washed cylinders. The injector probably wasn't leaking that bad. Just change your oil ASAP.

 

Will do! Thanks a lot!

Later...
Brewster...

 

As an update, I contacted Customer Services at 1-866-436-7332 on 03DEC09. They called the dealer to speak with the Service Manager. He wasn't available at that time. The Customer Service Rep. I was speaking with said that he'll call me back most likely tomorrow, the 4th, but definitely within 4 days.
He still hasn't called... Hmmm...

Later...
Brewster...

 

These guys have forgot the meaning of "Service."