Well, I took my truck in this morning to a local shop that told me they would change my spark plugs for 200+tax! I asked several times if they were sure about the price and if they had any break off. They simply replied na like no big deal. Oh yeah they told me they would be done by noon too.. While waiting on my buddy to come pick me up the owner of the shop comes in and says we tried the first two and they stopped turning so we didn't put any more pressure, b/c these motors are known to have plugs break off, and I say yeah thats why I've been asking everyone in here all these questions and everybody looks at me like you rookie you don't know what you're talking about. I said I assume yall had the tool in case they break, he said what tool. At this point I'm fuming and tell him that I think you are suppose to break loose plugs and spray stuff on each and let it sit. Aw we ain't got time to do that especially for 200.

I say forget it, and call Ford dealer and they tell me $400 and $90 for each that break WTF???? Ford is the one that designed this crap why are we paying for something thats not our fault. With all this said does anybody know the part number for removal tool and where to get one, since it looks like I'll be attempting this myself.
Sorry for the long post just had to vent.

 

I feel your pain. My 2005 f-150 has 110500 miles on it I held out for as long as I could But I thought I had miss when first started so took mine in to local dealer 250 plus parts. They got all plugs out no problems broke one coil clip no big deal. But the parts seamed outrageous 20 dollers a plug plus the cost of the boot! They finished as promised bill was 600 includes injector flush and trans service. Got thinking in reality that is not bad 600 every 100,000 I have owned lots of trucks but this truck is the most expensive tuneup ford has. I just think in most situations this is a dealer type tune up not for most other shops. I have had my truck since new has 3inch lift 35 12.50 toyos duel exhaust. Ben to dealer for I think just 2 recalls plus this tuneup in perspective I am happy owner although I still bitched at the bill. One friend has 06 Dodge 1500 he just sold leaky struts warped brakes and shot wheel bearing I feel lucky. I hear chevys having wheel bearing problems also so Keep it all in perspective. Hope all turns out well!

 

I think the Lisle tool is part number 65600. It sells for under $100. There are a lot of previous posts on spark plug changes on this site. I would put in Champion plugs part number 7989. It's welded together instead of crimped together like the Motorcrafts. Be prepared to spend a lot of time doing this job if you do it yourself. Prepare for the worst case scenario and you won't get quite as angry and frustrated.

 

No offense.....but you can't blame this on ford.....the shop you took it to didn't know what they were doing and flat out lied to you. Yes its a bad plug design....but theres a proven system to get them out.

 

i called the local ford dealer today and got a quote for the plug change. they recommend these plugs to be changed at 60k. they said they've had a 100% success rate so far since the TSB came out. they wouldn't fully tell me how they get them out but all they would tell me is "you can't just use a spark plug socket and a rachet to get them out, its a special way and proceedures. our ford tech's are trained how to get these out"

they quoted me 441 labor and 100 a plug if one breaks. of course they want the price of the plug which would be at least 20 a plug. they said they will NOT however install anything but the motorcraft plug. if its going to be done over there, its going to be replaced by motorcrafts. not too bad compared to some other people stories on here.

so if i didn't want to do it, i'm going to have to find a shop around here that knows the TSB and will install non=motorcraft plugs.

 

It sounds like they use the impact wrench method.I've heard of some techs removing them that way.Not a high powered air impact but a rechargable impact.There are a few guys on another F150 forum that are going to try this method.I'm waiting to see what their results are before I decide what method I use.

 

Well if they've specifically referenced the TSB i Highly doubt they're using an impact as it calls for you to ABSOLUTELY NOT use an impact...

 

Well if they told XolieX that they don't use a ratchet I wonder what they use?
There is a Ford tech on f150online.com that uses a rechargeable 3/8" drive impact to remove the plugs.He also said that he knows of other Ford dealerships that won't do them any other way on the pre 2008 5.4 3v.They basically follow the tsb except for the use of an impact.
Lukewarm engine, loosen plugs a quarter turn or so, spray carb cleaner in the plug wells and let them sit for 10-15 minutes. I use a fresh battery in my Snap-on 3/8" cordless impact, and go. Hammer on them and don't stop until they come out."

The latest Ford 5.4 3v plug TSB states to use Motorcraft carb cleaner instead of penetrating oil. The penetrating oil does nothing to help the real reason why the plug sticks in the head, carbon deposits on the electrode sleeve. The MC carb cleaner breaks down these deposits and the penetrating oil does not.

 

They didn't say they didn't use a socket and ratchet......they said thats not all you do.....could have meant you soak them...break them loose...back and forth....ect....

 

Don't shoot the messenger I wasn't recommending anyone try it.I was guessing at how they would change XolieX's plugs.It sounded like they used a different method.
I was just saying that there was a Ford tech on another forum that uses the impact method.There are a few other members over there that are getting ready to try it in the near future.I'm curious to see how that turns out.If it works for these amatures it could be worth trying.I only have 25k miles on my truck so I'm not changing mine for another 10k anyway but I'm open to listening to other ideas.I'm also waiting it out in hopes that someone else besides Champion comes out with a 1 piece plug.Apparently (from what they claim) the impacting motion helps break the plugs loose.There have been plenty of broken plugs with a ratchet so I'm open to ideas but not commited to any.

 

It's pretty clear that of a shop is quoting $200 to do a plug change on one of these generation trucks, they don't know what they are doing.

The ball park from all the threads that I've read seem to be around $400-$500 plus breakage.

Is it worth the money to buy the tool for perhaps a one time use? I say yes if one could get multiple uses out of it but no if it'll be used once and put on the shelf somewhere.

If one were to buy the lisle tool, you may as spend $150 and get an OBII scanner so you can diagnose and change your own COP's as they fail.

How many here that bought their trucks with no / low miles actually plan to keep their rigs until the next plug change interval, 200K miles?

 

I originally didn't plan on it......but i hate the looks of the new front ends so bad i'm keepin mine till a better looking truck comes out...

 

A buddy of mine read about that theory and we tried it on HIS truck...lol We used my 18V Dewalt cordless 3/8" impact and it worked like a dream. I'd go forward with it when it seemed like it was stopping, and then reverse it again. None broke. He had the lisle tool on standby just in case. I finally found a use for that impact...lol We broke them loose with a breaker bar originally. They were "factory tight". He had right under 80k on the truck. 2007 5.4 F-150 Screw

 

I hate to say it but I'm with ya on that one. The new ones just ain't doing it for me. I know they are nice and I want one but the front end needs work and must change some.

 

ditto on that one. the new trucks do look sharp... right up till i get to the front end. I'll just stick with my '06 and see how long it lasts me.