Any likely damage?

AdamantiumKnot · Jun 25, 2005

Ford replaced my motor under warranty last winter because the original one spun 3 rod bearings. These past few weeks the car's been like hesitating and/or backfiring between 3k rpm and 5k rpm. So I bring it into my local shop today and they go and pull the spark plus and wires. Ford had put two different sets of spark plugs in the car. One type in the left bank another in the right. Cost me $333.66 to have the plugs and wires replace. Is it common practice for some ford dealers to just stick whatever they have laying around into a customer's car? Had around 50k miles when the motor croaked and i just passed 56k so i only have 6,000 miles on the motor. Don't think i'm ever buying a ford again. I'm keeping the stang but looking into picking up one of the twin turbo audi s4's for winter/bad weather.

AdRock · Jun 25, 2005

You shouldn't have paid the local shop to do the repair. You should have paid them their checkout fee and taken it back to the dealer that initially did the work.

And no, it's not normal for a tech to put in 2 different plugs. There should be one part # listed for tyhe plugs on your invoice from the work being done. If there's one number and 2 different plugs then the dealer should have bneen held accountable.

csledd · Jun 25, 2005

I love my Ford, as long as it doesn't have to go anywhere near the dealer.

I had a situation where my headliner was sagging because Ford had cut out my backwindow previously. I told Ford it was sagging and they told me they didn't cut the window out therefore its not warrantied. Got into a huge fight with the service manager and he told me I could call him a liar if he wanted and he didn't give a damn about fixing my car. Ford also messed up my oil plug, they replaced my head unit and broke it putting a new one in.. it pulls right out, and im sure theres other thigns i dont even know about yet.

bottom line.. you gotta find a good dealership to go to, maybe where you know someone on the inside, because ford seems to want to screw you

BlackenedSVT · Jun 25, 2005

AdRock said:
You shouldn't have paid the local shop to do the repair. You should have paid them their checkout fee and taken it back to the dealer that initially did the work.

Yeah honestly, why did you do that? If ford did all your work under warranty, then why the hell would you take it to another shop to do repairs?? You should have taken it to ford (under warranty) and had them check the work they previously did. It wouldn't have cost you $300 then

cooter_11 · Jun 25, 2005

Hold on a second there good buddy...The plugs for one bank are different than the other because they are indexed. Plus, the ignition systems on just about all mustangs suck. You may want to consider upgrading by getting some MSD coilpacks or at least a 6 box. Don't go getting rid of your precious pony just because of frustration. Cars break all the time, that's why there's such a demand for technicians that can fix them right, and that's also why everybody wants to know a mechanic.

Another idea could be to get a good dyno tune on the car. You will be able to tell why it is breaking up (i.e. fuel or spark). Make sure the dyno has a wideband 02 so you can compare A/F ratio to the RPM and make sure that's not your problem.

squares98 · Jun 25, 2005

christiesledd said:
I love my Ford, as long as it doesn't have to go anywhere near the dealer.

I had a situation where my headliner was sagging because Ford had cut out my backwindow previously. I told Ford it was sagging and they told me they didn't cut the window out therefore its not warrantied. Got into a huge fight with the service manager and he told me I could call him a liar if he wanted and he didn't give a damn about fixing my car. Ford also messed up my oil plug, they replaced my head unit and broke it putting a new one in.. it pulls right out, and im sure theres other thigns i dont even know about yet.

bottom line.. you gotta find a good dealership to go to, maybe where you know someone on the inside, because ford seems to want to screw you

Ford service managers= the Devil

COramprat · Jun 25, 2005

cooter_11 said:
Hold on a second there good buddy...The plugs for one bank are different than the other because they are indexed.

I have never heard of putting two different plugs in each bank. Maybe just me. Also indexing refers to marking the plug in relation to the electrode/conductor and ensuring the most spark is exposed in the cylinder chamber. Has notibng to do with using two different plugs...or so I thought. Maybe eveything I've learned is wrong.

AdRock · Jun 25, 2005

coramprat said:
I have never heard of putting two different plugs in each bank. Maybe just me. Also indexing refers to marking the plug in relation to the electrode/conductor and ensuring the most spark is exposed in the cylinder chamber. Has notibng to do with using two different plugs...or so I thought. Maybe eveything I've learned is wrong.

I'm with this guy.

I've been a tech for years and even in school I've never had anybody tell me that plugs were different for each bank. There should be no reason for two different plugs in the same engine.

Dan02gt · Jun 25, 2005

Using different spark plugs in each bank is normal and your car came from the factory this way. Quote from "How to build Max-Perfomance 4.6 -Liter Engines" by Sean Hyland: "I am sometimes asked why the spark plugs on new Ford 4.6 cars have different part numbers on the plugs from the left and right cylinder banks. The reason is that there is a small button of material on the ground electrode on one bank of plugs, and on the center electrode on the other bank. The extra material is to compensate for erosion of the plug as it fires, and one bank fires from the center electrode to the ground strap, while the other bank fires in the reverse direction..." This explanation is good enough for me.

bdcardinal · Jun 25, 2005

ya i noticed that when i did the plugs on my stang, i pulled them at 103k miles and they were the factory plugs(need to kick the other owners asses). its normal if they got a reman motor(which they did probably).

AdamantiumKnot · Jun 25, 2005

I'm not getting rid of the car. I was told the work wouldn't have been covered under warranty. Just not fond of the dealer, especially after something like this. I'd rather send it to my friend who's a good mechanic and won't bull**** me. But if i pick up the s4, it just gives me more motivation to do something sick like buy a built 5 liter mod motor and tt it...

AdamantiumKnot · Jun 25, 2005

bdcardinal said:
ya i noticed that when i did the plugs on my stang, i pulled them at 103k miles and they were the factory plugs(need to kick the other owners asses). its normal if they got a reman motor(which they did probably).

i believe it was a reman motor.

97gtblue · Jun 25, 2005

i believe my plugs were all the same,not sure tho i just compared them to the old ones and they were the same size

bdcardinal · Jun 26, 2005

97gtblue said:
i believe my plugs were all the same,not sure tho i just compared them to the old ones and they were the same size

they will look the same however have a different part number on them.

97gtblue · Jun 26, 2005

oh,i guess i should have checked the part number..but she runs fine tho,other than back fire,when im raceing and my rpm's are high

posm6s · Jun 26, 2005

The only problem I had with my Ford that was not from me modding it was the exhaust rattling against the frame. Took it back the day after I got it and they fixed it under warranty.

My current problems: Clutch fan going out and a miss I cannot figgure out.

Oh, and extreamly BAD gas mileage.

Any likely damage?

AdamantiumKnot

AdRock

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csledd

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BlackenedSVT

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squares98

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COramprat

...I can take it. I think.

AdRock

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Dan02gt

mazing how much gas smell came from that tiny hole

bdcardinal

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AdamantiumKnot

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Any likely damage?

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...I can take it. I think.

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mazing how much gas smell came from that tiny hole

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