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Spark plug lawsuit

  • Thread starter Thread starter nwapache
  • Start date Start date Sep 8, 2006

nwapache

New Member
Jun 27, 2006
313
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Seattle,WA
Sep 8, 2006
#1
  • Sep 8, 2006
  • #1
Well, after having my spark plug blow out last night, and reading that its a common problem....i'm going to look at organizing a class action lawsuit.
If you have had a spark plug blow out on you, would you post a reply just to say yes, and what the mileage was at the time.....I will take the information to an attorney some time in the next week or two, if there are as many out there as I think there are.....
 
S

SeanD1111

New Member
Sep 16, 2004
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Texas
Sep 8, 2006
#2
  • Sep 8, 2006
  • #2
Maybe you should go look at some of the truck boards. many people have tried this and no one has been successful doing so. Most people loose a plug after the warranty period and it does not happen as often as you think. You read about it more on the boards b/c people that it happens to want to come here and share their experience or ask questions. What about all the others that it never happens to, that do not ever come here?

www.f150online.com
www.ford-trucks.com
 

Dusstbuster

I love meat more than anything! I just have a spec
May 31, 2004
1,462
33
64
Moorhead, Minnesota
Sep 8, 2006
#3
  • Sep 8, 2006
  • #3
Not 100% sure on this but I believe there already was a CA lawsuit filed on this and it got dropped. Like I said, i'm not 100% sure, but according to some other guys I know they said that this went through and failed...
 

nwapache

New Member
Jun 27, 2006
313
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Seattle,WA
Sep 8, 2006
#4
  • Sep 8, 2006
  • #4
thanks for the input...i'll be doing a lot of research on it....keep the info coming
 

timeless2

Vi Veri Veni Versum Vicus Vici
Admin Dude
Nov 29, 1999
1,366
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the Shadow Gallery
Sep 8, 2006
#5
  • Sep 8, 2006
  • #5
Inside a sticky in 4.6 Tech, there is a thread of people that have been affected.
 

nwapache

New Member
Jun 27, 2006
313
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Seattle,WA
Sep 8, 2006
#6
  • Sep 8, 2006
  • #6
I've read it,....am wondering/guessing that there are more people out there....
 

2013 Geee T

Founding Member
Sep 25, 2002
805
5
19
Oak Park, CA
Sep 8, 2006
#7
  • Sep 8, 2006
  • #7
Im afraid to change my plugs now because of this since they are saying in there for now!
 

nwapache

New Member
Jun 27, 2006
313
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Seattle,WA
Sep 8, 2006
#8
  • Sep 8, 2006
  • #8
leaving your plugs in is no guarantee....some of the posts i've read it happens anyway...
 

Mike97gt

it doe snot
Founding Member
Jan 26, 1999
10,633
7
89
the people's republic of massachusetts
Sep 8, 2006
#9
  • Sep 8, 2006
  • #9
nwapache said:
leaving your plugs in is no guarantee....some of the posts i've read it happens anyway...
Click to expand...


many times it happens with the stock plugs that were never removed. The problem is they loosen slightly over time and rattle in the spark plug boss, after a little while the plug with remove all the threads from the softer aluminum head.

Over the years we have heard of several ways to help prevent this from ford engineers but nothing ever official has lasted long before being taken down. These "fixes" have ranged from a little higher than spec torque ( this is the current method, a revised torque spec) to things as drastic as putting loctite on the plugs ( do not try this I experimented with it a little and it held the plugs in nice and tight but there is possible thread damage on removal)

Ford recommends the new torque spec.. under no circumstances should you try the loctite thing. That was first suggested to us back in 2002 as a dealer broadcast message regarding PDI procedures of the 2002 lighting. Since ford never suggested it again and changed there mind quickly after issuing this I would imagine it is a bad Idea. So DO NOT TRY THAT!!!

best thing to to is torque the plugs to the revised spec and check them once in awhile, and if you hear ticking from the motor check them RIGHT AWAY!!!!
 

fastangboi

My first set of nuts vibrated themselves off.
Jul 26, 2006
274
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0
Slowville
Sep 9, 2006
#10
  • Sep 9, 2006
  • #10
what is the revised torque? ive read that it was 7-14 ft lbs.
 

AmBo

Active Member
Feb 3, 2004
1,027
1
36
New Jersey
Sep 10, 2006
#11
  • Sep 10, 2006
  • #11
nwapache, you blew out your plugs?! Did you torque them down right? I'm so sorry to hear. Just after you get blown. Now I'm nervous! Ugh!
 

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell
Mod Dude
Feb 18, 2001
43,179
17,884
224
Massachusetts
Sep 10, 2006
#12
  • Sep 10, 2006
  • #12
Aren't there new plugs that are threaded down further than the stockers?

37K miles on my GT, no plugs have ever blown out and i'd like to keep it that way
 
S

san~man

O-G
Founding Member
Nov 29, 1999
8,546
3
78
A little grass shack on a big lava rock
Sep 10, 2006
#13
  • Sep 10, 2006
  • #13
Haha, I've had 2 plugs let go. I hope no one else has my "luck."

1 covered under the initial 30k warranty, the 2nd covered under the ESP extended warranty. $1200.00 well spent IMO.
 

nwapache

New Member
Jun 27, 2006
313
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0
Seattle,WA
Sep 10, 2006
#14
  • Sep 10, 2006
  • #14
From what I understand 01-03 are the problem years for 4.6 and 5.4....the cylinder holes are only partially threaded for these years.
I torqued my plugs to 11lbs, and then went on a 1500 mile road trip....so it happened pretty fast.
San-Man......did you helicoil them when they went, or time sert? Was it the same hole that went 2x or 2 different ones?
 
S

san~man

O-G
Founding Member
Nov 29, 1999
8,546
3
78
A little grass shack on a big lava rock
Sep 10, 2006
#15
  • Sep 10, 2006
  • #15
nwapache said:
From what I understand 01-03 are the problem years for 4.6 and 5.4....the cylinder holes are only partially threaded for these years.
I torqued my plugs to 11lbs, and then went on a 1500 mile road trip....so it happened pretty fast.
San-Man......did you helicoil them when they went, or time sert? Was it the same hole that went 2x or 2 different ones?
Click to expand...

One new head each time, passenger side and driver side. At Ford's expense, of course, other than my $50.00 deductable for the second head.

The second time it happened, Ford sent out an inspector for my car to check it out. I guess since it was the second time, they were leery about replacing it but they did. I must say, thank god I had Motorcraft plugs in there, or that might have given them an excuse to try and deny the warranty.
 
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