Spark plug shot out of the head tonight

georgio440 · Nov 14, 2009

Was home after a nice calm cruise (never went above 3,000RPM), and I hear a loud pop as I'm coming to a stop and my idle became rough. I knew it was bad. I get home and pop the hood while the car was on and noticed one of the coilpacks was shaking violently along with the horrible knocking noise it was making. I shut the motor off, and I pulled off the coilpack, followed by the sparkplug. This is what I saw:

The sparkplug shot out and tore the coilpack boot... The threads don't look too warped so I'm hoping the threads in the head are fine... However, I'm taking it to Ford tomorrow as the motor is still under the 3 year warranty (had a new motor installed in Spring '08, only has 29k miles on it now), so whatever happened should be covered. I hope there is no serious damage to the head... I don't want to be without my car for a long time again. It's too bad this happened, especially on a new engine. I think I just have bad luck with this car... I was all excited to take her for a cruise tonight. Hopefully it'll all work out fine.

Other things to note:

-They are Motorcraft double platinum sparkplugs that I installed myself almost a year ago and torqued down properly to spec
-This happened on my way home from Ford after having my oil, trans fluid, and rear diff fluid changed (I'm not at all insinuating that they somehow sabotaged my car, which I know is not the case. The coincidence was just kinda funny)

Anyways, just thought I'd vent a bit. Has this happened to any of you guys?

Pearl02 · Nov 14, 2009

Sorry about that man. I work with 2 guys who had the same thing happen. Both of those guys have F150's and both trucks are 99 models. Good luck with it. Pearl02.

san~man · Nov 14, 2009

You head is almost guaranteed to be fuxored. Ford will replace it under warranty, as that's what spec for the repair. I know, had it done twice, once per side.

crazystang25 · Nov 15, 2009

threads are gone in the head no doubt about it. but can be fixed easily so u dont need a new head. i had mine do that to me last january under the same conditions. apparently you have a windsor block. but just get a timesert kit or something like that and it will be fine. im against helicoils in the head though as they can create a hot spot.

V_Eight · Nov 15, 2009

My local shop fixed the same issue for something like $60 and it worked fine up until the day I sold it. No need for a new head.

bdcardinal · Nov 15, 2009

V_Eight said:
My local shop fixed the same issue for something like $60 and it worked fine up until the day I sold it. No need for a new head.

under Ford warranty the Time-Sert or helicoil repairs are not authorized. Ford will only authorize cylinder head replacement under warranty.

Night Shifter · Nov 15, 2009

posted via mobile device i had a plug blowout last year that destroyed the plug boot and shot the plug out f the head..ill post pics of the damage when i get home...anyway, i somehow was lucky enough that it never damaged the threads for the plug...ive changed plugs twice since then and never had a problem...so maybe youll get lucky like me

V_Eight · Nov 15, 2009

bdcardinal said:
under Ford warranty the Time-Sert or helicoil repairs are not authorized. Ford will only authorize cylinder head replacement under warranty.

Do you think a five year old (at the newest) car is under a factory warranty?

02nightmaregt · Nov 15, 2009

georgio440 said:
Was home after a nice calm cruise (never went above 3,000RPM), and I hear a loud pop as I'm coming to a stop and my idle became rough. I knew it was bad. I get home and pop the hood while the car was on and noticed one of the coilpacks was shaking violently along with the horrible knocking noise it was making. I shut the motor off, and I pulled off the coilpack, followed by the sparkplug. This is what I saw:

The sparkplug shot out and tore the coilpack boot... The threads don't look too warped so I'm hoping the threads in the head are fine... However, I'm taking it to Ford tomorrow as the motor is still under the 3 year warranty (had a new motor installed in Spring '08, only has 29k miles on it now), so whatever happened should be covered. I hope there is no serious damage to the head... I don't want to be without my car for a long time again. It's too bad this happened, especially on a new engine. I think I just have bad luck with this car... I was all excited to take her for a cruise tonight. Hopefully it'll all work out fine.

Other things to note:

-They are Motorcraft double platinum sparkplugs that I installed myself almost a year ago and torqued down properly to spec
-This happened on my way home from Ford after having my oil, trans fluid, and rear diff fluid changed (I'm not at all insinuating that they somehow sabotaged my car, which I know is not the case. The coincidence was just kinda funny)

Anyways, just thought I'd vent a bit. Has this happened to any of you guys?

V_Eight said:
Do you think a five year old (at the newest) car is under a factory warranty?

Reading is essential

BurningRubber · Nov 15, 2009

Hope they don't give you some runaround because you installed the plugs yourself.

Best of luck with it, that sucks. Almost EVERY time I am on the gas I worry about hearing "BOOM!" sputter sputter sputter.

bdcardinal · Nov 15, 2009

dont tell them you changed teh plugs. that motor would have come with Motorcraft plugs anyway.

san~man · Nov 16, 2009

I changed my plugs during the time I had the two heads replaced, but fortunately had Motorcraft plugs installed so they couldn't deny my warranty. Had it been an A/M plug, they may have.

Kilgore Trout · Nov 16, 2009

New head for you OP! Say NOTHING about any work you may or may not have performed.

georgio440 · Nov 16, 2009

Yeah, the car's there most likely getting a new head. Didn't mention anything about doing the plugs myself.

Deleted member 38176 · Nov 17, 2009

Have it fixed under the warranty. No cost, no problem.

georgio440 · Nov 18, 2009

Hey guys, little update: Just got off the phone with my service advisor, and he said the head is being replaced under warranty, just as most of you predicted. Can't wait to get her back, running nice and strong.

Anyways, what exactly causes this sparkplug problem with some of Ford's V8s? Not enough threads in the head? Predetonation? Combination of the two? Just curious.

joshjwc9 · Nov 18, 2009

Lack of threads in the casting for the heads. Especially an issue with the Windsor PI heads. But Ford recognized this issue in the heads and eventually put fully threaded heads in the Econolines and F150 trucks I believe..i had to have mine replaced back in August in my '99 Windsor motor so I know what thats like..

san~man · Nov 18, 2009

georgio440 said:
Anyways, what exactly causes this sparkplug problem with some of Ford's V8s? Not enough threads in the head? Predetonation? Combination of the two? Just curious.

Lack of threads = Piss poor design.

Mr. Rustypwnz · Nov 18, 2009

georgio440 said:
Hey guys, little update: Just got off the phone with my service advisor, and he said the head is being replaced under warranty, just as most of you predicted. Can't wait to get her back, running nice and strong.

Anyways, what exactly causes this sparkplug problem with some of Ford's V8s? Not enough threads in the head? Predetonation? Combination of the two? Just curious.

tell em to put romeo heads on instead..

SaleenGT2001 · Nov 18, 2009

Mr. Rustypwnz said:
tell em to put romeo heads on instead..

why is that horse in your avatar all over the internet???? i saw the video and still dont get it?!?!?!?!

Spark plug shot out of the head tonight

georgio440

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To hell with your Mustang, I want to see your HOG!

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Fried or Broiled ?

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Spark plug shot out of the head tonight

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To hell with your Mustang, I want to see your HOG!

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