Threw a plug!!!!!

H

HercFE

New Member

Jul 4, 2004

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Sacramento

Feb 22, 2006

#1

• Feb 22, 2006

• #1

Well, I was driving home from work today and threw a plug for the #3 cylinder, I barely limped it into Ford and they said it definitely did, I will get the extended warranty every time I buy a car now. It's only costing me 50$!! I hope they replace both heads though, I'd hate for it to happen on the old head when my warranty runs out. I'm wondering if they would put some FRPP headers on for me since they have to pull old ones anyways, if the labors free, would they be worth the money?? Sounds like this plug thing happens often from what I've read on here, has Ford recognized this problem???

 

sgarlic

Founding Member

Apr 21, 2001

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Feb 22, 2006

#2

• Feb 22, 2006

• #2

They issued a TSB that discourages anyone from trying to re-tap the factory heads, they recommend the entire head be replaced, although there are kits out there to re-tap.

Out of curiosity, had you messed with the plugs at all prior to this happening, or are they the stock ones?

 

K

Kilgore Trout

Fried or Broiled ?

10 Year Member

Mar 30, 2005

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Feb 22, 2006

#3

• Feb 22, 2006

• #3

Yes, do you have the stock factory installed plugs???

 

H

HercFE

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Jul 4, 2004

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Sacramento

Feb 22, 2006

#4

• Feb 22, 2006

• #4

It had different plugs in, the service rep said it wasn't a plug problem, he said the thickness of the material where the plug threads in was the problem. He said Ford covers it either way. he also said the new heads were supposed to be better, but I don't know if thats true, I just hope they replace both of them. Should I get the aftermarket headers??

 

K

Kilgore Trout

Fried or Broiled ?

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Feb 22, 2006

#5

• Feb 22, 2006

• #5

THey will not put headers on your car. It is warranty work, you are lucky to be gettin the heads.

There's no work like warranty work...

 

sgarlic

Founding Member

Apr 21, 2001

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Feb 22, 2006

#6

• Feb 22, 2006

• #6

If you had the stock '02 heads on there, then you'll be getting the same ones.. just regular old PI heads. If they plan on doing some custom port/polish work or something, then yeah.. it'd be better.

 

Mike97gt

it doe snot

Founding Member

Jan 26, 1999

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Feb 22, 2006

#7

• Feb 22, 2006

• #7

you will only get the head that the plug blew out of.

bet your glad you have that warrenty now.

 

V

V6&V8SHO

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Jan 20, 2006

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Feb 22, 2006

#8

• Feb 22, 2006

• #8

Do they make better heads aftermarket that resolves this issue?

 

Mike97gt

it doe snot

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Jan 26, 1999

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the people's republic of massachusetts

Feb 22, 2006

#9

• Feb 22, 2006

• #9

V6&V8SHO said:

Do they make better heads aftermarket that resolves this issue?

Click to expand...

nope. somebody should. esp. for the lightings

 

sgarlic

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Apr 21, 2001

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Feb 22, 2006

#10

• Feb 22, 2006

• #10

No aftermarket heads for our cars yet.. just ported/polished versions of the stock ones.

 

the98stang

Active Member

Aug 12, 2005

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Clovis, CA

Feb 23, 2006

#11

• Feb 23, 2006

• #11

God all these spark plug blow outs are scaring me...I need to check the torque on mine!

 

S

san~man

O-G

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Nov 29, 1999

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A little grass shack on a big lava rock

Feb 23, 2006

#12

• Feb 23, 2006

• #12

"Supposedly" the 04 heads have more threads designed into them versus the 99-03 heads and those are the ones used to replace the stripped heads.

 

0

007

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Jan 29, 2002

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Broke

Feb 23, 2006

#13

• Feb 23, 2006

• #13

Actually its worth asking your dealer (but dont get the FRPP headers they are crap).

I had a head replaced and my dealer (awesome) was fine with removing the other head too, keeping the car for 2 weeks while I send out both heads to be ported, and then re-installing both heads. I think they want a couple of hundred bucks! AND MY WIFE DIDNT LET ME DO IT.

 

Mike97gt

it doe snot

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Feb 23, 2006

#14

• Feb 23, 2006

• #14

007. i know the only way a dealer would install aftermarket parts during the install is if the customer wanted to pay cash to have the aftermarket parts put on.

 

shallowreef

New Member

Nov 3, 2005

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illinois

Feb 23, 2006

#15

• Feb 23, 2006

• #15

maybe i missed it but exactly what causes a spark plug to blow? so i can prevent that from happening

 

H

HercFE

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Jul 4, 2004

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Sacramento

Feb 23, 2006

#16

• Feb 23, 2006

• #16

When I talked to the service rep he said the cause was the thickness of the metal where the plug threads into the head, apparently it's not very thick. I wasn't beating on the car when it happened, just cruising at 80 on the highway when the check engine light came on and the engine started missing or sorta backfiring, you could also smell fuel. I'm just happy I could limp it to the dealer!!

 

Mike97gt

it doe snot

Founding Member

Jan 26, 1999

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Feb 23, 2006

#17

• Feb 23, 2006

• #17

shallowreef said:

maybe i missed it but exactly what causes a spark plug to blow? so i can prevent that from happening

Click to expand...

the plugs loosen over time and when this happens the firing of the cyl and compression vibrate the plug untill it destorys all the thread on the head. after a the threads are gone it shoots out taking the coil with it.

every once in awile it's a good idea to tighten down your plugs.

 

VPStang

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Oct 1, 2002

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bHAM, alabama

Feb 23, 2006

#18

• Feb 23, 2006

• #18

svttech76 said:

the plugs loosen over time and when this happens the firing of the cyl and compression vibrate the plug untill it destorys all the thread on the head. after a the threads are gone it shoots out taking the coil with it.

every once in awile it's a good idea to tighten down your plugs.

Click to expand...

is it true what the above poster said about the issue being resolved with 04 heads?

 

S

SilverBullet00

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Jul 5, 2004

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Wichita, KS

Feb 23, 2006

#19

• Feb 23, 2006

• #19

svttech76 said:

every once in awile it's a good idea to tighten down your plugs.

Click to expand...

Mine are ALWAYS loosening, its getting extremely anoying, is there anything else I can do to keep them in place?

 

H

HercFE

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Jul 4, 2004

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Sacramento

Feb 23, 2006

#20

• Feb 23, 2006

• #20

When I found out some info on the new head(s) I will pass along. The service manager at my dealership is also the guy who runs our mustang so I'm sure I'll get a straight answer from him. This plug loosening thing shouldn't be happening, is it because the heads are aluminum?? I never run into this problem before when I was into the small block chevy's..