Well, it happened again...

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san~man

O-G

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Dec 26, 2004

#1

• Dec 26, 2004

• #1

Heard a very unpleasant, familiar sound yesterday while driving (Christmas day to make things worse). Driving along on the freeway, normal speed (65mph or so), and hear a loud "bang" from the engine bay. Low and behold, the spark plug stipped the head AGAIN and popped out, this time on the driver's side. The first time it happened it was on the passenger side head. Sure, got a brand new head under warranty, but the down time is the worst part about it.

Guess I'm driving another Focus for the next two weeks or so.

Sucks to be me

 

JonJon

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Aug 16, 2002

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back in Marylands

Dec 26, 2004

#2

• Dec 26, 2004

• #2

damn
san man is still around?!?!?

wow, that sucks man

 

S

san~man

O-G

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Dec 26, 2004

#3

• Dec 26, 2004

• #3

Yes, I'm still around....mostly lurk, read, and move stuff in the shadows

To keep this tech related, there is a Ford TSB concerning this problem. It calls for the head to be replaced, NOT helicoiled, under warranty. I'm not sure if the car is out of warranty if it'll be covered, but I bought the extended one so I'm covered for 50.00 at most out of pocket (deductable).

 

CanadaStang

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Sep 7, 2003

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Mb

Dec 26, 2004

#4

• Dec 26, 2004

• #4

Yipes!! That sucks

 

Blev

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Aug 17, 2003

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So. Cal. V-Town

Dec 26, 2004

#5

• Dec 26, 2004

• #5

Don't feel bad, I managed to put one of the sprockets on backwards when I did my headswap. I chewed up both tiiming chains and the chain guids. So my car is non-op yet again!!!!

 

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bdcardinal

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Jun 10, 2003

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Dec 26, 2004

#6

• Dec 26, 2004

• #6

damn that sucks. when i was at the lincoln mercury dealer we did heads on gators all the time. the tech that i apprenticed for always made warrenty to pay for both heads because he figured that as long as he got one head off, he might as well do both.

blev: that totally sucks dude. i feel bad for ya. i might have a source for some replacement heads for me, becuase according to a few machine shops here it would cost more to fix mine than to get new ones.

 

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Darkhorse845

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Nov 17, 2004

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Dec 27, 2004

#7

• Dec 27, 2004

• #7

That's a drag I'm sorry to hear that
Sanman I hope you get it fixed.At least you have a warranty.That sucks you will
have to drive a Focus for two week I feel
your pain the down time is the worst part
about it your right.

 

Gearbanger 101

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Dec 27, 2004

#8

• Dec 27, 2004

• #8

bdcardinal said:

blev: that totally sucks dude. i feel bad for ya. i might have a source for some replacement heads for me, becuase according to a few machine shops here it would cost more to fix mine than to get new ones.

Click to expand...

The cost of fixing them is nothing more than the price of a helecoil and 2hrs labour at most. Still much cheaper than buying a new head.

 

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bdcardinal

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Dec 27, 2004

#9

• Dec 27, 2004

• #9

Gearbanger 101 said:

The cost of fixing them is nothing more than the price of a helecoil and 2hrs labour at most. Still much cheaper than buying a new head.

Click to expand...

sorry, forgot to say what was wrong with my PI heads. apparently the motor they were on ran out of oil and seized. 7 out of the 12 cam journals are completely shot and they would have to be line bored and find some bearings that will work.

 

mrvax

Stay thirsty my friends

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Nov 29, 1999

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Dec 27, 2004

#10

• Dec 27, 2004

• #10

Sucks san~man. At least you have coverage for this though.

 

crew_dawg16

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Apr 25, 2004

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Dec 27, 2004

#11

• Dec 27, 2004

• #11

Is this a common problem??
Twice on the same car and under normal driving conditions??

 

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bdcardinal

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Dec 27, 2004

#12

• Dec 27, 2004

• #12

yes its common on the 4.6/5.4 motors. there is a problem with the 03/04 cobras blowing spark plugs out under high boost.

 

CanadaStang

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Mb

Dec 27, 2004

#13

• Dec 27, 2004

• #13

Blev said:

Don't feel bad, I managed to put one of the sprockets on backwards when I did my headswap. I chewed up both tiiming chains and the chain guids. So my car is non-op yet again!!!!

Click to expand...

Ah, so thats why it was running crappy. Sorry to hear that

 

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san~man

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Dec 27, 2004

#14

• Dec 27, 2004

• #14

mrvax said:

Sucks san~man. At least you have coverage for this though.

Click to expand...

Well, took the car in this morning and left her. Expected to get a Focus, but got a CRV instead Much nicer than a Focus, but smells like Ass.

Also, even though there is a TSB for this repair, I still gotta pay the $50.00 That sux. They better Air the stupid head to Hawaii, cause I refuse to wait for the slow boat from China

And yes, it IS a common occurrance in the 4.6/5.4 SOHC (same heads) motors. And yes, you "could" helicoil it if you had to pay out of pocket (cheaper route, obviously) but the TSB calls for a new head and replacement. Just FYI.

 

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bdcardinal

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Dec 28, 2004

#15

• Dec 28, 2004

• #15

also the odds of successfully doing the helicoil with the head still in the car is slim. its better to do it with the head off the car, and if you car gonna take the head off, its cheaper for the dealer to slap on a new head. they save the cost of having to send it to a machine shop.

 

Z28 KILR

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Aug 4, 2001

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Dec 28, 2004

#16

• Dec 28, 2004

• #16

I have never heard of this problem before. What causes it? I hope it does not happen to me.

 

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bdcardinal

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Dec 28, 2004

#17

• Dec 28, 2004

• #17

the main reason for the problem is the lack of threads in the heads that hold in the spark plugs. i believe the plugs are held in by only 3 threads.

 

0

01'TRUE BLUE GT

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Dec 30, 2001

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Dec 28, 2004

#18

• Dec 28, 2004

• #18

See that Sanford? ... those 4.10s keep blowing those plugs right out!

Seriously ... sorry to hear that one again, but at least you weren't layed-up in the hospital on Christmas night with pneumonia like me ... That REALLY sucks, I just got home today ... talk about a $hitty holiday.

 

ADRENLN

Active Member

Apr 16, 2003

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Dec 28, 2004

#19

• Dec 28, 2004

• #19

damn i was un aware of this one, i heard of the others, the tick, the stalling while driving, the clunk, hard start, but not this one?

 

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san~man

O-G

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Nov 29, 1999

8,546

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A little grass shack on a big lava rock

Dec 28, 2004

#20

• Dec 28, 2004

• #20

bdcardinal said:

the main reason for the problem is the lack of threads in the heads that hold in the spark plugs. i believe the plugs are held in by only 3 threads.

Click to expand...

I think it was 4 threads, not 3.