Well, it happened again...

[san~man]

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]

damn
san man is still around?!?!?

wow, that sucks man

 

[san~man]

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]

Yipes!! That sucks

 

[Blev]

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!!!!

 

[bdcardinal]

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.

 

[Darkhorse845]

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]

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.

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.

 

[bdcardinal]

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.

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]

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

 

[crew_dawg16]

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

 

[bdcardinal]

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]

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!!!!

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

 

[san~man]

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

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.

 

[bdcardinal]

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]

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

 

[bdcardinal]

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.

 

[01'TRUE BLUE GT]

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]

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?

 

[san~man]

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.

I think it was 4 threads, not 3.