New and lost here. 2007 F150 XLT 5.4 Flex… After reading allthe issues with sparkplugs on this engine, I decided to take mine to the dealer early. 87k.


Took it in on Monday for $800+ quote. After eighthours I received a call that one of the plugs had broke and they were having trouble… Ok, I understand because I have read up on the issues. After 28 hoursI received a call that I needed to come to the dealership. When I arrived I was shown a broken plug and informed that part of the ceramic was still in the threads along with metal. They said that if it falls into the cylinder I would need to pay $3,200 more so they could remove the head and retrieve the pieces.In addition the shop foreman has filled the cylinder with some type of corrosion remover up past the threads and said he was going to start the engine in the morning after letting it soak overnight. Note, He has already soaked the threads and started the engine in an attempt to blow it out. My question is what problems am I headed for. I am worried about starting the engine with a cylinder full of fluid. All help is wanted as this is a dealership and I foresee a problem on the way. Thanks

 

Omg !!

 

Did the quote mention you paying extra if they broke a plug or couldn't get one out? Seems to me that any damage causes during the work they are performing would be on them unless otherwise noted in the quote.

 

Have it towed out of there and change them yourself or someone that knows what they are doing.....even if they all broke the dealer should be able to remove them no problem in about 8 hours.Sounds like the mechanic was out sick and they let the body shop guy change your plugs.

 

$3,200 bucks ? F@!& that. I paid my buddy (who is a mechanic) $100 bucks to change all my coil packs and plugs. The price their telling you is rediculous and I wouldn't even pay the $800 if I were you. Tell them there's no way in hell it's cost that much because you got other quotes from different places nowhere near what they are charging you. Go in there with a pair and demand to speak with the head honcho and get it straight. That's my advice and good luck

 

I helped a friend on Monday because I had done mine, kept the tool and we both had Presidents day off. He had 175k on the original plugs. We broke 7 of 8 (only #1 didnt break). We had the job done in 3 hours including probably a 45 minute break to run and get a bite to eat at the local diner while we let the plugs "soak" and the engine cool down a bit. Niether of us are "master mechanics" but have both been in racing for our entire lives from go-carts to dirt late models.

 

Agree 100pct...am guessing those guys at dealership probably didn't have specific tools to deal with.

 

Thanks everyone for the advice. Wish I had read before going back to the dealer. I refused to pay for the head removal and they somehow magically managed to get the job completed. Still cost me $1,290.00. A very hard lesson learned. Will never return to that dealer. I did contact Ford and was told that even though the design was bad, the problem was a dealer issue because it was not broken until someone put a wrench on it and if they covered mine they would have to pay everyone's.

 

Wow. Only cost me $80 to change mine and none broke. Guess im just lucky