Broken Spark Plug, limp mode at 60,391 miles, Sorry, not covered

[Used Piston]

I just got my truck back after a week and a half at the dealer. It went into limp mode on the freeway and started vibrating badly and made horrible noises. The diagnosis from my dealer is water in the spark plug hole caused the spark plug center to blow out. Two hours labor, a new plug and coil, clear memory and a road test, at $661 and 391 miles out of warranty. I'm puzzled at how water would have gotten in the #1 spark plug hole in the first place. I live in California and we had not had any rain until it was already at the dealer and the hood has not been up since September. I called ford customer service who was unsympathetic. My truck was great until around 58,000 miles when it started shifting poorly. I had the shifting fixed with a reflash at 60,137 which they did cover under warranty, still not shifting great but better. Anybody else have this spark plug problem? I'm not real confident with my Ford product at this point.

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[NotBudule]

It's a known issue with service bulletins , you may have to fight a little but should be covered... many threads on here about it...

 

[9zero1790]

sounds like a few others i have read about on here. does your truck have the engine cover ? it sorta looks like dark tupperware on top of the motor. it has come out recently that the cover protects from water pooling into the spark plug. so basically a piss poor design from ford could be the source of your problem. the band aid for the problem is the engine cover. but in typical ford style they stopped putting the engine cover on most of the 5g rangers unless its a top trim level truck. they also removed a list of other things that were standard things advertised as standard and sold under the guise of still being present. adjustable head rests for the front seats is the one im still pissed about. mine also has no engine cover. its my last new ford. guess ill have to switch to the tojos for for my next truck.

 

[subquark]

sounds like a few others i have read about on here. does your truck have the engine cover ? it sorta looks like dark tupperware on top of the motor. it has come out recently that the cover protects from water pooling into the spark plug. so basically a piss poor design from ford could be the source of your problem. the band aid for the problem is the engine cover. but in typical ford style they stopped putting the engine cover on most of the 5g rangers unless its a top trim level truck. they also removed a list of other things that were standard things advertised as standard and sold under the guise of still being present. adjustable head rests for the front seats is the one im still pissed about. mine also has no engine cover. its my last new ford. guess ill have to switch to the tojos for for my next truck.

Well said and I'm in your same club about this:

"adjustable head rests for the front seats is the one im still pissed about"

And I did have to buy the engine cover too ... and hood struts.

But I scored and I guess I should be grateful for having buttons for my folding rear seat head rests that never get used because mine's a Scab and the back belongs to my fierce Chihuahua who can't reach them anyway!

 

[9zero1790]

not to hijack the thread but of all the missing items the engine cover and headrests really is aggravating. esp if the cover not being in place is causing engine problems.

 

[sandog]

How does water even get around the spark plugs unless the hood is left up for long periods ?
Hitting puddles at high speed ?

 

[NotBudule]

How does water even get around the spark plugs unless the hood is left up for long periods ?
Hitting puddles at high speed ?

Runs down windshield and gathers at the seam where the 2 cowl pieces join, then drips down on top of engine...

https://www.ranger5g.com/forum/threads/water-leaking-onto-spark-plugs.21332/

 

[sandog]

Runs down windshield and gathers at the seam where the 2 cowl pieces join, then drips down on top of engine...

Ahhh. Makes me glad I'm in Arizona, where it might only rain a few times a year.
And that my Ranger is under cover when I'm not driving it.

 

[MarioCart]

Ahhh. Makes me glad I'm in Arizona, where it might only rain a few times a year.
And that my Ranger is under cover when I'm not driving it.

Keep in mind, washing your vehicle can introduce water as well.

I think the cover is a pipe dream on eliminating the problem and Ford went the wrong route with that idea. NotBodule found the root problem that Ford missed.

 

[Blue Streak]

Posted this somewhere else, but I have never had a water issue. Maybe some are sealed better than others. Someone needs to make a partial shield to attach to the bottom of the cowl to force the water in a different direction. ?

 

[Rocketeer61]

I'll bet Ford will sell you a sheet of cardboard for a hundred bucks or so...

 

[NotBudule]

A piece of split foam pipe insulation will deflect it , I sealed my cowl just to be double sure...

 

[Grandaccess]

Posted this somewhere else, but I have never had a water issue. Maybe some are sealed better than others. Someone needs to make a partial shield to attach to the bottom of the cowl to force the water in a different direction. ?

You have made a nice warm Habitat for mice, and even gave them building material

 

[Blue Streak]

You have made a nice warm Habitat for mice, and even gave them building material

Was only on for water leak test.

 

[9zero1790]

if its a ford water leaks in ...

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