Ford sold me out, switching to Toyota

[7Boomerang7]

So if there is a TSB on this, does this mean there’s a chance we can call a dealership and have them order a cover for you for free? Or does the engine have to go to shit before you’re allowed a $170 part?

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[Max Crafter]

So if there is a TSB on this, does this mean there’s a chance we can call a dealership and have them order a cover for you for free? Or does the engine have to go to shit before you’re allowed a $170 part?

no.
at least not unless you have codes, water present, and corrosion present.

 

[HenryMac]

Hmm... maybe a shot of WD-40 in the spark plug well at each oil change might be prudent.

Since we live in a semi arid climate here, it's probably not an issue. But I wonder if the OP's problem was exacerbated by living in Texas near the gulf... which means high humidity and higher corrosion due to salt is a likely probability?

 

[miraculon]

I ordered the cover, studs and nuts from a Detroit area Ford dealer that sells online. They had the cover, but were warning that the studs/nuts didn't fit my '22. I see elsewhere that they are OK for the '22 and since they are called out on the TSB, I ordered them anyways.

I decided not to wait for rust, codes, etc. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

I had thought that this cover was purely cosmetic until I read this thread and the referenced TSB.

I don't know if this cover delete was a parts shortage issue, or the handiwork of the Ford beancounters, I suspect the latter. This wouldn't be the first time that a cost reduction went awry.

Thanks for posting this info about the issue and the fix.

Greg

 

[daczone]

Flashbacks to the Ford V8 Spark Plug fiasco in the 4.6 and 5.4 Triton motors. Some dealers charged customers to remove the heads to remove broken spark plugs. Another one of Fords brilliant ideas. For those that haven't see a F150 spark plug, on a 3v head they go into the aluminum head where they would rust in place causing them to break off when you try to remove them:

 

[Jason B]

Flashbacks to the Ford V8 Spark Plug fiasco in the 4.6 and 5.4 Triton motors. Some dealers charged customers to remove the heads to remove broken spark plugs. Another one of Fords brilliant ideas. For those that haven't see a F150 spark plug, on a 3v head they go into the aluminum head where they would rust in place causing them to break off when you try to remove them:

That and carbon build up. A local mechanic I know was changing plugs on an F150 when one broke off into the cylinder. He tried fishing it out thru the plug hole but couldn't reach it. He said he turned the crank manually to raise the piston, but turned to far and cracked the block. He said manually, but I bet he was bumping the starter.

 

[daczone]

That and carbon build up. A local mechanic I know was changing plugs on an F150 when one broke off into the cylinder. He tried fishing it out thru the plug hole but couldn't reach it. He said he turned the crank manually to raise the piston, but turned to far and cracked the block. He said manually, but I bet he was bumping the starter.

I personally had a 4.6 and did the soak the plugs method for 48 hours before removing.... I broke 3 of the 8. Ford wanted over $2000 to pull the heads. I bought a special tool to extract them, but it was NOT fun. My vehicle was down for 2 weeks.

 

[VAMike]

I had thought that this cover was purely cosmetic until I read this thread and the referenced TSB.

I don't know if this cover delete was a parts shortage issue, or the handiwork of the Ford beancounters, I suspect the latter. This wouldn't be the first time that a cost reduction went awry.

they were originally only on the lariat as a way to find things to distinguish it from the other trims. added cosmetics and a little sound deadening. then they cut that to increase profits. and then they found out that the cover was the only thing keeping the plugs from rusting (sometimes, apparently at random, but not for everybody?)

 

[pbethel]

I left Colorado last year for many of the things mentioned, and more. I don't miss the rat race there, and I even lived a few miles into the Foothills of Golden.

Colorado was much nicer 20 + years ago. But I don't miss the bipolar weather and 13" of snow in June.

But you moved to AZ and they are rapidly converting this state into the same craphole CA is.

god help the fucker in the middle of nevada

When I bought my Ranger from a Nevada dealer that had more Rangers in stock than all the dealers in Arizona combined.( YES I checked them all.)
I love rural Nevada. Miles and miles of two lane roads posted at seventy MPH and very little traffic

 

[Jackpot Tremor]

NO IT IS NOT.
COILS AND PLUGS ARE ONLY COVERED UNDER THE 3Y/36,000 MILE WARRANTY
THEY ARE COVERED FOR 2Y/24,000 UNDER THE 8Y/80,000 EMISSIONS WARRANTY AND ARE EXCLUDED AS A CONSUMABLE FROM THE 6Y/60,000 POWER TRAIN WARRANTY.

SHOULD IT BE COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY? YOU BET YOUR SWEET ASS IT SHOULD BUT FORD HAS USED THEIR MAGIC PEN TO WRITE PRETTY WORDS INTO THEIR WARRANTIES THAT EXCLUDES THEM FROM COVERING THESE PARTS.

WHAT'S MORE IS THAT 4 MOTORCRAFT PLUGS COSTS ABOUT $100 ONLINE AND THE COIL PACKS COST $65. ALL MOTORCRAFT AND ALL COVERED BY THE SAME 2YEAR WARRANTY THE FORD SERVICE SHOP IS GOING TO GIVE YOU - LABOR NOT INCLUDED.

what about if I have an extended warranty through Ford?.....I bought the Ford Premium Care 6 year/ 125K miles extended warranty through Flood Ford based on some on the other issues I've read on here (A/C heater box thingy mainly)......is this issue covered by the extended Ford Warranty?

I did buy the cover some time ago just because I needed it to be part of the cool group of Rangers owners that got theirs before they deleted them from the Lariats.....

 

[yamahaSHO]

But you moved to AZ and they are rapidly converting this state into the same craphole CA is.

You wouldn't be the first person I've seen mistake "AR" for Arizona. However... The first to actually see "AR" and convert it to "AZ".

Arizona is where home is for me, despite being a military brat. I don't like what it is now (Phoenix area).

 

[Dr_Strangelove]

Looks like Nevada drew the short straw for CONUS.

7-8 dealers statewide.

Wow I never knew that. That means 4 of them are in Las Vegas Metro area. Team Ford, Friendly Ford, Ford Country, and Gaudin Ford.

Explains why one cannot dodge ADM in my city. Makes me feel... a bit better. A bit.

 

[7Boomerang7]

Man fuck all this shit now im wondering if I should have saved my $$ on the extended warranty i just bought and traded the Ranger in

 

[12Bravo20]

Flashbacks to the Ford V8 Spark Plug fiasco in the 4.6 and 5.4 Triton motors. Some dealers charged customers to remove the heads to remove broken spark plugs. Another one of Fords brilliant ideas. For those that haven't see a F150 spark plug, on a 3v head they go into the aluminum head where they would rust in place causing them to break off when you try to remove them:

The spark plugs on the 4.6 were always fun to change, especially the back two plugs since they were under the firewall. The only way I could get those out was to use a motorcycle spark plug wrench with a regular wrench and it was still a tight fit.

I broke off a spark plug inside an aluminum head back in high school (late 80's) and have always put a small dab of anti-sieze on spark plugs ever since then.

 

[Wytchdctr]

Texas has the most dealerships across america.

I have two pretty close to each other for me. They both suck. I just noticed one is sort of close to work vs home. Might go see how bad that service department is... smaller town dealership.

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