The Dreaded Water in Spark Plugs (TSB 21-2147)

[mtbikernate]

According to my dealer, even with the ESP, they had to eat the cost of the cover

The service tech I spoke with this morning has been trying a few things. The last avenue we had was my extended warranty and it's been a couple hours since our last conversation about that so I'm hoping he got somewhere with them.

It's currently at a different dealership than the one where I bought it. When I called that one when the problems started up a bit over a week ago, the tech I spoke to was really grumpy and told me they were booked out for a month. This one in the next town over had an appointment slot for yesterday and has been pretty accommodating so far. He mentioned looking to see if they'd possibly eat the cost of the cover for me, since my truck never had one to begin with. But that's a relatively small part of the total cost, anyway. And AFAIK, they haven't actually pulled any of the plugs yet, so there's always the chance that the #1 plug has some more problems they won't find until they attempt to get it out.

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[Gizmokid2005]

The service tech I spoke with this morning has been trying a few things. The last avenue we had was my extended warranty and it's been a couple hours since our last conversation about that so I'm hoping he got somewhere with them.

It's currently at a different dealership than the one where I bought it. When I called that one when the problems started up a bit over a week ago, the tech I spoke to was really grumpy and told me they were booked out for a month. This one in the next town over had an appointment slot for yesterday and has been pretty accommodating so far. He mentioned looking to see if they'd possibly eat the cost of the cover for me, since my truck never had one to begin with. But that's a relatively small part of the total cost, anyway. And AFAIK, they haven't actually pulled any of the plugs yet, so there's always the chance that the #1 plug has some more problems they won't find until they attempt to get it out.

Yeah, it took a while for mine (as you can see earlier in this thread) to get things figured out, but in the end they took care of it. Really the cover is the *majority* of the cost if your plugs are otherwise not seized in the head. It's almost $300 in cost for that alone, they then charge like $60 for plugs. Then labor (and my dealer is $205/hr for labor alone). If I hadn't already known about the cover and the TSB I would've just done the plugs myself and saved all the headache of dealing with a dealer.

 

[mtbikernate]

Yeah, it took a while for mine (as you can see earlier in this thread) to get things figured out, but in the end they took care of it. Really the cover is the *majority* of the cost if your plugs are otherwise not seized in the head. It's almost $300 in cost for that alone, they then charge like $60 for plugs. Then labor (and my dealer is $205/hr for labor alone). If I hadn't already known about the cover and the TSB I would've just done the plugs myself and saved all the headache of dealing with a dealer.

Yeah, I'm letting the dealer deal with mine because of the risk of seized plugs. I'm having them just do all the plugs at once, too, so they're all at the same wear level. I don't necessarily expect that part to be covered by anything, but it would be nice if the extended warranty did cover that part, too. I really would like it if the extended warranty at minimum would pay for the cover and spark plug #1 (plus labor). If so, that'd chop the cost a decent amount.

 

[LawnMM]

That cover is crap, other than being free and tasty to squirrels and mice it doesn't have much going for it.

Maybe see if they'll just change the plugs and tell them you'll source the cover on your own? The JCR cover is way better IMO.

 

[GTGallop]

That cover is crap, other than being free and tasty to squirrels and mice it doesn't have much going for it.

Maybe see if they'll just change the plugs and tell them you'll source the cover on your own? The JCR cover is way better IMO.

Plugs are cheap and easy. Mine let the coil packs sit in water. Once the CP goes, then you are starting to look at some $$$. Mine was $900+ for the first one even though the part is $64 on Rock Auto Retail Pricing.

 

[LawnMM]

Mine was $900+ for the first one even though the part is $64 on Rock Auto Retail Pricing.

Why?!

 

[NotBudule]

If they sent me a free cover in the mail , no way I'd bolt it on , it's made of rodent food , doesn't stop any water from getting to the engine , 0% (it may redirect some , kinda almost) holds in heat like a furry hat on a winters day ...

 

[Racket]

This forum is an enterprising bunch, you'd think between our collective brains a better solution would be another Fitzstick type product.

More effective water protection and noise dampening that isn't attractive to squirrels or wasps.

I know a lot of people pooh pooh vanity covers and it's a little bit of a hassle to go out and spray my engine with the hot pepper/peppermint oil spray each month.

I think this was the aftermarket solution that some are using although I recall some issues with metal cracking and no soundproofing. I don't know how actually effective the water protection is. Maybe this needs further refinement or a total redesign. If the engine is essentially unchanged from 5G to 6G (notice JCR has this mislabeled) it may be worth looking into from a business perspective.

 

[mtbikernate]

got my truck back today. I went ahead and had them change all 4 spark plugs so they were all the same with the same wear levels and all. and I got my FANCY FOAM COVER. The dealership did me a solid and didn't charge me for that. It's Ford's fault, anyway.

The foam cover does quiet down the engine noise a good bit, which is kinda nice. I have the golf tube part that I'll be fitting to give a little extra insurance. I also have some hot pepper spray I use in the garden to keep the rabbits off of certain plants, and I'll be spraying that engine cover down with that stuff. It's potent...I have to wear a mask when I'm spraying it and ensure that I'm upwind.

 

[Conman50]

got my truck back today. I went ahead and had them change all 4 spark plugs so they were all the same with the same wear levels and all. and I got my FANCY FOAM COVER. The dealership did me a solid and didn't charge me for that. It's Ford's fault, anyway.

The foam cover does quiet down the engine noise a good bit, which is kinda nice. I have the golf tube part that I'll be fitting to give a little extra insurance. I also have some hot pepper spray I use in the garden to keep the rabbits off of certain plants, and I'll be spraying that engine cover down with that stuff. It's potent...I have to wear a mask when I'm spraying it and ensure that I'm upwind.

I had the sane issue and they did not cover my engine cover....I had to buy and install myself.

 

[mtbikernate]

It's nice to have good friends. A friend of mine has a few vehicles and he let me use his old Ranger while mine was in the shop. His is a bit beat up and has some issues, but it got me where I needed to go. And gave me fond memories of my 98 Ranger 4cyl MT.

 

[EJH]

got my truck back today. I went ahead and had them change all 4 spark plugs so they were all the same with the same wear levels and all. and I got my FANCY FOAM COVER. The dealership did me a solid and didn't charge me for that. It's Ford's fault, anyway.

The foam cover does quiet down the engine noise a good bit, which is kinda nice. I have the golf tube part that I'll be fitting to give a little extra insurance. I also have some hot pepper spray I use in the garden to keep the rabbits off of certain plants, and I'll be spraying that engine cover down with that stuff. It's potent...I have to wear a mask when I'm spraying it and ensure that I'm upwind.

Glad you got things taken care of. The engine cover does help with engine noise somewhat. I added it within the first few months (when they were much cheaper in 2021). I spray my engine cover, battery wrap and around the engine bay in general with Grandpa Gus's rodent spray.

 

[TJC]

I had a 1958 Impala, 348ci, blue, 2 dr. HT. This was a great car all the way around...wish I had kept it...

I love that car... even more than my 57 Chevy Belair!

 

[ylwjacket]

After reading a few of these threads, I went ahead and changed my plugs today at 50k miles.

There was some rust on them, and they fouled pretty good.

#4 was super tight. It took some effort to break it free. I had plenty of room - it was just cranked down.

I also, at first, couldn't get that coil to seat. I thought I had it, cranked it up, CEL misfire #4. I thought it was damaged because of how hard it was to get. Reseated the coil, and all's good.

I don't think there would've been anything left had I let those run another 50k.

 

[airline tech]

After reading a few of these threads, I went ahead and changed my plugs today at 50k miles.

There was some rust on them, and they fouled pretty good.

#4 was super tight. It took some effort to break it free. I had plenty of room - it was just cranked down.

I also, at first, couldn't get that coil to seat. I thought I had it, cranked it up, CEL misfire #4. I thought it was damaged because of how hard it was to get. Reseated the coil, and all's good.

I don't think there would've been anything left had I let those run another 50k.

Yes, the COPs take a little finesse, you have to feel the snap with your fingers, with #4 at an angle it is the most challenging to get. Boot wants to push to the side of the plug.

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