Spit out #2 again....

[tonydiv]

Well, I kind of knew it would eventually re-spit the #2 plug, but I really hoped it would have happened when I had a bit more time on my hands.

The question: Spend $369 for the TimeSert kit and repair it myself (and have 4 more inserts left to fix any others) or spend $475 and just let the dealer fix it?

I already have a new spare coil, so that money is already spent. I'm just not sure that I feel like climbing up on that beast and messing with it. On the other hand, it is the #2 cyl and it's not all that bad to get to.

Aside from not getting dirty, the plus side of letting the dealer do it is that they would use the Full Torque insert, which is the best way to fix it, but way more difficult to install. (which is why I would use the TimeSert if I did it myself)

Anyone have any ideas/issues/problems that I may have not thought of?



Oh, by the way, the plug did not spit out during my 1700 mile, 70 mph trip to Florida, it spit out while idling for 10 minutes in a parking lot after a 1/2 mile drive from home.

 

[Stoned06]

Did it spit out the plug or the first timesert? Either way, if that cylinder had been timeserted before, I would let the dealer fix it since it may be kind of difficult to redo.
If you just reinstalled the plug after it spit out the first time, I would try it yourself if you have the time. If time is scarce, I would let the deaeler do it.

 

[tonydiv]

The first time it happened the plug went right back in and torqued down to spec. I haven't even tried to do anything about it yet, since the chances of the threads NOT being damaged are slim to none.

 

[97ExpGuy]

The first time it happened the plug went right back in and torqued down to spec. I haven't even tried to do anything about it yet, since the chances of the threads NOT being damaged are slim to none.

I'm actually curious as to your plug spitting out and have some questions:

Did you do a recent plug change or did someone else? If so, how many miles since the change and what did you torque the plugs to?

What brand plugs - stock Motorcraft or other?

I've read most of what there is to know about the plugs spitting out but every opportunity I get to ask someone I do. I changed my plugs when I got my Expy at 107k on the odometer and now with 117k on it, it appears I've done everything right on install but I just wanted to inquire.

 

[tonydiv]

I bought the truck with just under 112,000 on it. The previous owner had the plugs changed at 110,000 by a garage. The truck now has 122,000 on it. I've changed out a couple of coil packs, but never touched a plug, until it spun our the first time. I can only assume it spun out the first time because the threads in the head were fine, they wouldn't even snag a rag when I went to clean out the hole. As I said, so far this time, I just looked to confirm which cylinder it was and then shut the hood in disgust.

I'll have to look at the plug, I can't seem to remember what brand they are.

 

[97ExpGuy]

I bought the truck with just under 112,000 on it. The previous owner had the plugs changed at 110,000 by a garage. The truck now has 122,000 on it. I've changed out a couple of coil packs, but never touched a plug, until it spun our the first time. I can only assume it spun out the first time because the threads in the head were fine, they wouldn't even snag a rag when I went to clean out the hole. As I said, so far this time, I just looked to confirm which cylinder it was and then shut the hood in disgust.

I'll have to look at the plug, I can't seem to remember what brand they are.

If they aren't Motorcraft, I'd honestly recommend changing all of them and playing it safe. I remember reading about a Super Duty owner with the V-10 and he had two blow-outs with plugs. Both were Champion plugs. If a garage did the job, I'm real curious to see if they even touched the back plugs (4 & 8) as I've also read stories where new owners have changed the plugs only to find originals in the back since they are a pain to change. And truthfully, most blow-outs people have experienced have come AFTER a recent plug change due to incorrect installation. This would make sense as when the first plugs were installed in the factory, the heads were off the vehicle and able to achieve the correct torque specifications.

 

[KWT2000]

if money isnt an issue and the dealer will stand behind it i would go that route....

 

[tonydiv]

The only fear that I have about the dealer is the dreaded escalation.
You know, the "once we got in to it, we found..." story.

I still think that I'll go that route because I just don't have the time to wait a week for the Timesert kit to arrive and I really don't have the time to wrench on the truck.

Oh, forgot to mention, the plugs are Motorcraft and it absolutely won't thread back it.

 

[panda24619]

if had coils gone bad never plugs. knock on wood! but ive always taken it to the dealer. we trust them, me and my dad, and they always back it up for like 6 months. or something like that. been a year. dont remember. but i would go that way. its a lot of work and if you have no time just dealer it.

 

[tonydiv]

Made my appointment for monday. I think I'll chug it over on sunday night to avoid as much attention as possible. Not easy when you're driving something that sounds like a steam locomotive.

 

[tonydiv]

Well, I'm $421 lighter but the truck is fixed.
The only thing that concerns me is that the service manager kept using the term "heli-coil" and even put it on the reciept. He told me that they use an "insert" and that heil-coil was just a generic term that he used to help people understand. Unfortunately, the tech wasn't around to find out which insert they used.

Oh, funny thing though, he quoted me $475 over the phone and the bill came out to be EXACTLY $475 after tax, shop fees, etc. Tell me that they didn't start with the total and work backwards. Maybe I should have taken it in without getting the estimate first.

(The $421 comes from the "coupon" that the cashier applied, because she said I was always friendly to her when I sold cars there, 8 years ago)

 

[walnuts4x4]

glad you got it fixed and that is a conspiracy that they new the exact price with tax.... unless they do that job everyday????bb

 

[napew2009]

I'm in Canada, and $475 is the price they quoted me yesterday for an heli coil fix on #3.