[Eminembdg]

I've been away from these forums for a long time. Glad to be back! But unfortunately it's not for a good reason...

I know this issue has been discussed all around the net a million times and there a bunch of fixes for it, but here's my question:

If FORD made a mistake with making the aluminum heads with shallow spark plug threads why do I have to spend my own money to fix it? I mean, shouldn't this be a recall issue? I'm not an expert on policies or laws, but if my motor makes a spark plug literally fall out of the head, shouldn't that be a HUGE safety concern?

Anyways, I've researched the problem. Which has happened twice to me on the same exact plug. I know about the heli coil, Calvans insert , and the cheapy inserts you can get from pepboys/autozone. How high are the chances it will happen again to that plug if I first use the cheaper method of getting a thread insert from Auotzone first? Is it plainly a huge wast of like $30? Because after the plug has come out, and i put it back in with no damage to the plug, as long as I don't romp the hell out of my stang, it doesn't come out. So what are your guys opinions? thanks in adavance

[03gtfirered]

get a heli coil. i used one on my crank bolt and its been holding ever since.

[SWEET2KSTANG]

i been running heli coil in mine for a couple years with nitrous and no issues.

[Eminembdg]

wow really? I keep hearing such bad things about heli coil just popping back out. heli coil is just the the wire coil right? Would the cheaper fulll thread insert from Autozone hold up better do you think?

[SWEET2KSTANG]

i think this is the kit i used, i got it from parts store:

HeliCoil 5334-14 Sav-A-Thread 14Mx1.25 Spark Plug Thread Repair Kit Order#HEL5334-14 www.TheToolWarehouse.Net

[Eminembdg]

ok, cool. Actually cheaper than at autozone. I can do this with heads in car right? Just have to make sure valves are closed as to not get any shavings in the cylinder right?

[SWEET2KSTANG]

they are cheaper at parts store, i think i paid like $17 for my kit. i did mine in car, just be carefull and take your time. you might have to get creative to make a tool to get down there to make sure its strait. just line the channels with grease in the tap, that will keep the shavings out.

[Eminembdg]

thank you very much for all your help man! very much appreciated! +rep for you

[SWEET2KSTANG]

no problem

[vjmate]

time serts used on my 02 with 12lb boost no problems

[mpboy]

yea when i built my motor i had all the spark plug holes time serted. they will never strip/blow up/take a shit

[00redgt]

i used the heil coil save a thread,mine is doin great

[D-Town 2V]

Is this on all new edge mustangs?!

[mpboy]

A California lawyer is petitioning federal regulators to recall about 17 million Ford vehicles, including F-Series pickup trucks, because of a problem that can cause spark plugs to blow out.The complaint from attorney Donald Ricketts of Santa Clarita, Calif., would, if granted, lead to the biggest-ever U.S. recall ever. SUVs, pickups, Crown Victoria and Mustangs sold in the 1997-2004 model years had spark plugs that can come loose and fly through the hood, Ricketts alleges.

Nearly 200 consumers have complained to ConsumerAffairs.com about the problem over the last five years. In nearly every case, the Ford owners also complained to Ford, only to be told that the problem was not covered under their warranty and disclaiming any knowledge of a broader problem.

T.J. of Wichita Falls, Texas, complained two years ago that the spark plug blew out of his 1999 Ford F-150. "It is costing me $3,000 to fix this problem. I just returned from the war overseas in Iraq and this is what I get to come home to," T.J. said.

Ricketts' petition was filed less than three weeks after Ford recalled 3.8 million vehicles, a year's worth of sales, to fix a cruise-control switch that can overheat and cause fires. That recall, the fifth-largest ever in the United States, included the same vehicles and model years as Ricketts' petition.

Ford said it couldn't comment on the petition.

Nor has Ford had much to say to any of the thousands of consumers whose $30,000 trucks have been disabled when the spark plugs blew out, resulting in repair bills averaging around $3,000.

The vehicles in question all have an aluminum cylinder head. "Many mechanics feel the head contains an insufficient number of threads to hold the plugs when under stress, so they have a greater than normal tendency to fail," said Christopher of Palmdale, Calif., whose truck blew its plug in 2002.

"Ford is not acknowledging any problem, so there's no guidance from them on the best way to proceed with repair," Christopher said. "Some people have had heli-coils inserted, while some have had to have the entire engine replaced. Others have had a recurrence of the failure, due to lack of direction from Ford."

[mpboy]

although i have never seen one go through the hood. that would be some shit though

[vjmate]

will do for the right price if around atl ga

[moosenuk17]

my buddies f150 didnt go through the hood, but it did put a pretty nice ddent in it lol

[mpboy]

mine just eat up the COP, but it happen at a stop light

[D-Town 2V]

How do you know before it happens so you can prevent it from ever happening?!

[00redgt]

mine started ticking before it blew, broke the cop to