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Spark plug replacement

Tiny
BM.USMAN
  • MEMBER
  • 2006 FORD EXPEDITION
  • V8
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 143,000 MILES
During replacement of spark plugs, I found all spark plugs are broken in head, mechanic advise to open the engine, please suggest
Saturday, May 16th, 2009 AT 2:57 AM

35 Replies

Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,885 POSTS
What part is broken? If it is the white part, chances are you broke them when trying to remove them. THat would not justify removing the cylinder head, and the car wouldn't have run prior to replacement. If the steel part the is threaded and bolts to the head is stripped, then the head will need removed to repair the problem. But again, the car wouldn't have been running prior to this.

Check out this video

https://youtu.be/E6oier7agkY

Let me know more details so I can better answer you.

Joe
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Friday, June 19th, 2009 AT 7:51 PM
Tiny
GREGANDANGEL
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
  • 2006 FORD EXPEDITION
  • 5.4L
  • V8
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 212,000 MILES
Bought my rig a few months ago. Would like to keep it maintained properly but not sure what work has been done on it already. I have a Carfax but it just says something generic like "vehicle serviced". I am especially concerned about the spark plugs. I have been doing some research and, correct me if I am wrong, it sounds like the plugs like to break when you remove them which turns into thousands of dollars in repair work. Is there a way to find out when they were last changed? Or can you tell by looking at them? Is there some way to find out about any other work done as well?
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Sunday, January 5th, 2020 AT 1:52 PM (Merged)
Tiny
WRENCHTECH
  • MECHANIC
  • 20,761 POSTS
Unless you can find receipts or know where the work was done, there is no way to get the history.
Yes, the plugs commonly break off because the upper and lower parts of the plug are only connected by glass.
There is a tool made for removing the broken piece.
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Sunday, January 5th, 2020 AT 1:52 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JJMK54
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2005 FORD EXPEDITION
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 82,000 MILES
My 2005 Ford Expedition hestates when you accelerate. We replaced 4 spark plugs in 2010 and we just replaced the break boost yesteday. When we put the computer on the vehicle it said it was running lean. What suggestions do you have?
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Sunday, January 5th, 2020 AT 1:52 PM (Merged)
Tiny
WRENCHTECH
  • MECHANIC
  • 20,761 POSTS
My first suggestion is, never change just 4 spark plugs. For your lean code, that is likely a back vacuum leak somewhere.
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Sunday, January 5th, 2020 AT 1:52 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MARKINACTON
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2002 FORD EXPEDITION
  • V8
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 119,000 MILES
Changing plugs on 4.6 expodition for the first time. Have been turning wrenches for many years and never had this problem. Can not get the spark plug wrench to engage plug on passenger side 3rd cylinder back. Using short extention with swivel and have been able to get my hand back there and push straight down but socket will not engage. Can not see down into the hole because of location. Also tried using a regular deep socket without the plug protection foam but still cant get it. Has any one ever had this issue?
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Sunday, January 5th, 2020 AT 1:52 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JASONRAY
  • MECHANIC
  • 213 POSTS
Yes. That one is a tricky one to get to. I'm quite sure that something has built up around the base of the plug and won't let the socket go down far enough to hook up. You'll really need a mirror and a flashlight. Try to look down the hole and see what's holding you up. I bet it's a mixture of mud, dirt, etc. I've used a long, straight, pointed pick to dig around and loosen it up. Then try using some compressed air to blow the debris out. Then try to put the socket on it. If it keeps giving you problems, keep cleaning till it works. Also, make sure you didn't tear the end of the 'boot' off when you pulled it off the plug. Sometimes that will happen and it leaves a rubber ring on the plug which will cause the same problems. Try that and see what happens. Let me know. I hope I've helped
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+1
Sunday, January 5th, 2020 AT 1:52 PM (Merged)
Tiny
FAMILYOF7
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2002 FORD EXPEDITION
  • V8
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 140,000 MILES
I am confident the spark plug (s) has blown out of engine. This engine has a power pack not plug wires. How do remove and replace the power pack and sleeve that is about 4 inches long. How do I get the sleeve back on to the plug? The hole the sleeve goes into is too small for my hand and the sleeve is not stiff Im afraid if I remove it I wont be able to replace it?
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Sunday, January 5th, 2020 AT 1:52 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,885 POSTS
THere is one bolt that holds each coil pack in place. Remove the bolt and remove the coil pack. A rubber boot will be attached to it. Using a socket and extention, remove the plug and replace it with the new one. When you replace the coil pack, the rubber boot will go over the plug and snap into place.

If you have other questions, let me know. Also, you titled this as the spark plug blew out of the head. Is that what happened? If so, the threads will be gone and you will need to remove the head and have it repaired.

Let me know.

Joe
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Sunday, January 5th, 2020 AT 1:52 PM (Merged)
Tiny
OHYEA
  • MEMBER
  • 153 POSTS
  • 2001 FORD EXPEDITION
  • 5.4L
  • V8
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
Was changing all my spark plugs and noticed that two of my spark plugs had oil on the firing head of the spark plug. Now I've been looking to see what can cause this and it said it was the engine wear? Is there a way to slow this down or stop it? Also do any engine restore products actually work if so what are some good ones to help the engine? Thanks.
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Sunday, January 5th, 2020 AT 1:52 PM (Merged)
Tiny
WRENCHTECH
  • MECHANIC
  • 20,761 POSTS
Do you mean it was on the outside porcelain part or the part in the engine?

It's really impossible to have liquid oil on the firing tip after the engine has been run. The combustion process would burn it off immediately. It's more likely it was outside the plug from a valve cover leaking and dripped onto the tip when the plug was removed.
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Sunday, January 5th, 2020 AT 1:52 PM (Merged)
Tiny
OHYEA
  • MEMBER
  • 153 POSTS
Nope nothing was on the porcelain part, it was all over the part that goes into the engine where the threads are and ok must have used the wrong words to describe my problem lol.
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Sunday, January 5th, 2020 AT 1:52 PM (Merged)
Tiny
WRENCHTECH
  • MECHANIC
  • 20,761 POSTS
It still came from the outside. You didn't pull any liquid oil from inside the cylinder.
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Sunday, January 5th, 2020 AT 1:52 PM (Merged)
Tiny
OHYEA
  • MEMBER
  • 153 POSTS
Ok, so is it a bad thing to have oil on your spark plug though? Or is it something I can just forget about?
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Sunday, January 5th, 2020 AT 1:52 PM (Merged)
Tiny
SANTIAGOCORRALES
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
  • 2001 FORD EXPEDITION
  • 150,000 MILES
My 2001 expedition 5.4 blew up a coil & spark plug #8. I replace spark & coil but it doesn't want to start. Anti theft light is blinking rapidly & is killing battery. I think the coil made a short when hitting firewall. What should I do? Think u, please help.
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Sunday, January 5th, 2020 AT 1:52 PM (Merged)
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
Did you remove a battery cable for this operation?

It sounds like a security failure and ford is the only one who can re program it.

Roy
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Sunday, January 5th, 2020 AT 1:52 PM (Merged)
Tiny
WRENCHTECH
  • MECHANIC
  • 20,761 POSTS
You most likely have a leaking valve cover gasket and the oil is running into the spark plug tube.
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Sunday, January 5th, 2020 AT 1:52 PM (Merged)
Tiny
SANTIAGOCORRALES
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Yes, I remove positive cable. So u think I did not fried the computer brain?
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Sunday, January 5th, 2020 AT 1:52 PM (Merged)
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
I did not say that and no, you did not.

It sounds like a security issue triggered by you removing the cable

Roy
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Sunday, January 5th, 2020 AT 1:52 PM (Merged)
Tiny
SANTIAGOCORRALES
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
I call a lock Smith and told him what happened. He said that it was a electrical problem. I told him when I turn key to on, all gauges go up and down & my odometer is just shows little dots.
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Sunday, January 5th, 2020 AT 1:52 PM (Merged)

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