NHTSA Complaint #10095649 — 2001 FORD F-150

WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK TODAY, APPROACHING THE ON-RAMP TO THE 280 ON SAND HILL ROAD IN MENLO PARK, CA. THE 2001 F-150 5.4L PICK-UP WITH 75,000 MILES, STARTED MAKING A LOUD POPPING SOUND WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 35 MPH. I PULLED THE TRUCK OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD IMMEDIATELY AND TURNED THE ENGINE OFF. THE CAR WAS TOWED BY FLATBED TO THE LOCAL SHELL GAS STATION REPAIR SHOP TO BE SEEN BY THE MECHANIC IN THE MORNING. THE MECHANIC INDICATED THAT THE #3 PLUG ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR HAD COME OUT OF THE HEAD, THE THREADS TO THE SPARK PLUG STRIPPED. HE WAS UNABLE TO GET A NEW PLUG INTO THE HEAD AND WANTED MY APPROVAL TO SPEND ABOUT 5 HOURS OR $750 TO REMOVE THE HEAD AND INSPECT THE CYLINDER HEAD FOR A POSSIBLE STRIPPED SOCKET. THE FORD DEALERSHIP SEPARATELY QUOTED ME $1,010 FOR A NEW CYLINDER HEAD AND THE FORD SERVICE ADVISER AT THE PALO ALTO FORD DEALERSHIP QUOTED MY AN ESTIMATED 12 HOURS TO TEAR DOWN AND REMOVE THE HEAD FOR INSPECTION. THE HOURLY RATE QUOTED IS $105. I CHECKED WITH ANOTHER LOCAL AUTO REPAIR SHOP, WHERE THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THE BLOWN PLUG AND STRIPPED HEAD WAS A COMMON PROBLEM. HE AGREED THAT THE FIVE HOUR ESTIMATE TO REMOVE THE HEAD SOUNDED RIGHT (WHY IS FORD QUOTING ME 12 HOURS?). *NM