NHTSA Complaint #10177026 — 2002 FORD E-350

THE VEHICLE IN QUESTION WAS PURCHASED USED WITH 82,000 SHOWING ON THE ODOMETER. I OWNED THE VEHICLE FOR 2 1/2 MONTHS PRIOR TO THIS ENGINE ISSUE. LEFT FOR WORK ON THE MORNING OF DEC. 20 2006. I AM AN IN HOME SERVICE PLUMBER. APPROACH. 1:30 PM ON THE AFOREMENTIONED DAY, I STARTED MY VEHICLE TO LEAVE ONE JOB AND PROCEED TO ANOTHER, AND UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, HEARD A VERY LOUD POP, FOLLOWED BY A CONTINUOUS EXHAUST LEAK TYPE SOUND. UPON FURTHER VISUAL INVESTIGATION, I DISCOVERED THAT A SPARK PLUG WAS LAYING ON TOP OF THE MANIFOLD AND THE NUMBER 2 CYLINDER COIL PAK WAS DISTORTED AND PULLED AWAY FROM IT'S ATTACHED POSITION OVER THAT CYLINDER. THE FAILURE WAS THE PLUG EJECTING OUT OF THE CYLINDER HEAD ( PER DEALER ) AND THE CONSEQUENCES ARE MISSED DAYS OF EMPLOYMENT UNTIL THE VEHICLE IS REPAIRED. THE REPAIR WILL COST ME AROUND 4800,00, NEW CYLINDER HEAD PLUS LABOR TO INSTALL. VEHICLE IS AN E- 350 CARGO 2002. 5.4 TRITON. I WAS UNEMPLOYED 7 MONTHS PRIOR TO THIS VEHICLE PURCHASE. THE NEW JOB I HAVE REQUIRES ME TO PURCHASE A SERVICE VEHICLE. *NM