1999 FORD ECONOLINE Engine And Engine Cooling Problems

MY FORD E350 1999 MADE A LOUD FLAPPING NOISE AS I WAS LEAVING MY HOME. I PULLED RIGHT BACK INTO THE DRIVEWAY AND SHUT OFF THE ENGINE. I FOUND OUT THAT THE #2 SPARK PLUG HAD COMPLETELY BLOWN OUT OF THE CYLINDER HEAD. THIS HAS NEVER HAPPENED ON ANY VEHICLE I HAVE EVER OWNED. I TAKE GOOD CARE OF MY VEHICLES. I AM A MECHANIC, AND FORMER JET ENGINE MECHANIC ALSO. MY OBDII CONFIRMED A MISFIRE ON CYLINDER #2 THAT IS HOW I LOCATED WHICH PLUG IT WAS. FORD SAID IT WOULD COST $260 TO LOOK AT IT, AND UP TO $1700 IF THEY COULD REPAIR IT. PLUS TOWING. I ASKED HOW MUCH A NEW ENGINE WOULD COST SINCE THE VAN IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION. FORD SAID IT WOULD COST $7,200 FOR A NEW ENGINE. THIS VAN HAS COST MORE FOR REPAIRS THAN ANY VEHICLE I HAVE OWNED IN MY...

THE SPARK PLUG EJECTED FOR THE SECOND TIME IN TWO WEEKS AND THIS TIME HAD A SMALL FIRE THAT WAS PUT OUT RIGHT AWAY THAT COULD HAVE BEEN REAL TROUBLE AS WE HAD 9 PEOPLE IN THE MOTORHOME AT THE TIME. *TR

WELL IT GOES LIKE THIS, NEW PLUGS AND COIL PACKS WHERE INSTALLED AT DEAN ARBOUR FORD IN PINCONNING MICHIGAN IN MY 1999 E350 ECONOLINE VAN. SO THE ISSUE AT HAND FROM WHAT I HAVE READ ABOUT WAS IMPROPER INSTALLATION OF SAID PLUG OR PLUGS FROM WHAT I HAVE READ IN ANSWERS.COM FROM WHAT FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAS SAID THAT IT IS IMPROPER INSTALLATION OR OVER TIGHTENING, NOT TORQUED PROPERLY. WELL IF THIS WAS THE ISSUE AT HAND THEN THEY ARE NOT PROPERLY TRAINING THEIR TECH'S, WHICH I DO NOT SEE THAT BEING THE ISSUE AT HAND. IT IS AS I SEE, POORLY DESIGNED AS TO THE SAME ISSUE HAPPENING TO SO MANY OTHERS. WHICH I SEE THEY SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE DESIGN FLAW. MY EXPERIENCE WITH MY PROBLEM AT HAND WAS NOT UNDER HEAVY LOAD, I WAS AT A STOP SIGN AND WENT TO PROCEED. WHAT HAPPENED AFTER...

HAVE A FORD 1999 ECONOLINE VAN WITH A TRITON ENGINE, HAVE SO FAR BLOWN X3 SPARKPLUGS, ALL FIXED. *TR

I WAS DRIVING FROM NEW YORK TO PHILADELPHIA WHEN I ALMOST GOT HOME THE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE ON THE BACK OF THE CAR WHERE THE WHEEL ARE, ON MY PASSENGER SIDE. *TR

1999 FORD ECONOLINE 250 SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT. CONSUMER STATES THAT THIS IS NOT A NORMAL WEAR ITEM. HE HAS HAD ALL WORK DONE BY FORD. FORD WILL NOT COVER THE REPAIR COST. HE STATES THAT IF SOMETHING IS WRONG IT IS FORD'S FAULT. *KB

I BELIEVE INEFFECTIVE REPAIRS ARE BEING DONE AND ONLY THE SYMPTOMS ARE BEING TREATED. I HAVE TWO FAILED OIL PUMPS, THREE FAILED WATER PUMPS, A FAILED ALTERNATOR...AND THREE ATTEMPTS TO FIX VARIOUS OIL LEAKS....ALL WITHIN THE LAST YEAR. THE EXHAUST BOLTS THAT WERE PUT ON IN MAY, 2003 WEREN'T EVEN ON IN AUGUST, A COVER THAT GOES UNDER THE RADIATOR FLEW OFF ON THE HIGHWAY...I AM NOW WONDERING WHAT ELSE...IN ADDITION...THERE NEEDS TO BE A CAUSE TO THE CONSTANTLY FAILING WATER PUMPS. THE BATTERY, ALTERNATOR, AC, ETC. FAILURES ARE MINOR IN COMPARISON.

WHILE BRAKING AT LOW SPEED VEHICLE STALLED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK