Shop told me they won’t change plugs /tune up on my 99 Triton 5.4

Hi, I bought my 1999 expedition from my brother and last few days it’s running rough. Brother in law told me he never changed the plugs or tuned the truck while he owned it. The truck was garage kept and only used sparingly on weekends because my brother in law had a company truck. So it only had 80k when I got it now it’s at 87k. I called a local mechanic to get a price on a tune up and he told me to take the truck to Ford that he wouldn’t work on it because he has cracked plugs trying to get them out on my model truck. I surely don’t want to take the truck to Ford. What’s the back story to these plugs , difficult to take out I guess‍. Not sure if I just try another local or shop and see if they will take it. That is I am assuming that I need a tuneup is causing the issue.
Please advise. I will search the internet in the interim
Thanks all

I believe those plugs can be a real pia to remove. Ford has a tool to help get them out.

Find another mechanic, or do them yourself. They are not crack prone. If they've never been replaced before, you can spray a little penetrating oil into the sparkplug well and let it soak in for an hour or so before removing them. They will unscrew easier on a warm engine than a cold one. If they've never been replaced before, at that age, carbon builds up on the plug and might make them stubborn to turn at first. But the penetrating oil will provide some lubrication to ease the job.









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If it's like my 2006 XLT pickup with the Triton engine yes there is a special tool that is required to take them out. Yes they are prone to bust but a good mechanic that knows what he's doing has the tool to also take out the cracked or broken one. I bought my pickup 5 yrs ago headed home with it and it would not accelerate very good and couldn't get it up to speed on the interstate. Dealership told me the truck was ready to go had the 27 point inspection and passed and was ready. Well it wasn't took it to my mechanic he found 3 mismatched spark plugs. 2 half way threaded in and a busted one. Plus clogged fuel filter. Along with 2 coils misfiring and needed replaced. Walked away a little over 850.00 in repairs and labor. But took it back to the dealership with mechanic report and repair bill. I was pist. Dealership was stuck flipping the bill because their mechanics admitted they never cked the vehicle prior to me calling about it being for sale. They never touched it didn't even go through their shop. Salesman wasn't to happy but company did pay for all repairs and parts paid the whole bill for me. But that's when I found out that the spark plugs in the Triton engine do require special tools to remove and replace and remove any cracked or broken spark plugs. Surely there would be a mechanic that can do the job for you. As if he's knowledgeable on his engines.

There are three or four different spark plug designs over the years. The 1999 is not one of those that breaks off. See Hamfisteds advice. Be sure to replace the coil boots and spring on each plug as you will have misfiring with even new plugs. The coils should only be changed with OEM. Replace only as needed, the coils.

Anthony O said:

What’s the back story to these plugs

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Your mechanic is mixing up years, your plugs are not the ones that crack. 5.4 3v
Your plugs are the ones that blow out. 5.4 2v
There are many threads here on this subject.

Go to the search box top right of this page and put in, sparkplug blowout

Or just watch this ford tech makuloco video for exactly what you need to do.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kc4-z-sT1ms

The guys are correct. It was the later model years (2004-2008) with the 5.4 3v motors that had this issue.

Even if you take it to Ford, as recommended by someone you mentioned, yes they have the special tool to remove a potential broken plug. However, that’s on top of the quoted price to change plugs… any other issue involved in the process is extra.

I’ve replaced various coils and plugs on a 99 Expedition and a 2000 F150. Never broke a plug. The back plugs, especially #4 (passenger side) is pretty hard to get to. I agree with other posters that penetrating oil and heat (warm engine) can help loosen stubborn plugs.

Plugs 3 and 4 can be quite difficult to get too. My first time changing plugs in my 5.4 2V it took me an embarrassing 8hrs. Second time 6hrs. 3rd time I found the $20 ratchet below at Harbor Freight and took less than 2hrs, the last time I did plugs it took 45 minutes. This ratchet makes all the difference in the world.

My 2003 Expedition (5.4L 2V) was just into my mechanical he did plugs and a couple of other things for around 900. Worth every penny. Truck drives like a dream.