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    Slugged for plugs

    Asked by Greg and Suzie Loveless

    BEFORE we had the 160,000km service on our 2002 Fairmont Ghia 5.4-litre V8, we were told that the spark plugs would need replacing and that they usually break when trying to remove them, resulting in a costly repair. Five plugs did break, which resulted in a labour bill just to remove the plugs of $1025 on top of the service and other repairs -- a total bill of $2360.63. The mechanic showed us a plug and explained the problem to us. When we asked why the plugs are not replaced, or removed and cleaned more often, we were told it is not part of the service schedule. We have always had excellent service from the dealer, but on this occasion we were told neither Ford nor the dealer could do anything. Ford told us that there is ``no Ford claim or campaign'' in relation to this issue and ``no authority to compensate''. We bought the Fairmont Ghia because we thought we were buying a quality car, but to date we have replaced the transmission and the timing chain tensioners, and made many other repairs. We'd advise anyone with the 5.4-litre V8 to get their plugs removed and replaced as soon as possible because the fewer plugs that break, you'd assume the lower the cost. Are these Ghias lemons?

    Answered by CarsGuide

    26 Dec 2009 Graham Smith

    THIS is a common problem with the 5.4-litre V8 and has been for a long time, so you would think Ford and its dealers would have worked out a way of removing the spark plugs without breaking them. That you cop a bill of almost $2400 just to remove the spark pugs is disgraceful. Ford and the dealer should both be ashamed for not working out a solution a long time ago.

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