daniel24 Posted December 29, 2015 Share Posted December 29, 2015 For a couple of weeks the car has been misfiring, AA took a look and said water had gotten into the spark plugs, stated it was not the washer jets but coolant. Took it to Halfords who said the core plugs need drilling and quoted 400 - 500. Is this a correct evaluation of the problem and is this a long term fix? Seems a lot to spend for something that will go wrong again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GingerFlame Posted December 29, 2015 Share Posted December 29, 2015 2003.. How many miles? First thing I would do is change the spark plugs. Then buy some Mist type washer jets. They have a rubber seal around them which will prevent any water ingress. Tell Halfords to do one. Never ever ever let them touch your car. EVER. IF it is the core plugs, Take it to a local independant garage and the work will be much much cheaper. You could even do it yourself.. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daniel24 Posted December 29, 2015 Author Share Posted December 29, 2015 About 80000 miles. How easy is it to replace the spark plugs and the core plugs? Will take a look at the washer jets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GingerFlame Posted December 29, 2015 Share Posted December 29, 2015 Spark plugs is two bolts to remove the air filter housing, then spark plug socket and extension bar onto the spark plug & rotate anticlockwise Reverse for installation www.yorkshiredetailing.co.uk - approved resellers of the Highest quality detailing & Valeting supplies Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David73 Posted December 29, 2015 Share Posted December 29, 2015 My son's Fiesta had this. We put some Radweld in the cooling system which is still working after some 30000 miles. If it was washer jets or another external source, as some people suggest, there would be obvious tide marks around the air filter box. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russ Posted December 29, 2015 Share Posted December 29, 2015 If it's coolant it should be obvious as it will have a smell to it and I would think it'll have a bit colour to it. If you driy the cavities and start the engine for a bit then check the cavities again, if it's the core plugs you'll find coolant back in the cavities. The fact over the last several weeks we've just had the worst rain for years I'd have a tendency to blame the well documented washer leak. 400 - 500!!! You can buy the core plugs and do it yourself for a few quid at most! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GingerFlame Posted December 29, 2015 Share Posted December 29, 2015 My son's Fiesta had this. We put some Radweld in the cooling system which is still working after some 30000 miles. If it was washer jets or another external source, as some people suggest, there would be obvious tide marks around the air filter box. There wouldn't necessarily be tidemarks. Neither of my fiestas have had marks and they both had leaking washer jets www.yorkshiredetailing.co.uk - approved resellers of the Highest quality detailing & Valeting supplies 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GingerFlame Posted December 29, 2015 Share Posted December 29, 2015 If it's coolant it should be obvious as it will have a smell to it and I would think it'll have a bit colour to it. If you driy the cavities and start the engine for a bit then check the cavities again, if it's the core plugs you'll find coolant back in the cavities. The fact over the last several weeks we've just had the worst rain for years I'd have a tendency to blame the well documented washer leak.+1 www.yorkshiredetailing.co.uk - approved resellers of the Highest quality detailing & Valeting supplies Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SeanW Posted December 29, 2015 Share Posted December 29, 2015 Leaky washer jets is a very well known problem! Leaky core plugs - not so much 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stef123 Posted December 29, 2015 Share Posted December 29, 2015 I would start with drying the area out as suggested above. Has there been any loss of coolant? Once the area is dry, give the bonnet a good hosing and see if there is anything leaking through. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David73 Posted January 3, 2016 Share Posted January 3, 2016 Leaky washer jets is a very well known problem! Leaky core plugs - not so much It must depend on model. My son's Fiesta is an '04 and the filter box acts as an umbrella. On my '61 Fiesta, the filter has moved so there is nothing to stop water reaching the plug cover. But even if water gets onto the cover over the spark plug well, the holes are turned up round the cable bungees so there is no way for it to drop into the well without first pooling round the bungees. The two core plugs appear to be screwed in with a hex socket. My son's had had water sloshing around for so long that the hex sockets were too rusted to take a key and it would have been necessary to have had the plugs machined out. I now know someone else that had the same core plug problem. I don't know what fix they did. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GingerFlame Posted January 3, 2016 Share Posted January 3, 2016 Trust me, 04 plate airboxes do nothing but channel the water into the spark plug well. My first fiesta (2004 1.4) was sat for 6 months without running, under a tree at a dealers. When we eventually got it home on the back of a trailer (I wasn't 17 yet) I began writing a List of things to do. One of those things was a full service. On trying to change the plugs, they were drenched & 3 snapped. It took me about 30 mins a day for 4 days soaking a rag in penetrating fluid and hammering bolt extractors (the square type) into the threaded part of the plugs to remove them. It was either that or loose the alumium cylinder head to the scrappy. The 4th plug eventually snapped as well. It took bolt extractors brayed in as well as a breaker bar with extension to undo them! Yeah obviously they had been overtightened but they were so rusty it was crazy. Eventually, the water will run into the plugs. It just takes time & considerable rainfall. Obviously if the car is used for long journeys every day you most likely wouldn't have a problem as the heat would dry it out :) Think of the water running into the plugs off the edge of an umbrella. It's a fault that Ford recognised but I don't think they ever admitted it. they just fitted a rubber grommet to the washer jets on the facelift :) www.yorkshiredetailing.co.uk - approved resellers of the Highest quality detailing & Valeting supplies Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David73 Posted January 4, 2016 Share Posted January 4, 2016 Trust me, 04 plate airboxes do nothing but channel the water into the spark plug well. YMVV 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GingerFlame Posted January 4, 2016 Share Posted January 4, 2016 YMVV My experience may vary.. But ive owned two 1.4 duratec's myself & i have 3 friends with them. we all have the exact same experiences & they all have the same parts.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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