4 months ago I had a friend give me NGK irdium IX spark plugs for 20$ for my 98 ford escort zx2. Recently I took it to a ford dealership to get a headlight fixed and they went through my engine without my consent, changing my plugs. They said that they ruin the engine and it will cost alot of money to get it fixed blah blah blah... I really miss the old plugs, is it true that they hurt the engine???|||This is very unusual. Most auto tech does not get paid for unauthorized work like this. They want to earn 8hrs a day like many of us. They will not waste any minute doing something for free like this unless you ask and pay for it. You know about the replacement so it must be written on repair order because the tech will not do anything unless it is on repair order. I don%26#039;t think any dealer tech want to risk their job for an OLD set of spark plugs.
1998 Escort has two specification spark plug and gap (0.54%26quot; and 0.50%26quot;). Is it a DOHC or SOHC. The NGK lists your spark plugs are for 1998 Escort with 0.54%26quot; gap. It is also used for other vehicle. In this case, I would not want to use it. Ford car is known for not running right if not using Motorcraft spark plugs.|||You got reamed. They stole your $8. plugs and gave you minimun requirements maybe$1. ea. Always make them give up your used parts.|||It%26#039;s possible that the wrong plugs could cause your pistons toget damaged form higher heat, they are made of aluminum. Ordinarily, if a plug maker has an application for your car listed in their catalogs, then the plugs are usually safe to use. You probably could call Ford headquarters and ask an engineer, though.|||Spark plugs come in different types and lengths, and in different heat ranges. If the non-standard plugs you installed were the wrong length or heat range for your engine, then yes, they could damage your engine, but even so... The mechanics were wrong to change them without your permission.|||It is for this very reason that I take out all the aftermarket parts that I have installed that the dealer may not like, or more likely will charge for that I don%26#039;t want replaced.
I don%26#039;t use a dealer anymore (all my cars are over 15 years old). But when I did, there was one time they went to bill me for an air cleaner (which I said I did not want when I took it in). They gave me a routine about the old one was damaged and could not be used now. I walked out to the car and took my K%26amp;N filter out of the trunk. Then I handed thiers back too them and insisted it come off the bill.
From then on they never replaced anything that I did not per-approve.
As for the spark plugs, they cheated. If you wanted to I am sure that you could take them to court and most likely win. But the cost would exceed the price of better plugs. Go get some and install them (just remember to switch them back next time before they work on it).|||WOW! WTF ???/
Go back to that piece of **** dealership ASAP and tell them that they better give you brand new plugs and install them in front of your face or else they will get their a$$ sued for every penny that they got.|||Every spark plug has certain applications. If you check NGK%26#039;s website or the book in the store you got them, make sure that these exact plugs say that they will fit your vehicle. If not, they could be the wrong length, wrong gap (some require no gapping), wrong heat specifications, etc... Either way, they should%26#039;ve consulted you first before touching your engine. You also should%26#039;ve received your NGK%26#039;s back after they messed with your ****.|||as long as those plugs are designed to go into your engine they%26#039;re fine.somebody with a similar veh prolly wanted your plugs|||Most dealers I know won%26#039;t do unauthorized work as technically you wouldn%26#039;t have to pay for it as it was unrequested.
Unless you complained about performance or a check engine light, It should have never had the plugs removed at all
If it was part of some inspection, it should have been noted to you not replaced.. best to find management or ownership and ask about this
