7.3L spark plug/coil wire failure

[ShiverMeTimbers]

Got my Massive wires in a few days, so A+ for service, Massive!

Just installed them. I got the driver's side no problem, but for the life of me I couldn't get the passenger side plugs to clip onto the spark plugs. I wound up taking the wheel liner out to access and it was a cinch. Highly recommend this over struggling with the weird angle on the passenger side.

I checked resistance and found the new wires to be around 375 ohms, stock wires at 8500 miles ranged from 1917 to 2608 ohms. The moment of truth arrived, I turned the key and cranked her up. She ran noticeably smoother. I'm not sponsored or that much of a gearhead, but I do appreciate stuff that works and wanted to share this with the group.

Will attach photos when I can.

 

[SVT4X4]

I just ordered a set off of Amazon.

 

[ShiverMeTimbers]

Here are a few pics and the results of my wire testing if you can read my handwriting.

 

[Rvin]

Thanks for all of the info. I just installed the Massive wires and will let you know how they perform. The two rear ones on the passenger side were easier to install the plug connection by reaching through the bottom of the wheel well.

 

[Raspy]

I just installed these on my truck. It fixed the rough cold start idle. View attachment 22523

I bought a set of these too. Threw them under the back seat, just in case. Maybe it would make more sense to instal them and keep the old ones a spares, but the failure rate seems very low, and I think more of those were from 2020, or 2019 models. Anyone know if Ford fixed them for the 2021 MY?

 

[Uncas]

So I installed a set of the Massive wires because I was having issues with random hard start after a very hard cross country drive pulling my camper (2200 miles in 2.5 days) and rough idle since purchasing in 2021. It was a pain installing the passenger side wires, like sticking your hands down a piranhas throat. Didn’t really help with either and after pulling a uhaul up through Virginia Dale, CO noticed a rubber burning smell, no faults so I guess it’s just a lot of heat from the manifold on the wires. Ford Dealership in Laramie found not codes and no melted wires. I have 22k miles with a 01/20 build date. Thoughts?

 

[soulezoo]

So I installed a set of the Massive wires because I was having issues with random hard start after a very hard cross country drive pulling my camper (2200 miles in 2.5 days) and rough idle since purchasing in 2021. It was a pain installing the passenger side wires, like sticking your hands down a piranhas throat. Didn’t really help with either and after pulling a uhaul up through Virginia Dale, CO noticed a rubber burning smell, no faults so I guess it’s just a lot of heat from the manifold on the wires. Ford Dealership in Laramie found not codes and no melted wires. I have 22k miles with a 01/20 build date. Thoughts?

You made a good purchase with the massive wires.

 

[RedZilla]

First off I'm not going to say Ford doesn't or never had a problem with their OEM wires for the new 7.3 engine. I think the jury is still out on that question. But there is much more to the topic:

A little food for thought regarding the OEM plug wires and after market wires. One of the comments on this thread talked of comparing resistance measurements of the OEMs compared to the Massive wires. It was presented in a way that made it sound like a higher resistance measurement was possibly undesirable and the lower resistance of the Massive wires means they are better. Keep in mind that we are talking rather low levels of resistance even in the OEMs when the measured value is below 5K ohms.

What many of us may not realize is that resistance is a factor designed into the wires for a real purpose. The fact that the OEM wires in that comparison were measurably higher than the Massive wires doesn't indicate a problem with the OEMs, it just indicates a value that was designed into the wires. On the other hand low resistance introduced into a system designed for a higher value can have a negative effect.

Before you just accept the assumption that the OEM wires and the characteristics designed in are without merit and just decide you know better, do a little research into the purpose of resistance values in the overall vehicle system.
Here's some sources of information that speaks to the purpose and value of resistance designed into modern vehicle ignition systems.

Advance Auto Parts - Down for Maintenance

Wire Sets Basics - NGK Spark Plugs

If you’re new to installing wire sets, we’ve outline the basics to help you do your own car maintenance.

ngksparkplugs.com

Ohm me, ohm my: Spark plug wires demystified - Hagerty Media

Dive into spark plug wires and the developments in technology that these simple conductors have experienced over the years.

www.hagerty.com

 

[Nelgroe]

So I installed a set of the Massive wires because I was having issues with random hard start after a very hard cross country drive pulling my camper (2200 miles in 2.5 days) and rough idle since purchasing in 2021. It was a pain installing the passenger side wires, like sticking your hands down a piranhas throat. Didn’t really help with either and after pulling a uhaul up through Virginia Dale, CO noticed a rubber burning smell, no faults so I guess it’s just a lot of heat from the manifold on the wires. Ford Dealership in Laramie found not codes and no melted wires. I have 22k miles with a 01/20 build date. Thoughts?

I installed them and immediately towed 300 miles. Smelled the burning for about twenty minutes then it went away. So far so good. Passenger install was not easy.

 

[MECCA60]

Folks,

I am new to the forum a non tremor 7.3L F250 2020 owner, have you guys seen the TFL post on subject where spark plug to coil wire failed , no news from Ford yet. I have <2500 miles on my truck no misfire issues, watching the TFL video it seems the coil wire (theirs is on a Tremor model that failed at about10,400 miles) appears longer than what i am seeing in my engine bay. Have not seen a post yet on Tremor.com less i missed it. I really enjoy reading the forum hope you dont mind my signup despite 2020 F250 FX4 model. Their truck does have the tune kit and aftermarket exhaust on it. Maybe faulty parts but our cast exhaust manifolds are pretty close on the wires, maybe a factor....

Link to TFL story/video page:

Fix Is Coming! Ford Super Duty 7.3L V8 Spark Plug Wire Update - The Fast Lane Truck

Fix Is Coming! Ford Super Duty 7.3L V8 Spark Plug Wire Update. The company is working to get corrected parts out to the customers.

tfltruck.com

I posted about week and a half ago as my 2021 7.3 Tremor with 800~ miles started multiple misfires after very easy driving following delivery... truck went to local Ford dealer and it spent 10 days there without Any conclusions that it was related to the wires... The dealer tech followed up with Ford factory tech. They basically futzed around with the truck for 10 days cleared the codes and have it back to me blaming the original issue in a loose connection in #4....
Totally expected they’d do this and now we shall see...
Evidently Ford is NOT willing to blame the wires out of the gate, and frankly they were suggesting the dealer dive deeper into the block if this misfire continues...
The tech claimed that he was still seeing a misfire on his analyzer, through it wasn’t kicking out a trouble in the truck... I brought her back home yesterday and so far no lights, if she codes again we’ll see...

 

[LonesemTx254]

Spark Plug Boot Protector Archives

Heatshield Products offers customized thermal management products for Automotive, Heavy Duty Industrial, Military, and Home DIY. heat shield technology that reduces radiant exhaust heat while maximizing engine performance and reliability.

www.heatshieldproducts.com

 

[mrharm]

I posted about week and a half ago as my 2021 7.3 Tremor with 800~ miles started multiple misfires after very easy driving following delivery... truck went to local Ford dealer and it spent 10 days there without Any conclusions that it was related to the wires... The dealer tech followed up with Ford factory tech. They basically futzed around with the truck for 10 days cleared the codes and have it back to me blaming the original issue in a loose connection in #4....
Totally expected they’d do this and now we shall see...
Evidently Ford is NOT willing to blame the wires out of the gate, and frankly they were suggesting the dealer dive deeper into the block if this misfire continues...
The tech claimed that he was still seeing a misfire on his analyzer, through it wasn’t kicking out a trouble in the truck... I brought her back home yesterday and so far no lights, if she codes again we’ll see...

I have the 7.3L on my motorhome. I made it 8 miles into my vacation when two cylinders misfired. Ford has a directive to replace all the wires on engines manufactured prior to 9/28/20. If your engine was made after that date, like mine, they are suppose to trouble shoot the problem and only fix/replace the wire(s) that went bad. I got lucky and had a good Tech working on my engine. He checked and found three of the eight were old wires and replaced all three. Good luck with the engine, hopefully they fixed the issue.

 

[830Tremor]

I hope they have this figured out and resolved for the 2022 models. Seems ridiculous that this would be such a common problem And they would keep pushing engines out with bad wires

 

[kmtweb]

it's really a fucking joke that they can't confront vendor quality. It would have never been a problem if it was a ford GT.

 

[Uncas]

I posted about week and a half ago as my 2021 7.3 Tremor with 800~ miles started multiple misfires after very easy driving following delivery... truck went to local Ford dealer and it spent 10 days there without Any conclusions that it was related to the wires... The dealer tech followed up with Ford factory tech. They basically futzed around with the truck for 10 days cleared the codes and have it back to me blaming the original issue in a loose connection in #4....
Totally expected they’d do this and now we shall see...
Evidently Ford is NOT willing to blame the wires out of the gate, and frankly they were suggesting the dealer dive deeper into the block if this misfire continues...
The tech claimed that he was still seeing a misfire on his analyzer, through it wasn’t kicking out a trouble in the truck... I brought her back home yesterday and so far no lights, if she codes again we’ll see...

I replaced all 8 wires with new OEM LC3Z-12286-C wires, they started (3) to fail as soon as they got hot and tached above 4k rpm. My build date was 12/19. Tech was also reading ignition coil failure on cylinder 1. Ford’s plan was to replace all wires, plugs and ignition coil. I had different plans, traded it for a diesel.

 

[Raspy]

Spark Plug Boot Protector Archives

Heatshield Products offers customized thermal management products for Automotive, Heavy Duty Industrial, Military, and Home DIY. heat shield technology that reduces radiant exhaust heat while maximizing engine performance and reliability.

www.heatshieldproducts.com

Those "Lava Boots" might be just the thing to slip over the Massive wire woven heat shield, or even the stock heat shield.

 

[egrenz]

I have a 2021 that started to burn the wires at 3,700 miles my local dealer hasn't got back to me with a real fix.
Mine was built 4/21 and I have burnt 2 wires pulling a 7k toy hauler. Has anyone been able to fix this problem that still pulls a significant load. Even better is that my truck can't even get in the bay for 3 weeks!
Thank you

 

[ShiverMeTimbers]

So the Massive wires turned out to be Massive pieces of shit. 2 hours into our cross-country trip, towing a 10k trailer, going up the steep grade on I-90 after crossing the Columbia River, I got an engine light. I pulled over asap, turned off the motor, restarted, engine light gone. 30 miles later the engine light went on again and stayed on. I pulled over and checked the code (thank goodness I had the code reader) and found it was cylinder 7 misfiring. I let the motor cool off, but it was 100 degrees outside and my wife & young daughter were standing outside in the shade of the RV with our dog. I pulled on the errant wire and it pulled apart in a gooey mess, like a kid stretching bubble gum in their hands. I had the OEM wires with me thankfully, and was able to swap it out.

Had another misfire once we reached Massachusetts, this time on cylinder #3. I kept my rpms low and was able to limp to my parent's house on Cape Cod.

Massive Wires are a joke.

We stayed on Cape Cod for two weeks so I had time to order Firecore Ignition wires from 5star and have them shipped. I installed them and drove down to Maryland, then Ohio, then to Montana, down to Yellowstone, back to Bozeman, and then home to Tacoma area, about 5000 miles. Zero problems. Lots of long mountain highways with the motor above 4000 rpm, pulling 10,000 lbs. No weird smells like the Massive Wires when they burned up. Get the Firecore if you're seeking aftermarket wires for your 7.3 gasser.

 

[Jrod250]

Same thing happened to me last week towing my toy hauler. My light flashed for a bit and went out. This happened 2 times. Cylinder 2 was misfiring. Luckily I had my stock wires under the back seat, so I changed them out when I got to camp. I called massive and told them about the issue and I’ve only had the wires on for about 3000 miles. The guy told me they have not heard of anyone having problems. I called BS on that and then he said well the manifolds get Hot, so now they double insulate the wires. Well No shit. They are send me 2 new wires. Better then nothing i guess.

 

[ShiverMeTimbers]

I called Massive after smelling the wires "burning in" as they called it. This was back in May, so they are WELL AWARE of the problem. I also emailed them asking for a full refund, that spark plug wires should last more than a few thousand miles. They didn't respond.

Massive sucks, massively.