To be fair, had mine , 4.6 Thor , for two years now and has never failed to start, never beeped at me yet and always drives great, check them over on a regular basis and they seem to behave ok.
Yes, they generally are, many previous owners seem to either forget or not bother to change them, mine was the same when I got mine, also a good idea to change your plenum sponge too if it has not been done.
What/where is a plenum sponge?
What/where is a plenum sponge?
Clip to the back of the air inlet grille between bonnet and screen.