Spark plug problem

[methyl mike]

Hey guys, basically part of my spark plug wire melted off on top of my sparg lug or something, I went and got some deep sockets and nothing bites on the plug, its like there is something around the spark plug preventing me from being able to get it out. ANyone know whats wrong, and how it can be fixed?

[crispone]

hmmmm....

A few questions:

1) Did you change the plug the last time?
2) Did you use the SAME socket you are trying THIS time?
3) Are you using a "proper" spark-plug socket? (There is a rubber "bumper/insulator" ring in MOST proper spark plug sockets...)
4) Could the rubber bumper/insulator from a PREVIOUS socket be "stuck" in the spark plug hole... keeping you from "seating" on the plug?

Okay, so that's ONE thought... some more considerations...

You speak of "something melting off" on the plug... are the OTHER plugs coming out ok? (In otherwords, your socket works... just not on ONE particular plug...)

Are you able to SEE down into the hole? If it's on the rear bank of cylinders... can you use a little mechanics mirror (like a dental mirror, often "collapsable") and a flashlight (like a penlight or mini-maglight) and see down into the hole? Is there something down around the plug keeping the socket from seating down all the way over the hex-flats on the plug? (Please consider taking great care to REMOVE any obstruction if there is one BEFORE you actually remove a spark plug. It's always a good idea to "air blow" out the plug holes with compressed air BEFORE you remove plugs, so any little contaminants in the area between the plug and plug well don't "fall in" to the cylinder.... even little "sand/grit/metal shavings.... or even NUTS", (YES NUTS! CHIPMONKS munch on NUTS on the cylinder head of one of my cars cause it sits near an OAK tree... and I always make sure the hard SHELLS don't drop in there....).

hmmmmm..... something COULD be down in there... but I'd want to confirm that only ONE plug is having this issue.... if you can't get your socket over ANY plug, you have a different issue, such as an incorrect deep-socket for the tolerance of the plug hole diameter to plug hex-flats clearance requirements. Not all DEEP SOCKETS, even of the RIGHT metric across flats size (M17, M19, 5/8", 13/15", etc...) will fit on all plugs in certain applications. Sometimes you have to have a very "thin wall" between the socket I.D. flat and O.D. diameter...

Also, not all DEEP SOCKETS (if they aren't SPECIFICALLY plug sockets) have the clearance for the spark plug top to "clear" the I.D. and let the socket drop all the way down onto the hex flats....

Any of this help?

Keep us posted.....


-crisp

[methyl mike]

Ok, first off yes I changed the plugs myself. I used to correct socket and all that, im not sure if its the rubber from a socket stuck on there or what but I looked in the hole with a mirror, and there is something large stuck over it, and if you take a plug wire and look in it, there is a prong or something which clamps onto the spark plug, this is missing and i think it has basically come off onto the top of the spark plug. It is only this one, all the other plugs are fine. Can I fix this myself, or can anyone on here fix it, or should i take it to a shop??? Heeeeelp driving on 5 cyclinders, gas mileage is bad, no power.

[crispone]

Ok. So now we KNOW the problem...

Sounds like your spark plug WIRE "end" has broken off and is still holding on to the top of the plug, and preventing you from getting your socket over it.

I would get it off with a NEEDLE NOSE PLIERS or something. It may be a little tricky, but there is either a small metal "pin" or extension coming off the little plug-wire clip thingy, or you need to get hold of the "ring" itself and carefully pull it off.

NOTE: DON'T DRIVE ON only 5 cylinders please!!! (That's just WRONG!!) J/K!!! LOL And it's not really good for the car.... you'll be "draining" all the unburnt fuel around the rings and into the oil.... as well as running inefficiently... and if it's "sorta" firing (plug wire "pushed down in well" but not properly connected....) you may be generating a bunch of carbon in that cylinder and on the piston head, etc.... BTW, once you FIX the issue, I would STRONGLY suggest you change your oil right away... and then run some fuel injector/fuel system cleaner through a tank of gas.... (I use Chevron's Techron - or something like that... very "harsh" but thorough for this situation... don't run it TOO often...)

I'm thinking if there is a better/alternate method to get that thing out.... you MIGHT try REMOVING the rubber ring in the socket, carefully lower it over the plug, and see if there is enough clearance to get it down over the flats...


-crisp

[crispone]

Ok, first off yes I changed the plugs myself. I used to correct socket and all that, im not sure if its the rubber from a socket stuck on there or what but I looked in the hole with a mirror, and there is something large stuck over it, and if you take a plug wire and look in it, there is a prong or something which clamps onto the spark plug, this is missing and i think it has basically come off onto the top of the spark plug. It is only this one, all the other plugs are fine. Can I fix this myself, or can anyone on here fix it, or should i take it to a shop??? Heeeeelp driving on 5 cyclinders, gas mileage is bad, no power.

Oh yeah.... you need NEW spark plug wires too. DON'T try to fix the plug and run without changing THOSE now....


-crisp

[methyl mike]

I tried needle nose pliers once before, if you are sure this can be removed, i will try them again. PS I have been driving on 5 cyclinders, no choice in the matter I will try to fix this tonight, thanks for the input.

[methyl mike]

I'm thinking if there is a better/alternate method to get that thing out.... you MIGHT try REMOVING the rubber ring in the socket, carefully lower it over the plug, and see if there is enough clearance to get it down over the flats...


-crisp

As for the socket, I went and bought a deep, and I mean DEEP, socket, and it wouldnt catch on the hex whatsoever. Whatever is stuck on the plug is rather long I guess.

[crispone]

I'm thinking if there is a better/alternate method to get that thing out.... you MIGHT try REMOVING the rubber ring in the socket, carefully lower it over the plug, and see if there is enough clearance to get it down over the flats...


-crisp

As for the socket, I went and bought a deep, and I mean DEEP, socket, and it wouldnt catch on the hex whatsoever. Whatever is stuck on the plug is rather long I guess.

Well, if it IS pretty long... then I would definitely try to get a hold of it and pull it off. If the needle nose are not giving you enough grip, you might try a neddle nosed "vice-grip", if you have or can get one. Then you can concentrate on PULLING instead of "gripping"....

Keep us posted...


-crisp

[Midias]

If you get a deep socket with a hex on the outside then slip another socket over that it should work.

[crispone]

If you get a deep socket with a hex on the outside then slip another socket over that it should work.

Yeah, not "sticking" the 3/8" drive down into the "square hole" may give some more clearance for what is sticking out...

(I think that's what you mean, Midias...?)

....although, I don't believe you'll find the "flats" on the top end of a "normal" deep socket.... it has to be a sparkplug socket...



-crisp

[Midias]

If you get a deep socket with a hex on the outside then slip another socket over that it should work.

Yeah, not "sticking" the 3/8" drive down into the "square hole" may give some more clearance for what is sticking out...

(I think that's what you mean, Midias...?)



-crisp

You got it. I had to do that on a friends car when I had a similar problem.

[crispone]

If you get a deep socket with a hex on the outside then slip another socket over that it should work.

Yeah, not "sticking" the 3/8" drive down into the "square hole" may give some more clearance for what is sticking out...

(I think that's what you mean, Midias...?)



-crisp

You got it. I had to do that on a friends car when I had a similar problem.

Yeah, I have frequently deposited a socket FIRST, and THEN gently placed the 3/8" square drive down into the top, just deep enough to get a grip, but allow the "bolt or stud threads" to extend above the NUT a little further than the socket/drive would otherwise allow.... the drive will set down to the "ball" and still get about 1/4" wrenching depth... (This is usually something I do if I don't have a DEEP socket handy, and a NUT on STUD needs removed.... etc...)

-crisp