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So, for about a week or so, my car was idling a little rough. Nothing major and the power didn't seem effected, so I didn't bother to investigate. So fast forward a week later. I'm on the way to work and my check engine light starts to flash. I get off the throttle and start to make my way over to the shoulder. As soon as I get off the power, check engine light goes solid and I can feel the car idling very rough. I call one of my buddies and wake him up from his deep slumber (5:45am) and have him tow me home with his race car trailer.
After calling in sick, I start to take all of the spark plugs out. #1 ignition coil comes out fine and the spark plugs looks ok. #2 however doesn't go so smoothly. I can not for the life of me get the ignition coil out. Now I'm starting to get worried. After using 4 different sized pry bars, I finally get the ignition coil out. Here is what it looked like next to a normal ignition coil.
As you can see, about 1/3 of the coil is now gone. If you look closely at the spark plug, you can see the tip is touching the electrode and some of the threads on the spark plug are jacked. Now I'm really worried. I tried thread a different spark plug into the head, but it isn't happening. I then tried using a spark plug thread cleanup tool, but that isn't work, so at that point, I decide its time to just pull the head. After kicking and screaming for a couple of hours, I finally get the head pulled off.
The first picture is the #2 cylinder and the second picture is what it is suppose to look like. About 2/3's of the threads are gone. Now I'm fcuked. Time to look at the cylinder walls.
There are about 4 vertical scratches in the wall. Only one of them catches my nail and its not that deep, so I'm think screw it and leave it as is. I'm already going through withdrawals not driving her.
I think at some point, the spark plug started to back its way out and what you see the subsequental damage.
Any suggests on the best way to fix the head besides getting a new/used one? Is it going to be okay to leave the cylinder the way it is. Thanks in advance.
The rings will not seal as well, and the engine will burn oil with the scratched bore. A new/used head could be swaped but it sounds like you're wanting to fix it on the cheap.
I'd helicoil the damaged plug hole, buy a new coil, plug and head gasket. Reassemble and see how much longer you can run it before the oil consumption or power loss becomes too great.
totaly sucks dude. I could not belive how badly the threads were damaged! I guess that is a down side to the coils being bolted one instead of a press fit..
My #2 cylinder misfire adventure
