SCARY.

Checked mine this morning. All 4 were tight. Whew.

 

I have 2 questions.

1. How physically could the spark plug have come up and out of the cylinder. As i recal, the integrated spark plug boot/coil is hard plastic, and is screwed into the valve cover. If it came completely out, it would have to have traveled about an inch up into the boot without popping the plug wire out since it's screwed down. Is this what happened?

2. How did they do the compression test? I thought that the instrument was screwed into the the spark plug holes, but you mentioned that they had no threads. Did they use another method?

Sorry if these are dumb questions. Just trying to gain a better understanding of what happened.

 

Damn Greg! Wonder if that's what is up with my S!?!

I am taking it tomorrow morning to the dealer for the new clutch to be installed. . .I'll be sure to mention this to them!

Thanks!

 

Greg - thanks for the heads-up. Just checked mine. All 4 were tight. I could put another 1/2 turn on one of the plugs but I wouldn't have classified it as loose to begin with.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by pfb
[B]Two thoughts/questions:

1. How could a loose or missing spark-plug cause major engine damage, other than allowing some foreign object to fall into the cylinder? I would think this unlikely in the S2000 due to the cover over the spark plugs. Detonation is caused by a combination of heat and pressure allowing fuel to explode at the wrong time. No plug=no_compression=no_detonation. right? I'm not disuputing the info, just looking to understand what might have happened. Could the scoring/burning be totaly unrelated to the missing/loose plug?

Windscreen is correct.

What I would like to know is how many OEM installed plugs have
loosened up?

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Windscreen The ceramic bounced around in the engine a bit, scoring up the cylinder walls, with some small bits being trapped between the top ring land and cylinder wall.

 

Greg, I had this problem on my '87 Civic SI. Even though I'd tighten the plugs (slightly more than spec) once in a while I'd have a plug loosen. I would have to check them regulary. I had one blow off on two occasions but it never caused any damage.

Good luck with the new engine.

 

One day I was bored and thought that I would check my plugs just for the hell of it. The plugs (all of them) were so loose that I did not even need the ratchet to loosen them, just the socket and the extension. I could not belive it! And down by the plug seat area there was a little oil by each one. The plugs looked fine except for alot of rust on the white porcilin. I retourqed them back in at 15 lbs. My car is a 2000 with 13000 miles. It does use oil between changes, about a quart. My car has not seen the dealer yet for any maint or tsbs. I have done it all myself so far so they could not be responsible for the loose plugs. This definitely does not seem normal and has me wondering if this could be the reason for some of the engine meltdowns???

I posted this on the first of this month. I just thought that I would repost it so people would get a better idea on how common and serious this problem is. I think Honda needs to find the cause and issue a recall in prompt order because its about that time when our warrenties are about to expire.

 

Greg,

Sorry to hear the news . Thanks for the post . You have already saved some others.

It is also good to here the dealership and AHM are right on top of this. Hopefully you will have your S2000 back soon.

 

If anyone is interested, on page 174 of my 2001 S2000 owners manual, there are instructions on how to replace your spark plugs. They also tell you how to torque them to the proper value.

Take a look at the book....it's good information.

Bob