All,
65 on the freeway in 6th gear. Pop. and the result...





http://www.brentbiggs.com/S2000engine/Plug_001.jpg
http://www.brentbiggs.com/S2000engine/Plug_002.jpg
http://www.brentbiggs.com/S2000engine/Plug_003.jpg
http://www.brentbiggs.com/S2000engine/Plug_004.jpg
http://www.brentbiggs.com/S2000engine/Plug_005.jpg
Diagnosis? Probably did some serious damage to Cyl 2. Good thing is I have 2k left on the miles and 3 months on the warranty.

I'll fill in the rest later. And for those with a slow connection, sorry for the picture size.

 

Damn, those pics took forever. So, is your S NA?? How in the hell does something like this happen?

 

dude you should resize those pic's there hugh.

 

You didn't have any BIG pics, eh?

 

Have you been having some bad idle lately? Have you had a check engine light thrown lately?

 

Did you get the sparkplug recall taken care of before this occured?

 

Sorry, that is a bad situation.

Those don't appear to be the stock plugs.. did you install them? What was the torque used? and did you you anti-seize or other lube on the threads?

 

That looks like a "platinum 4" plug - yes? no?
So what exactly happened?

 

Sorry about the lack of details. Pictures have been fixed with links to the big ones. I put links to the big pics, for those with a fast connection and a morbid personality. I only had about 5 minutes before I had to head for SF last night.

Quick answer to the questions first:
NA? Stock w/ a DC Sports header and Platinum 4 plugs.
Check Engine? No check engine in about 6 months.
Rough Idle? I have always had a rough idle. I have taken it in several times under warranty.
Spark Plug Recall? No. I was having problems with the plugs before Honda admitted that there was a problem covered under warranty. I replaced the plug before I got the notice in the mail.
Torque? Don't remember off hand but I remember I tried the Helm recommendation first, then I stepped it up based on recommendations of a fix from this site. I have the Helms manual, but not in front of me.
Anti-seize? Yes
Platinum 4? Yes

History:
I have always had problems with this car. It has been taken in under warranty for all sorts of things related to this engine. The idle has always been rough, but they would say that nothing was abnormal. The car has been AutoXed once and Tracked at Thunderhill once. Less than 34K and under 3 years means warranty. This car has been babied with 3k oil changes, 9k plug checks, etc.

Story:
I was sitting in my car at work reading a magazine when I noticed the normal idle was a bit rough. I was thinking that the plug had backed out again, so I decided to drive home (10 miles from work) and check it out. I was taking it easy and staying under 55. Freeway all the way and no stopping. I was in 6th when it happened. The check engine light came on and about 2 seconds later I heard a pop and the check engine started flashing. I put it in neutral and tapped the gas. It sounded like an old Chevy truck. There was a slight smell of rubber, but I think that was the housing (or whatever you want to call it). I decided to limp home, since I was only a mile away.

Emergency Surgery:
I plugged in my ODB-2 scanner, so I could get an idea of the problem. Cyl 2 misfire again. This was the same code I would get when the plug would back out. I pulled 1, 3, and 4, but 2 was jammed in really tight (for obvious reasons). I had to pop it out with a large screw driver. The plug head is fused to the retaining coil. From what I can tell, the cylinder cap (where the plug sits) is disintegrated. This is as far as I got.

I can handle the small things like plugs, but this is over my head. I'm going to let Honda take care of this one. I'm going to call Larry Hopkins Honda today (Sat) and get it towed.

 

Did they ever replace the coils ever? I had that same "Miss fire" on the #2 cylinder just about the same milage your talking about. They replaced the coil and 30+K miles later NO ISSUES!!! I consistantly check that coil to be sure the its all ok. I even swap around coils just to "spread the wealth around".

I think if you have always had a rough idle and they never replace the coils its HONDA'S FAULT that this happened.

Guess it's one of the issues with having the FIRST CAR OUT and having high milage that your the first to learn these things. Luckily mine was caught within enough time that the same thing didn't happen. When I pulled the plugs out one time while I had the check engine light pop on that coil was about 2x hotter than the rest. Obviously some issue somewhere. Dunno why it happens to be the #2 cylinder.

Geez #2 cylinder coil frying............#4 cylinder oil starvation!