HELP ME

[alexthejew]

I was installing my procharger. everything was finished except the spark plugs. i got to the last one. i unscrew it and pull it out. its missing a piece.

i dont want to take my head off... do i have any other options? can i get a small vacuum tube to suck it out of the combustion chamber maybe?

 

[HOLYWD]

damn

 

[JoshK]

can you get a picture of the plug from the end? Does it look like it just broke off? From the picture it looks like it has the build up on the end that is missing too, like maybe it has been gone for awhile

 

[ReMustang05]

That almost seems like it had contact with the piston, I wouldnt think it would be possible to just break the tip off, breaking it half way is more common with these.

 

[alexthejew]

can you get a picture of the plug from the end? Does it look like it just broke off? From the picture it looks like it has the build up on the end that is missing too, like maybe it has been gone for awhile

do you mean maybe it broke off when i was driving? wouldnt i have noticed being one cylinder down?

 

[alexthejew]

 

[GrnBullitt08]

You try sticking a magnet down there to snag the broken piece?

 

[alexthejew]

the magnet doest stick to that end of any other spark plug

 

[chuck@evoperform]

Most don't realize this, but you can not take the recommended plug change interval seriously with the 4.6 3v motors. I strongly suggest changing the plugs every 20 to 25 k.

BTW, are those MSD coils? You dont really need them, even with the boosted setup. It looks as though the boots on the coils didn't seal to the tube properly and let water get down into the plug, causing some corrosion there.

 

[G.T]

that looks like it's been broken for a while.. meaning the remains are probably caught up in the catalytic converter already

i'd try to find or rent a fiber optic inspection scope and look inside the cylinder through the spark plug to see how things look like then go from there

 

[BruceH]

Can you see into the cylinder or is the broken piece lodged in the hole?

 

[alexthejew]

that looks like it's been broken for a while.. meaning the remains are probably caught up in the catalytic converter already

i'd try to find or rent a fiber optic inspection scope and look inside the cylinder through the spark plug to see how things look like then go from there

NO CATS FTW... thats what plan on doing, but i wanted to drive my car tomorrow

Most don't realize this, but you can not take the recommended plug change interval seriously with the 4.6 3v motors. I strongly suggest changing the plugs every 20 to 25 k.

BTW, are those MSD coils? You dont really need them, even with the boosted setup. It looks as though the boots on the coils didn't seal to the tube properly and let water get down into the plug, causing some corrosion there.

i had a coil pack go bad a while ago, so i replaced them with the msd.

 

[G.T]

on another thought, did you have a hard time removing this particular plug?
did it squeak or feel like it's stuck?

it's quite common for these style plugs to corrode and seize up inside the head.. and i've seen many snap when not removed carefully, but nothing like this where half the tip sheers right off, hence my assumption that the tip has broken off and come out the exhaust (although i can't think of why that would happen without some sort of mechanical failure which you'd have certainly noticed/felt)

eitherway, i'd definitely have a look with a scope to see if the tip is there, or if it's gone out somehow and what kind of damage it left behind

 

[Marc s]

that looks like it's been broken for a while.. meaning the remains are probably caught up in the catalytic converter already

i'd try to find or rent a fiber optic inspection scope and look inside the cylinder through the spark plug to see how things look like then go from there

I was going to say get a bore scope too.

 

[JoshK]

Yeah, I thought it looked like it had been gone for awhile. +1 on looking into the cylinder for damage.

In the last pic it even looks like the damage is farther up on the plug than just the tip.

 

[alexthejew]

it didnt feel any tougher than the other spark plugs. the car didnt feel any less reponsive or like there was any power loss prior to this. i will go get a bore scope tomorrow.

 

[G.T]

here's to hoping the combustion chamber is clear.. somehow

 

[alexthejew]

here's to hoping the combustion chamber is clear.. somehow

ill drink to that

 

[irishpwr46]

look closely at where it is broken. does it look like its a fresh break or is it corroded like the rest of the plug. from the looks of it, it looks like it may be able to arc a spark against the side of the plug.

 

[alexthejew]

i was thinking that it looks too corroded to be fresh