Well while drivin along, I hear a nasty bang! and then some loud exhaust noises. I figured a manifold gasket or the manifold had cracked but nope the front plug on the pass side had been thrown out. There is no damage on the tip of the plug. The threads are okay and everything but I am feeling resistance when attempting to put a replacement plug in. My dad is helpin me chase it out tomorrow since he has a good deal of experience in chasing and cleaning threads..

Just wondering, has anyone else had this occur? I put new plugs and wires in it this summer and its been running fine. I am not havin a good day.. the rear pass side is rusting from the inside from water leaking in, the plug pops out and who knows whats next.. ughh time to get motivated, its just time an money to fix it.

 

I had my #4 plug blow out of its place in my 22re last summer. Turns out that the threading is a little tough at first and then gets easy. The last mechanic who worked on my truck had just barely threaded it in thinking that it was in snug.

 

it was in all the way previously, i can see marks on the washer of the sparkplug where it seated to the head.

 

hmmm, maybe too much antiseize?

Now that's just weird...

 

What brand of plugs? Were there any signs/symptoms that there was trouble brewin'?

 

no anti sieze, a loud ticking at startup but I had that chalked up to a exhaust leak. Guess I was wrong.


edit they are autolite platinums.

 

My 82 (22R) did the same thing... I just cleaned the threads, and put new plugs in... Never had another problem. (I had the truck another 2 years)

 

I had some Bosch plugs in for about 30,000 miles on my 3.0 V6. Middle plug on driver's side came loose. I couldn't hear it, but I saw it jiggling at idle while I was in there one day. I tightened it up, but later decided to change to NGKs and replace em all. A dab of anti-sieze on the threads. The front plug on the passenger side was EXCEPTIONALLY difficult to remove. I was afraid it was frozen in the hole and was gonna strip out the threads. But I took it easy and she finally came out. I haven't seen any problems with these new plugs, yet.

Mike in AR

 

I've been hearing of this same problem with the 3.4L guys.

 

Great... I have a 3.4L!


Hmmm... I wonder if I can get a spark plug to go through the hood...I've been looking for an excuse to cut in a scoop!

 

*makes mental note to check this the next time he's under the hood*

 

I think you had the unique experience of having an exhaust leak and a fuel leak at the same time.

But then again, so did I. ( see above post )

J/K

Mike in AR

 

my spark plug wont go back in, we cleaned the threads and chased them with no luck. My dad is off to get some more tools... all I can say is I am getting very nervous. Just about every spark plug on this truck was loose. Not a good way to spend your birthday.

 

Its Heli Coil Time!

 

Welcome to my world!

Ticking sound on startup, spark plug boot vibrating, turned into a giant exhaust leak, then the plug shot out at about 4K RPM! Went to put new plugs in, plug bottomed out before engaging threads. 2 hours and a helicoil kit later and she is good as new.

Happened to my #4 on my 3vze, btw.

 

the thing that bugs me about autolite plugs(i actually use them in my project rig, no difference in performance from NGK or denso) is that you have to thread the gasket washers on, and often times they like to slide down and wedge on the threads of the plug, not allowing the plug to fully seat and bind with the threads.

 

well we installed a heli coil. things look to be okay. I left the truck overnight at my work since I was working on some light surface rust. I might do my rear bumper up with spray in liner while I'm at it.