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spark plug change; something wrong?

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Old Jan 22, 2008 | 09:54 AM
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From: hometown cali
spark plug change; something wrong?

I followed the how to thread and when I got to loosening the plug I just did a quater of a turn and it went loose, is this right?

Well the thing is, I cant take the plugs out and they are still tight but I can't loosen them anymore. Did i strip it?

I used a normal 13/16 not the deep well one.
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Old Jan 22, 2008 | 10:03 AM
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sounds like maybe ur not using one w/ a rubber end on it (so its not gripping the spark plug). can u confirm?
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Old Jan 22, 2008 | 10:08 AM
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If you can not physically turn the ratchet anymore, like it got stuck, then you probably have a problem. Are you sure you were turning it the right way? Lefty loosey... Or counterclockwise... Was the engine still hot?
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Old Jan 22, 2008 | 10:15 AM
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First thing we need to do is confirm that you turned it the right way.

1). Point your thumb down on your right hand and form a lose fist.

2). Your finger tips will now curl and point in the direction that you need to turn the plug to tighten it. This is the right hand rule.

3). Too losen the plug turn it the other way, away from your finger tips and in the opposite direction of the curl of your fingers.

The plug has long threads and you should use a deep well socket.

You may have just rounded the flats on the plug hex.

Get a range of deep well sockets and find a good fit on a plug you haven tried to loosen yet.

Socket should slip over easily and rattle around only a little bit.

Then use that socket and check the fit on the problem plug.

If you still have a problem, stop what you are doing and take the car to a mechanic, tell him that you think you screwed up, he will understand, everyone has been there, He may have a 6 point socket that will still fit the plug.

If you don't stop you could cause yourself alot of expense.

With a shallow socket, my guess is that you rounded the top of the hex. Rather than damaged the head. But if you keep messing around head damage is possible.

My .02

Mitsuatb
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Old Jan 22, 2008 | 10:16 AM
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you should really use the deep well i learned from my mistake on using the shorter one same thing happened to me it got hard to turn and i broke the porcaline part
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Old Jan 22, 2008 | 10:24 AM
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It didnt get hard to turn, it got loose like it wouldn't snug on top of the plug so I couldn't loosen the plug more.

All I did was a quater of turn felt it went tight to loose, tried to take the plug out but it was still tight. I checked by trying to tighten it again but I can't do that either. So I am thinking I rounded it out a bit.

I will try a deep socket then other sizes to see if it fits.
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Old Jan 22, 2008 | 10:26 AM
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From: hometown cali
Originally Posted by Evo8luva
If you can not physically turn the ratchet anymore, like it got stuck, then you probably have a problem. Are you sure you were turning it the right way? Lefty loosey... Or counterclockwise... Was the engine still hot?
I used a normal 13/16 socket (no rubber end). The engine was cold.
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Old Jan 22, 2008 | 10:29 AM
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Try using a deep socket or spark plug socket with rubber stopper. The resistance you're feeling may be due to some friction between the wall of the plug hole and the socket. My shallow socket cannot even fit over the hex part of the spark plug.
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Old Jan 22, 2008 | 11:17 AM
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So doing spark plug change while the engine cold is good right?
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Old Jan 22, 2008 | 11:29 AM
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Originally Posted by omniprobe
So doing spark plug change while the engine cold is good right?
yes, you want to change the spark plugs when the engine is cold
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Old Jan 22, 2008 | 11:57 AM
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go to a parts store and get a spark plug socket for 2 bux, a normal socket won't grip the plug and you risk breaking your new ones.
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Old Jan 22, 2008 | 10:00 PM
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ok i need some help now...Well I tried again with a rubber stopper 13/16, it worked but the socket came off the extension and now its stuck on top of the plug but I can't get my extension into the socket either. Seems like the socket went pass the bolt and now wont back out. I think the top of the plug is blocking my extension from getting into the socket. Any ideas?
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Old Jan 22, 2008 | 10:13 PM
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tight it a little bit for the spark plug head would go in... just a little bit
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Old Jan 22, 2008 | 10:15 PM
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cant get my extension into my socket, so I can't tighten it or loosen it. I tried by hand but theres barely enough room to move it.
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Old Jan 22, 2008 | 10:17 PM
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try using a magnet
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