Spark Plugs - Serious Problem!!

[SardarQ]

Guys I have got a major problem -

Some background information:

I have a 97 maxima SE with 70k miles. I had the spark plugs changed at about 50k miles. The mechanic changed it with BOSCH plugs. I later found out that these plugs are not good for the maxima. I ordered new OEM NGK plugs from Joe and a knock sensor.

I got to the first plug and I almost fell down!! It had not head... just the ceramic part and the washer. I couldn't remove it becuase it wouldn't latch into the head of the socket wrench.

All other plugs came out with ease - very little torque required to remove them. The bas*ard who put them in probably over torqued the first plug and reassambled it somehow so that it would work.. I thinking the entire head broke off and he managed to glue? or electronically attach the ceramic part into the plug.

I left that plug as is and changed all others. The plug is firing and the cylinder is running.

Attached are pictures of the plug. This problem is making me sick to my stomach. Although its working - its gotta be pulled at somepoint but how?????

Please help.

[SardarQ]

Heres a picture of a different plug that I pulled. Its hard to see in the well... but this is what I think happened.

[NISTECH]

There is something wrapped around what is left of the porcelin, it is blocking you from getting your socket on it. How does the coil look for that whole? is part of the boot missing?

[SardarQ]

The boot is normal. The coil pack looks just like all the others. Thats why I couldn't tell right away that something was wrong. It was only when I dropped the deep socket wrench to pull it - it had no grip. I look in - there was no head.

That piece that you see wrapped around - I believe that is the crush washer at the bottom of the plug. I cant reach the porcelin part of the plug - It looks to be strong. Again, when I put in the deep socket wrech - it just freely turns. I could be wrong about the plug being broke - but wheres the head????

[SardarQ]

The deep socket wrench goes in all the way... but there is no head - just a round washer type piece... the deep socket wrench cant grap anything.... and I cant reach the porcelin by hand to see if it moves or not. I was scared .... if it stops working the cylinder is dead and the engine is going to start bouncing on idle - like a non-functioning injector. Not to mention the CEL light

[NISTECH]

There is something in that hole. If all the porcelin was missing the car would have a dead miss as it would be arching out to ground, so there has to be some insulation to prevent that. get a pair of long needle nose pliers and try to remove what is around the sides, or blow compressed air down in there to try and blow it out.

[180fan]

Looks like a rubber washer thing for a spark plug socket that's got a part of it missing...

[SardarQ]

You guys are the best!!! It was a rubber washer of some type blocking the head of the spark plug. I removed it best I could and was able to grip the plug with the socket and change over to NGK plugs!!!

I'm certain that some of the rubber washer may have fallen into the cyclinder. I tried to get most of it out - but some pieces were just too fine. I sparyed it with Deepcreep seafoam cleaner and cleaned the threads of the head. Would the small pieces of rubber in the cylinder be probamatic - they may break down at high temperatures??

Thanks again

[NISTECH]

nah they should just blow through the exhaust and burn out. I wouldn't be to concerned about it.

[gumby]

glad to here it worked out. ive gotta get those 2 prong bosch platinums outta my car. i keep hering bad things about em. i was just leaving em until after i seafoamed it. ive got over 800 miles on em so far.

p.s. use antiseize