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Model specific boards => Golf mk3 => Topic started by: birchie90 on 04 August 2010, 20:50

Title: 16v hates spark plugs
Post by: birchie90 on 04 August 2010, 20:50

anyone else had this problem. the spark plugs on my 16v keep coming loose. I have torqued them up but it still happens.

I drove on the motorway today and the same thing happened again - starts running on 3 cylinders, when i get home to check it has spat off the ignition lead and the plug has come loose.

I am open to ideas cos I am stumped

Title: Re: 16v hates spark plugs
Post by: richyrooney on 04 August 2010, 21:06

Recently did a service on mine and my spark plugs well three of them were loose ish when i was changing them replaced them with new bosch platinum ones @£9 each (trade) and am keeping an eye on them only few hundred miles so far let you know

Title: Re: 16v hates spark plugs
Post by: Wayne on 04 August 2010, 23:58

Damaged threads. ?

Title: Re: 16v hates spark plugs
Post by: Len on 05 August 2010, 08:58

Yea definitely damaged thread. You will need to have them recut.
Not sure if the head will have to come off to do it, probably as it might have to be done in an engineering shop.

Title: Re: 16v hates spark plugs
Post by: birchie90 on 09 August 2010, 20:05

Great first time I have had a chance o check the plug - and guess what the thread is fubard, This is going to cost me a pretty penny me thinks......GUTTED...... I hate taking my car to mechanics it is them that have done this.....

Title: Re: 16v hates spark plugs
Post by: Misky on 09 August 2010, 20:21

You can get helicoils, but best to re-thread the head, Last time i had this done it only cost a tenner but i took the cyclinder head off, doubt they can do it with it on.

Title: Re: 16v hates spark plugs
Post by: birchie90 on 09 August 2010, 20:33

Got a GOOD mechanic friend looking into if it can be done without taking the head off - fingers crossed cos otherwise I would think it going to cost ---- GRRRR

Real shame as well cos it has been running really sweet recently after I changed all the vacum hose

Title: Re: 16v hates spark plugs
Post by: Wayne on 09 August 2010, 20:44

Head really needs to come off.

Title: Re: 16v hates spark plugs
Post by: birchie90 on 09 August 2010, 20:47

that is what I am worried about and that is going to cost a fortune

Title: Re: 16v hates spark plugs
Post by: Misky on 09 August 2010, 20:56

Do it yourself! Should only cost oil & gaskets
Cant see it being that difficult

Title: Re: 16v hates spark plugs
Post by: Wayne on 09 August 2010, 21:02

Quote from: Misky on 09 August 2010, 20:56

Do it yourself! Should only cost oil & gaskets
Cant see it being that difficult

Plus headbolts

Title: Re: 16v hates spark plugs
Post by: birchie90 on 09 August 2010, 21:03

I really do not want to get into doing the cam belt - I am ok with the oily stuff, just not sure if I trust myself with that

Title: Re: 16v hates spark plugs
Post by: birchie90 on 09 August 2010, 21:05

lets just see what my man comes back with tomorrow - at least I am not expecting much

Title: Re: 16v hates spark plugs
Post by: birchie90 on 17 August 2010, 19:39

ha ha - how lucky am I.

My mechanic has been round. Turns out that at some time the plug was not tightened enough, when it was like this carbon built up and stopped the plug from doing up properly. My man backed the plug out a couple of threads asked me to turn it over and out shot the carbon. Hey presto now the plug does up again.... thank god for that!

Running really sweet again now

Title: Re: 16v hates spark plugs
Post by: todd on 21 August 2010, 10:22

Quote from: richyrooney on 04 August 2010, 21:06

Recently did a service on mine and my spark plugs well three of them were loose ish when i was changing them replaced them with new bosch platinum ones @£9 each (trade) and am keeping an eye on them only few hundred miles so far let you know

blimey ur golf must be the only one ive ever heard of running smooth on bosch plugs mine runs like a bag of sh!te on them