Has Subaru Service killed my car?
Posted: Fri Feb 11, 2011 12:48 pm
Hi,
Just after thoughts on this, but I recently had my MY06 2.0i Impreza serviced and included in this was replacement of the spark plugs.
Last night going home, the car lost power and it was immediately evident it wasn't firing on 1 cylinder. Quick check under the bonnet and the spark lead on the front passenger side cylinder was nearly all the way out of it's hole that goes down to the head from the cam cover.. Bit weird that it was so far out, but didn't think much of it and re-connected it. After restarting the car, the lead litterally "popped" straight out of it's hole and nearly all the way out again - that explained how it got so far out in the first place.
To me it looks like it's leaking compression pressure into the spark plug tube that goes down to the head from the cam cover, the end of the lead where it connects to the plug is also completely burnt and stuffed.
The only scenario I can think of at the moment is the plug has been cross threaded when it was installed and is not screwed all the way home. It's run for a couple of hunded k's and now started leaking. I was thinking maybe the plug has failed but I've got my doubts on that one because the lead sits high when it's clipped onto the plug compared to the one next to it and the only way I can think of that happening is if the plug isn't screwed in fully.
Anway, it's down at the Subaru service centre at the moment, will be interesting to see their spin on things, but if the plug is cross threaded what are the options for a proper repair? My guess is if the plug isn't screwed all the way home they'll just fit another one and screw it in via the remaining good thread and say it's fixed, but I'm doubtful about the long term reliability of this.
Just after thoughts on this, but I recently had my MY06 2.0i Impreza serviced and included in this was replacement of the spark plugs.
Last night going home, the car lost power and it was immediately evident it wasn't firing on 1 cylinder. Quick check under the bonnet and the spark lead on the front passenger side cylinder was nearly all the way out of it's hole that goes down to the head from the cam cover.. Bit weird that it was so far out, but didn't think much of it and re-connected it. After restarting the car, the lead litterally "popped" straight out of it's hole and nearly all the way out again - that explained how it got so far out in the first place.
To me it looks like it's leaking compression pressure into the spark plug tube that goes down to the head from the cam cover, the end of the lead where it connects to the plug is also completely burnt and stuffed.
The only scenario I can think of at the moment is the plug has been cross threaded when it was installed and is not screwed all the way home. It's run for a couple of hunded k's and now started leaking. I was thinking maybe the plug has failed but I've got my doubts on that one because the lead sits high when it's clipped onto the plug compared to the one next to it and the only way I can think of that happening is if the plug isn't screwed in fully.
Anway, it's down at the Subaru service centre at the moment, will be interesting to see their spin on things, but if the plug is cross threaded what are the options for a proper repair? My guess is if the plug isn't screwed all the way home they'll just fit another one and screw it in via the remaining good thread and say it's fixed, but I'm doubtful about the long term reliability of this.