Anyone know how much it would cost to have a damaged spark plug removed?

I was replacing the plugs and rocker cover seals yesterday (thanks for the write up Mal) and the front right plug looks like the hex part where the spark plug remover should fit on is no longer Hex, its more round or missing (couldn't see really well down the tube), there is no grip whatsoever on it.

Not wanting to do more damage I'd rather get a mechanic to look to fix it but just want to know how much I should expect to pay.

Anoying thing is Mitsi have been servicing this car and they failed to mention this which I suspect is because they probably caused it in the first place.

Well a damaged plug is ok. Just dont do any damage the thread on the heads.. Thats when it will start to get a fair bit more expensive.

The only thing i can think of (a trick which tyres shops do to nuts) is to hammer on a slightly smaller socket and using that to remove a rounded hex.. permanently rendering both items useless. Other than that, would most likely require head removal.

err but a spark plug will just shatter. and u risk shards getting into cylinders. id get the smallest socket that fits, and use some loctite, to stop the slipping.

err but a spark plug will just shatter. and u risk shards getting into cylinders. id get the smallest socket that fits, and use some loctite, to stop the slipping.

:stoopid:

err but a spark plug will just shatter. and u risk shards getting into cylinders. id get the smallest socket that fits, and use some loctite, to stop the slipping.

Mmmm now loctite. Never thought of that.. Good idea.:)

The other thing that I'm wondering now is why did this happen? is it because the spark plug thread is "screwed" (no pun intended there...lol) and they damaged the hex part trying to remove it?

I guess there's only one way to find out, am I taking a risk by having this done 2 weeks before a big drive up to QLD (fix = better fuel economy) or should I wait until I come back (ie risk of having car in shop and not ready).

Prolly get a Mechanic to check it out, that way if it's buggered it's already in the shop and save you the towing hassles.

mobile mechanics are allways good.

my mate had a plug stuck in his holden combo, it broke during removal ended up costing him thousands for a replacement engine

i say get a mechanic to do the job, then its on him!

loctite only works because when you thread something theres pressure added when you tighten it... no way that will stick on a chromed surface with no pressure.

I've broken the ceramic end before no biggie as long as you vacuum out shards, but at the end of the day even if you hammer the socket on , the socket for plugs are still extended and you won't hit or break the ceramic end if you use a socket that fits perfectly into the plug well... because if it's snug against the plug well it won't move around to break the ceramic.

but yes, get a mech to do it.. they will know best...

put the car back together and take it to the mech play dumb

and then tell him he did it...

put the car back together and take it to the mech play dumb

and then tell him he did it...

Well I'm pretty sure Mitsi did as they are the only ones that have been servicing the car for the past 6 yrs.

Proving it is a different matter.

Well I'm pretty sure Mitsi did as they are the only ones that have been servicing the car for the past 6 yrs.

Proving it is a different matter.

yet another reason to stay away from dealer service centres

yet another reason to stay away from dealer service centres

My reason for staying away from my dealer service center is that I can't actually get into the driveway :bowrofl:

Spoke to the service manager at Mitsi and unfortunately for me the dealership was sold 2 yrs ago (ie no recall), turns out the spark plugs were last changed in 2006, that's assuming they changed that one then and didn't just ignore it, otherwise it would have been a few years before that.

He was a nice guy and basically said to go to one of those places with the Easy Out as that's what they'd do anyway.

I don't have a problem with Dealer Service, I guess it depends which dealer you go to, I haven't had any problems with them and they've always charged my what they quoted (just gotta say not to those overpriced injectors cleaners and the guilt trip over why you don't love your car...).

I now have another mechanic (apart from myself when I'm feeling lazy) , it just happens to be a guy moved into the same block on units as us and looks after everyones cars now. Free Pink Slip, Yay! and always happy to help me when I've got the bonnet open. Just gotta get him over those pesky "you gotta sell the Magna dude" comments he loves making.

Spoke to the service manager at Mitsi and unfortunately for me the dealership was sold 2 yrs ago (ie no recall), turns out the spark plugs were last changed in 2006, that's assuming they changed that one then and didn't just ignore it, otherwise it would have been a few years before that.

He was a nice guy and basically said to go to one of those places with the Easy Out as that's what they'd do anyway.

I don't have a problem with Dealer Service, I guess it depends which dealer you go to, I haven't had any problems with them and they've always charged my what they quoted (just gotta say not to those overpriced injectors cleaners and the guilt trip over why you don't love your car...).

I now have another mechanic (apart from myself when I'm feeling lazy) , it just happens to be a guy moved into the same block on units as us and looks after everyones cars now. Free Pink Slip, Yay! and always happy to help me when I've got the bonnet open. Just gotta get him over those pesky "you gotta sell the Magna dude" comments he loves making.

it shouldnt matter that the dealership was sold, generally when a business is bought/sold they take over all responsibilities and warranties.

but all the best with ya car bud, hope ya get it sorted without much fuss

Don't know how the spark plug hex could have been rounded off. You should be able to get a light in the correct position to look down the plug tube and see whats going on. I have seen Bosch plugs crack the steel plug shell where the metal is crimp rolled thin just under the hex. NGK are made the same but never seen a NGK crack the hex from off the plug body like Bosch.

Cheers,
Alan

if they were only changed two year ago, they shouldnt need doing again. Did they replace with platinum plugs? You will get over 80,000k's from them

if they were only changed two year ago, they shouldnt need doing again. Did they replace with platinum plugs? You will get over 80,000k's from them

The one that I can't get out is a standard NGK one, 2 1/2 years ago the car had 35,000k's less on it, that assuming that it was damaged on being inserted, if they couldn't get it out and just ignored it then that plug has done 70,000kms as it would have been changed at the 105,000km service (or is it the 90,000km one?)

The platinum ones came out although one of them felt a bit tight to get out and in, but that's the last time the platinum plugs will get changed under my ownership as I don't plan on having the TE in another 100,000kms time.

if they were only changed two year ago, they shouldnt need doing again. Did they replace with platinum plugs? You will get over 80,000k's from them

They will only put Iridiums or platinum's in the rear of the car unless you ask them to put 6 in. otherwise you get 3 standard ones in the front.

;1117123']They will only put Iridiums or platinum's in the rear of the car unless you ask them to put 6 in. otherwise you get 3 standard ones in the front.
I've always thought thats a silly logic, to save $45 on 3 spark plugs, to spend $200 or more (labour charges if you cant do it yourself) changing basic NGK's every 15-20k's

The platinums were only just changed in my car last week, done a total of 97,000k's. Replacement ones cost $17 each.

I've always thought thats a silly logic, to save $45 on 3 spark plugs, to spend $200 or more (labour charges if you cant do it yourself) changing basic NGK's every 15-20k's

The platinums were only just changed in my car last week, done a total of 97,000k's. Replacement ones cost $17 each.

Silly logic to you, smart logic to mitsubishi service department ;)

The last set of plugs I changed on my TJ myself about 2 years ago. Put in 6 Platinums. I purchased them from Rock Auto in USA -look up Mitsubishi Diamente. Cost me about $35 AU for a set of 6 delivered when the Aussie dollar was pulling close to 90cUS. Probably closer to $50 or $60 now. Plugs only cost a few dollars each but the delivery was at least half the cost. They sent them in a massive box that was about half a meter long.

I've always thought thats a silly logic, to save $45 on 3 spark plugs, to spend $200 or more (labour charges if you cant do it yourself) changing basic NGK's every 15-20k's

The platinums were only just changed in my car last week, done a total of 97,000k's. Replacement ones cost $17 each.

Changing the spark plugs on the front bank is a 10 min job for any decent mechanic (or anybody else really) as part of the car service and wouldn't cost $200 unless you have my stuck spark plug problem.

I paid $15 for the front 3 and $70 for the 3 platinums at Auto One and for me I'd rather save the $55 extra it would have cost.