ebonyandivory wrote:
If this is a legit failure, why are the plugs not even close to being the same.
It took a bit of prep to find a nasty plug and pose it for a picture next to a good one...
...plugs will loosen, wear the threads, start pumping exhaust up the spark plug hole, rust the coil in place, and beat the spark plug and cylinder head to death.
That happened to one plug. It was probably loose and soaking in exhaust for a very long time before it finally let go and beat the E36 M3 out of itself and the head.
As I said before, this is a known issue on these engines, and the failure can be seen in many other places on the internet. I highly doubt the dealer is trying to pull a scam here, especially since they went through the trouble of pulling the head and all of the timing gear for inspection.
Also, if I'm not mistaken, this photo is looking down the bore of the timing belt tensioner. It looks pretty rusty and crappy, which makes me wonder if OP's dad was just driving around with the bum plug for years and what REALLY did it in was a timing slip...
Just one more question (not being a jackass here, just curious): how did the plug, where the hex is larger than the hole, drop into the cylinder?
I may be missing something you already wrote about that, just got back from vacation and my heads not on straight.
In reply to ebonyandivory:
I think the OP described the problem inaccurately (we don't know what the dealer actually said, telephone game etc). The plug never entered the cylinder, but many pieces of it did as it hammered around in the spark plug well under compression. That's the normal failure pattern, anyway.
Streetwiseguy wrote:
Just to be noticed, I'm gonna say it again. I've seen that on 3.5 Hondas regularly. This isn't a dealer fabrication. Really.
This make a lot more sense.
Wonder how many years since the CEL first came on?
Its the same plug, look closely. The dip between the hex and the seat are filled with corrosion/crap.
I have a feeling it was making bad noises long before this and pops didn't pay attention or know enough to stop and have it looked at. We all have people in our lives like that. I'll drive someones car and mention something bad and they will say "oh its been like that for a month."
^^Typically I would agree, but he's been meticulous with this car. He was counting on it taking him through another 2-3 years and has been doing the maintenance religiously (typically at the dealer he bought it from) to keep it that way.
You have to listen pretty hard. The coil rusts and seals itself to the tube in the head.
ChasH
New Reader
5/19/17 11:42 a.m.
The engine might need only another head. The 2 plugs could be the same, and there might have been 2 different plugs in the engine at the beginning of the incident.
TIL...
This is just another reason why I'm here. This is a new one to me and another good reason to thoroughly PM a new to me car.
