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'97 Sunfire sparkplug blew
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snn1626
New User
Mar 20, 2012, 6:31 PM
Post #1 of 10
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'97 Sunfire sparkplug blew
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A spark plug blew on my 1997 Pontiac Sunfire while I was accelerating after a stop light. It was in traffic so I was not accelerating hard, nor do I normally. I do not remember hearing a pop or anything, but a motorcycle was behind me and I honestly thought that was what the noise was until the guy passed me. Now the threads are shot in the engine block. My spark plugs and wires were changed about 1.5-2 years ago at a shop and haven't been touched since. Does this seem like a mechanic installed the spark plug wrong and I'm only now having problems? Or is my car just old and junky? I have it at the mechanic's now and I plan on raising hell tomorrow because I've spoken with several friends who know cars well, and one who is a mechanic, and they've all told me that it seems like the mechanic installed the spark plug wrong. I'm just concerned about the time frame and whether or not I'm likely to get them to repair my car.
1997
Pontiac
Sunfire
162000
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Mar 20, 2012, 6:41 PM
Post #2 of 10
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Re: '97 Sunfire sparkplug blew
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Most of your assumptions seem to be correct. I would say it probably wasn't torqued properly and eventually worked itself loose which ruined the threads. You're also correct in assuming too much time has passed to lay any blame. too many things could have happened in that amount of time to convince a shop it was their fault.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky
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Mar 20, 2012, 6:46 PM
Post #3 of 10
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Re: '97 Sunfire sparkplug blew
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Is this a 2.2L or 2.4L? They aren't known for blowing out spark plugs. Sometimes plugs are over or under torqued or taken out when the engine is hot and when they are removed take some of the threads out with them. A new one is installed, and it is just a matter of time until the remaining threads fail. Then pop goes the weasel.
There is a possibility it can be repaired without removing the cylinder head using something like a time-sert.
*HT beat me to it 
Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.
(This post was edited by Discretesignals on Mar 20, 2012, 6:50 PM)
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snn1626
New User
Mar 20, 2012, 6:48 PM
Post #4 of 10
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Re: '97 Sunfire sparkplug blew
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Do you think I'd be able to talk them into at least repairing it at a discounted cost due to the faulty work coming from their shop? And I still have the receipt from when they did the work... Think that would help anything?
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Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky
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Mar 20, 2012, 6:51 PM
Post #5 of 10
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Re: '97 Sunfire sparkplug blew
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It's worth a try.
Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
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Mar 20, 2012, 6:52 PM
Post #6 of 10
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Re: '97 Sunfire sparkplug blew
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You won't know until you ask. It just depends on how much that company values their customers. They aren't required to do anything but they may do something voluntarily if you are pleasant. As DS stated, they do make repair kits for these problems.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky
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Mar 20, 2012, 6:55 PM
Post #7 of 10
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Re: '97 Sunfire sparkplug blew
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Now watch...this OP will come walking into our shop tomorrow...
Just kidding...we are smarter than that.
Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.
(This post was edited by Discretesignals on Mar 20, 2012, 6:58 PM)
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snn1626
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Mar 20, 2012, 7:04 PM
Post #8 of 10
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Re: '97 Sunfire sparkplug blew
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Naturally I'll try to be pleasant. But I realized after they charged me an arm and a leg to do the tune-up in the first place and replace a valve cover gasket, this shop is sorta a rip-off. I haven't been back since, just felt very cheated to be honest. And I don't know a lot about cars and that's the reason they got away with charging me so much. In retrospect, I should have asked a friend about the price they were asking for the work, but I can't go back now.
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Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky
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Mar 20, 2012, 7:18 PM
Post #9 of 10
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Re: '97 Sunfire sparkplug blew
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If this is a 2.4L, cam cover resealing is a PITA and expensive. Tune up on a 2.4L is expensive too because not only should you replace the plugs, but the coil housing also.
Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.
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snn1626
New User
Mar 21, 2012, 5:59 PM
Post #10 of 10
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Re: '97 Sunfire sparkplug blew
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They didn't take any blame, kinda figured. Oh well, I tried. Just went and bought a pre-owned car cuz this one is not worth paying to get it fixed. Gonna miss it  I feel so bad about junking it. Like I'm betraying it or euthanizing it lol...
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