Blown spark plug out of cylinder

  1. Frequent Poster Joined: Jul 2010 Worcestershire Posts: 572 206 RC 180
    #1
    i had to stop at a roundabout to let someone go and when i set off again doing roughly 10mph i heard a loud bang and my car sounded like a old lawnmower.

    took it to our mechanic who pulled out the coil pack which was completely busted in the third cylinder and the spark plug was completely mangled so the engine was only firing on three cylinders, but he also thinks it may have cracked the piston head but he doesnt know for sure until he can take the engine apart and have a closer look.

    i had only had the vtr 5 days and was still under a "warranty" from the garage i bought it from so they picked it up but are fighting having to pay out for repairs because they say its from being driven hard and red lining gears on my part.

    just wanted to know what people think might be the cause if it was my fault and what is the best way to fix it.

    thanks
  2. Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Aug 2009 ilkeston derbyshire Posts: 9823 C2 VTR stripped, 406hdi, clio 172
    #2
    best way to fix it is get the head helicoiled and the jobs done, can be done with head in situ, not really any rhyme nor reason why plugs come out but its not unknown on saxos
  3. Banned Joined: Jul 2007 Posts: 4328
    #3
    Helicoil the head or fit a known good replacement.
  4. Frequent Poster Joined: Jul 2010 Worcestershire Posts: 572 206 RC 180
    #4
    i read of a similar problem on here from someone else and everyone seemed to say helicoil but im not sure if that will work on mine if it turns out there is a fracture on the head of the piston
  5. Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Aug 2009 ilkeston derbyshire Posts: 9823 C2 VTR stripped, 406hdi, clio 172
    #5
    how can you tell the piston is fractured with the head still fitted unless you have a boroscope? can't see how a plug getting fired out can contribute to a fractured piston either
  6. Frequent Poster Joined: Jul 2010 Worcestershire Posts: 572 206 RC 180
    #6
    i honestly dont know i havent looked myself just listened to what the mechanic has told me but from the sounds of it the thread around the spark plug has worn out and been pushed out and damaged whatever is below the spark plug, but it might not have

    the reason for thinking that is there were little slivers of metal around the spark plug and all over the engine so something metal has been split or damaged somehow, but could just be the remnants of the thread
  7. Saxperience Addict Joined: Jul 2005 Solihull / Bournemouth Posts: 14233 2015 Lapiz Blue Golf R
    #7
    get them to sort it under warranty - unless they can prove you drove it hard. Saxo's don't have anything on the Ecu that I know of that can indicate how hard it's been driven - unlike some 'fruity' cars

    I'm guessing by the tone of this thread you did drive it hard.

    Get it helicoiled, get a scope in through the hole to check the piston and cylinder in general, new plugs, new coilpack job done.
  8. Frequent Poster Joined: Jul 2010 Worcestershire Posts: 572 206 RC 180
    #8
    i put my foot down abit like any would with a new vtr but i didnt red line every gear like the garage is suggesting, and i had only had the car 5 days so i think if it was from being driven hard it would have been from the previous owner i will look into helicoils though
  9. Frequent Poster Joined: Jul 2010 Worcestershire Posts: 572 206 RC 180
    #9
    also...

    another reason i dont think its my fault is when i took it to my mechanic first thing he said is it might be from the spark plug not being fitted properly but when he took it out he said it looked pretty old so it wouldnt have been changed for a long time

    but the guy from the garage i bought it from said that before i collected it they took the spark plugs out to check them and put them back in so i think they might not have screwed one of them in properly...

    ...just an idea