So after gapping my plugs and searching here, i realized i put too much gap by about a .05inches, so i went to pull thm out and regap...and #3 is stick. Now bear in mind the motor was hot when i tried (a few mins ago), i will try again later when the motor is cool, but #3 wont budge, i can get it to turn a little bit but i have to put so much force on it, im afraid i will snap the plug off in the head (BAD news)...any ideas? If i put a wrench on the ratchet it will turn...i hope it isnt cross threaded, it didnt fell like it when it went in...think its just cause the engine is hot? I am only somewhat familiar with metal physics and how heat effects it, but i would imagine metal would expand...


2006 Honda Civic EX Sedan AT-Galaxy Grey Metallic Pearl, 37,000 miles,Loaded with everything except Leather and Nav, Tint-5% rear, 20% front, Calipers painted Subaru WR Blue, Ipod Integration, XenonDepot 4300K HID Conversion kit, Debadged, Optima Red-Top, No performance mods because its an auto, and its under warranty.

Well guys, here it is...Found it...The moral of the story is...

DO NOT USE COPPER CORE AUTOLITE PLUGS IN THIS ENGINE...OR THIS WILL HAPPEN!



THANKFULLY, i got it out in one piece with a breaker bar on my ratchet. I cracked it puling it out, but it did not snap. (Lots of WD40 and PB Blaster aided in that I am sure). When i got it out my reaction was ...i thought for sure i wtripped the threads out of the head...and i REALLY didnt feel like taking the head off tonight, esp since there is nothing wrong with the valvetrain or gasket. So i tried putting the OLD AC Delco plugs back in...and #3 went in and came back out again like a champ!

So, near as i can tell, no harm no foul...


2006 Honda Civic EX Sedan AT-Galaxy Grey Metallic Pearl, 37,000 miles,Loaded with everything except Leather and Nav, Tint-5% rear, 20% front, Calipers painted Subaru WR Blue, Ipod Integration, XenonDepot 4300K HID Conversion kit, Debadged, Optima Red-Top, No performance mods because its an auto, and its under warranty.

Be very wary of that plug and check it frequently. Based on the picture, you did damage the threads in the head and I'm betting (though I hope I'm wrong) that you're going to have trouble with that plug. I also don't see any evidence of anti-seize compound on the plug, which I use (and wouldn't go without) since I worked on Corvairs and Voldswagens in the '60's. (Yes, I'm that old.) Good luck. - Mark

Anti-seize is a must. Also pulling plugs out of an aluminum head engine when it's hot is a no-no.

the mor alof this story is dont be stupid and torque the @!#$ out of spark plugs and dont remove or install them when the engine is hot


Working on obtainting an M-Class license... ?? Hint: 2 wheels.

and dont cross-thread them


Working on obtainting an M-Class license... ?? Hint: 2 wheels.

Toronto Cavalier wrote:the mor alof this story is dont be stupid and torque the @!#$ out of spark plugs and dont remove or install them when the engine is hot

No...the MORAL OF the story is dont give stupid responses to threads. I mean really, was this:

Toronto Cavalier wrote:dont be stupid

really nessecary?

I might be a noob on this site, but I am not on others. I have been working on cars for a long time, you think I'm stupid enough to tighten a plug so tight that even I cant get it off? no...I tighten them snug. Finger tight then a flick of the ratchet and shes good. Even if the worst had happened, and I had to remove/replace the head, I could have done so, and with help from the board, it would have been done right. (You would be suprised what you learn to fix when you can't afford to pay someone to fix it). Now I can afford a nice car, with a warranty...but I still have the beater to drive around my military base.

I will keep my eye on that cylinder, but I drove it tonight and I think she will be ok. *KNOCKS ON WOOD*. This car's cross country days are over. The next time she goes any distance, it will be on the back of a truck LOL.

The engine wasnt hot, it was slightly warm to the touch, but had been sitting about an hr after a 8 minute commute. The threads (upon closer inspection) appear to be stripped off the plug, not the head...I checked the threads with a light, and before i put the old ones back in, i stuck a magnet in the cylinder to get any shards of metal. there were a few, but the penlight reveals little/no damage to the threads in the head. I tightened the plug and wiggled it, its snug, and comes out perfect...so one of 2 things happened:

1. The new (old) plug had harder threads and straightened them as it went in
or
2. The damage wasnt severe enough to interfere with installation of the new plug. it gave me no resistance whatsoever going in.


2006 Honda Civic EX Sedan AT-Galaxy Grey Metallic Pearl, 37,000 miles,Loaded with everything except Leather and Nav, Tint-5% rear, 20% front, Calipers painted Subaru WR Blue, Ipod Integration, XenonDepot 4300K HID Conversion kit, Debadged, Optima Red-Top, No performance mods because its an auto, and its under warranty.

Look man, sorry if i sounded condescending, i just hate that there are some people on the internet who assume theat just comes someone is new to the boards, they are ignorant. I hope you are not one of those people. Its been a long day for me (I am a mechanic in the army) and I apologize if I came across as an @!#$. The net is just one of these places that its hard to read attitudes. SO...just in case my response wasn't justified and you were just trying to help, then disregard my attitude in that case.


2006 Honda Civic EX Sedan AT-Galaxy Grey Metallic Pearl, 37,000 miles,Loaded with everything except Leather and Nav, Tint-5% rear, 20% front, Calipers painted Subaru WR Blue, Ipod Integration, XenonDepot 4300K HID Conversion kit, Debadged, Optima Red-Top, No performance mods because its an auto, and its under warranty.

glad you got it figured out.

I emailed autolite pix and recieved a call from them this morning...you guys ready for this?

They offered to pay for my headwork should it need done! I was given a case number, a persons ID number and extension to call them back if the engine fails or that plug wont stay in within the next year!


2006 Honda Civic EX Sedan AT-Galaxy Grey Metallic Pearl, 37,000 miles,Loaded with everything except Leather and Nav, Tint-5% rear, 20% front, Calipers painted Subaru WR Blue, Ipod Integration, XenonDepot 4300K HID Conversion kit, Debadged, Optima Red-Top, No performance mods because its an auto, and its under warranty.

I have a problem similar to this...

The previous owner of the car tried to change the plugs and got one of them stuck. It will turn with a lot of force but it feels like it might be cross threaded. I don't want to mess up the head by applying more force to it but I'm thinking that might be all I can do. Could I take it somewhere to get the threads redone or something if this is the case? It's been like that for a while and I'd really like to do something about it, just not sure what to do.

If anyone has any information it would be greatly appreciated.

I wouldnt screw with it...i got lucky. I can take the head off the car, have it rethreaded and have it back on inside a day if need be, and this is NOT my only ride, so im not stuck. I had little to lose except a few dollars. You on the other hand, may or may not have another car, or want to take the risk. Up to you. But chances are, You wont be as lucky as i was.


2006 Honda Civic EX Sedan AT-Galaxy Grey Metallic Pearl, 37,000 miles,Loaded with everything except Leather and Nav, Tint-5% rear, 20% front, Calipers painted Subaru WR Blue, Ipod Integration, XenonDepot 4300K HID Conversion kit, Debadged, Optima Red-Top, No performance mods because its an auto, and its under warranty.

I do have access to other vehicles, I was just wondering if it would be possible to have it done at a shop somewhere (and possibly how much it would cost if anyone has had it done before). I myself don't wanna do it in the garage and would rather drop it off at a shop and pay them whatever to have it done. The main thing I want to avoid is getting another head, not ideal.

I just did this a few minutes ago. The #3 on an OHV as well.

I was initially afraid to do it because I didnt want to snap the plug, but you said that you were using a breaker bar on the ratchet so I figured it was worth a shot.

I got it out and a fresh one in. The threads on the head got messed up a little, but I was able to get another plug into it (I will wait it out till spring to take the head off).

lol thanks for the inspiration!


"A car just isn't a car without a little blood, sweat, and beers." -- Shadowfire

same problem here... #3 is stuck... havent tried putting to much force on it... but definitely feels like it wants to snap... im just gunna leave it till i have a problem... maybe give it a try in a while...

Matt Linke wrote:I just did this a few minutes ago. The #3 on an OHV as well.

I was initially afraid to do it because I didnt want to snap the plug, but you said that you were using a breaker bar on the ratchet so I figured it was worth a shot.

I got it out and a fresh one in. The threads on the head got messed up a little, but I was able to get another plug into it (I will wait it out till spring to take the head off).

lol thanks for the inspiration!

LOL yeah, i was quite literally, putting so much force on the car, it was skidding backwards down my driveway, I had to put it back together, and back it up the driveway, that fixed it! LMAO.


2006 Honda Civic EX Sedan AT-Galaxy Grey Metallic Pearl, 37,000 miles,Loaded with everything except Leather and Nav, Tint-5% rear, 20% front, Calipers painted Subaru WR Blue, Ipod Integration, XenonDepot 4300K HID Conversion kit, Debadged, Optima Red-Top, No performance mods because its an auto, and its under warranty.