Bonneville America Forums Forums Off Topic Discussion Forums Lounge Exploded Spark Plug

Ever seen this happen?

I was on the way home from Seattle last night (about 45 minutes away) on I-5 when the car (had to take the car since I was hauling a bunch of computers) started to sound like someone had stuck a stick in a fan. So, I pulled over right away and popped the hood. The spark plugs are in a deep well, so it looked like it had popped off. I started to try and put it back on and noticed that the sparkplug was off center. I grabbed what was in there and the plug had blow apart. The rest of it was still secured. After a $300 towing bill and $75 for plugs and wires (the boot was split pretty good), it appears that I am up and running again.



Soren

Never seen it.
Send it to Bosch with the bill.

Quote:

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Ever seen this happen?

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In the words of the immortal Gary Cooper, "Yup".

You won't see that often, but it happens. Can't see any reason other than faulty plug. I've also seen them blow the whole darned thing right out of the threads - 'er, with the threads. You're lucky to have it get puked out the way you did. I bet you wish you'd gone for that AAA membership that came in the mail instead of tossing the flyer into the file 13, aye... The towing is what killed ya on that deal.

Looks like the Bosch 4+ plugs. I just installed a set in my Buick last month. Sure hope this is an anomoly. Looks like your motor would be okay though.

I definitley do not think it is a normal thing at all. The plugs were over a year old. I did replace them with another set of Bosch +4 plugs. They are great plugs, if they made them for our bikes, I would use them, instead I use the NGK Iridium (another very good performing plug).

Beacuse the plugs were that old, I doubt if Bosch would cover it. The guy at the auto parts store this morning said the same thing.

Ye, I wish I would have signed up for AAA. I get stuff in the mail a couple times a year asking to join, but never thought I would need it. Guess what I am signing up for next payday

Soren

I have had that happen in a car before, loads of head scratching before we decided to check if the plugs were tight....yeah its now the first port of call on any misfire!

Just called Bosch. Believe it or not, they are sending me a warranty claim form. I just might maybe possibly get reimburssed for the towing, new plugs and wire. They want me to send in the broken plug with the paperwork, good thing I kept it.

Soren

A couple of years ago, the right rear plug blew out its innards just like that on her dual ignition Sportster. Of course, hte plug on the other side kept firing and burnt the pee out of her leg. Fortunately, I had installed an S&S carb on it a few months earlier and the ceramic bit of the plug hit the extended rear of the air filter. Had she still been running the round filter that came on the bike, it would have been shot into her leg.