A French Adventure

[Black_GT]

Driving back along a dual carriageway after a holiday in France visiting relatives with the family, when there’s a soft “pop†and a loud flapping sound, as if something is caught is the engine. Fatha_GT pulls off the road at the next exit and pulls over at the side of the sliproad.

 

Fatha_GT pops the bonnet and we have a look. Initially I thought it sounded like a belt had snapped but no, they all seem fine. In fact we couldn’t see anything obvious, except a small piece of black plastic sitting on top of the rocker cover...

 

Fatha_GT starts the engine, and I see what the problem is, spark plug number 1 is loose and going up and down in the hole! At this point lots of unpleasant ideas about stripped threads and cracked blocks were going through our minds... Unfortunately we have no tools in the car, no spark plug spanner and no European breakdown cover. After a lot of unsuccessful attempts and wondering what to do, using a scrunched up receipt between the HT lead and spark plug, Fatha_GT manages to get enough grip to screw the plug in using the HT lead, although obviously not very tightly, and we set off in search of a garage. The sounds really rough, probably due to arcing to the block where the insulation was broken off the HT lead.

 

Fortunately we are fairly close to a small town, and amazingly we spot a garage almost straight away – with an impressive collection of chod parked outside, notable examples I can remember were a collection of 80s BMWs and a Beetle convertable.

 

Communicating the problem is interesting, with our very poor French and their almost non-existent English, but a mechanic comes to have a look almost straight away. He clearly sees the problem, and tightens spark plug 1 and checks the others – 3 is also really loose. Then he takes the broken HT lead and disappears into the parts room. He comes out with a lead, seems quite surprised that it fits (would love to know what car it’s from!) and we start the engine. It runs perfectly, amid exclamations of “bon!â€Â, “tres bien!â€Â, “excellent!†and “merci beaucoup!â€Â. Fatha_GT gets out his wallet but the absolute legend of a mechanic won’t accept any money and sees us on our way.

 

The rest of the journey is uneventful and we arrive at “Le Shuttle†with 5 minutes to spare. I know how you chaps like pics...

 

On the train

 

So a very eventful journey back, and all caused by a moment of sloppiness tightening the spark plugs at the garage when the Rover was serviced a few weeks ago.

[outlaw118]

Smart....so there's at least one French dude that doesn't hate Eeeeeengleesh peegs....

[messerschmitt owner]

Smart....so there's at least one French dude that doesn't hate Eeeeeengleesh peegs....

je suis Eccossais

 

works wonders for me!

[Cheggers]

A fine & heartwarming tale.

 

I did wonder if it was going to turn into one of those Christmas Eve ghost stories where you tried to refind the garage to thank the dude again, only to be told it was bombed out in WW2

[Black_GT]

Haha, yes I thought that too! I hadn't heard of spark plugs flying out before, I suppose it can't be that unusual. Has it happened to anyone else on here?

[DSdriver]

Haha, yes I thought that too! I hadn't heard of spark plugs flying out before, I suppose it can't be that unusual. Has it happened to anyone else on here?

Actually yes, I rented a Sherpa van a few years ago and that spat out a plug. I have more problems with loose plug leads though, the DS saloon can be put away running fine but if left too long it often has a misfire when restarted and its always no3 lead that has come adrift. (searches for shrugging smiley).

I had a Sunbeam Rapier many years ago when they were shite and that would suffer from front wheel nuts working loose until the wheel was wobbling about. I just used to jack it up and tighten them up periodically until it was sent over the bridge.

[ashmicro]

Happened to me years ago on a 2 litre Capri. The plug was long gone when I opened the bonnet.

[Guest]

Totally the opposite - plugs that never come out...

Looked at a mates misfiring C3 on a 04 plate.

Yeah done mega miles been serviced though.

Has it feck.

Bit of an arse to even find plugs but whipped them out.

Brand is some Made In France never heard of so assume original fitment and not changed since main dealer servicing ceased.

Gaps like two mm I shit you not.

One the ceramic is gone.

Another it;s cracked.

Put new plugs in after spinning it over plug less to shoot out any shite.

Plugs in, misfire still...

Would a lump of ceramic caught under a valve bend it or would the valve smash it?

Off to do a compression testicle.....

[meggersdog]

Was quite common on pinto engined Fords as the sparkplugs had a tapper fit.Seems odd that the smaller taper fit ones fitted to Fiestas and KAs do the opposite.These go so tight they snap off in the head.

Regarding your Citroen a60rod, long life 'plugs (upto 60k) have a much wider gap some well over 1mm.The coilpack rail is favourite for your misfire.

[Guest]

Thanks for your thoughts Meggersdog. Is appreicated as a charity job...

Would that manifest itself as running on three?

The state of the plugs a red herring?

 

Thanks again!

[meggersdog]

The 'plugs were obviously in need of changing but as you have to remove the coilpack first I'd look at the wiring.I've replaced them on a Picaso a few years ago and it was one unit but I can't remember if there were separate wires to each coil.If one has gone down completely then yes it will be running on three.

 

Sorry for the slight off topic OP

[Black_GT]

No worries! Ashmicro, I think we were quite lucky, as there's a very thick layer of sound deadening under the bonnet - stopped the plug being fired too far, and probably saved the bonnet from being dented!