Miata Mailing List: October 1994, Message #62
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   From: Bill Brooks 
Subject: Explosive Coils?!?!
   Date: Wed, 5 Oct 1994 07:20:04 -0400


Well, it seems my miata kinda self-destructed.  Seems one of the ignition
coils exploded (yes, exploded) frying the plug wire and blowing the plug out
of the cylinder head! 

The garage is planning on replacing coils, wires, and plug with a tune up
service. 

The question is: for a plug to be forcibly removed from a cylinder, don't
some threads have to be stripped?  I haven't had pleasure (?) of seeing the
plug yet.  I'm told it's in at least two pieces.  The wife states with
complete certainty that she saw the business end of the plug and the plug
threads on the scene (before towing).  She couldn't say what condition the
threads were in though.  I stopped by the garage this morning on the way to
work before they opened and took a look with my trusty flashlight at the plug
wells.  Anyone who's tried can tell you, it's damn difficult to see the
threads down there. 

So: 

What causes coils to explode? 

How can this cause a plug to violently vacate the cylinder? 

What's the likelihood the cylinder head's threads are stripped?

Do I have to buy a new cylinder head if its threads are stripped? 


Bill "already looking at $500 before a new cylinder head" Brooks
'90B Silver

_________________________________________________________________________
Bill Brooks            Babbling Brooks Llamas            bbrooks@mrj.com
        The World's Only Llama Breeder/Supercomputer Programmer