Miata Mailing List: October 1994, Message #76
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   From: Bill Brooks 
Subject: Re: Explosive Coils?!
   Date: Wed, 5 Oct 1994 12:35:56 -0400


The short version: car back safe and sound...no damage to head

The long version:

As it turns out, the plug threads weren't stripped or showing any other
signs of getting blown out of the cylinder head.  The ceramic wasn't 
cracked, in fact, aside from looking pretty worn, the plug wasn't damaged 
at all.  The wire, on the other hand did indeed look pretty burned up.
Also, the socket connecting the plug wire to the coil pack was similarly 
blackened.

Best guess, is that either the plug wasn't screwed in well/at all or was 
loosely installed and worked its way out.  Eventually it became free from 
the cylinder head and shorted out the ignition circuit.

Replaced coils/coil pack, wires, and plugs.  Tuned up and running smooth 
again.

You'd think I would have heard something with a loose plug like that.
Ah well...I consider myself lucky...this time.

Thanks to all that responded quickly with their thoughts.  Learning about 
a Heli-Coil *was* something of a relief.

Bill
'90 B Silver w/CD

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