2003 V70 possible spark plug thread stripped

lizardheart · Post by **lizardheart** » 04 Jun 2014, 20:39

…which kinda says it all, but the plug came loose very suddenly today and once I got into the spark plug chamber it was literally flopping around in there loose, so when I went to screw it back in, it wouldn't catch and screw down, it just kept coming free.

I talked to my mechanic and he said that sometimes the threading gets hinky and they have a tool that can clean it up and straighten the threads out, and then a new plug and you CAN be good….otherwise it's 3k and up to replace the head, which seems extreme for a car that's running great…..

So what do you think?

Post by **JDS60R** » 04 Jun 2014, 23:53

He is talking about a thread chaser. It will straighten the threads that are left behind. Rarely would this fix an issue as serious as the one you describe.

I would repair that head (without removing it) by installing a Time-sert. If the hole is too large Time sert will custom make you a thicker one to fit it. It is best to pay a real pro to do this. You will want a machinist or a mechanic with lots of experience with a Time-sert. If you are handy mechanically you can do this as well but if you have never put in a heli-coil or Time sert this is not the place to start.
http://www.time-sert.com/

If for some reason that does not work. You can exchange your head for a completely rebuilt one for $500. I have heard other posters speak well of Clearwater www.cylinder-heads.com

lizardheart · Post by **lizardheart** » 05 Jun 2014, 00:00

Thanx for the reply….is that like this thing? -

Post by **JDS60R** » 05 Jun 2014, 00:04

No - those are the cheap auto part store ones that come loose often. The Time-sert lets you roll an external thread over (causing it to lock in the new threads. They look alike but are not. I have used the ones in the videos and do not like them as they seem to come out.

Post by **JDS60R** » 05 Jun 2014, 00:06

Time serts are like this

or this

lizardheart · Post by **lizardheart** » 05 Jun 2014, 00:08

My guys are saying 3k-ish to replace a head, which seemed fairly high, but they said it's like 10 hours of work….

Post by **JDS60R** » 05 Jun 2014, 00:10

Yes, you said that already.

lizardheart · Post by **lizardheart** » 05 Jun 2014, 00:11

Hah, that's funny, I just watched that 2nd one….yeh, that looks very doable, tho I'm not sure I would want my first time to be something this critical…..but paying a mechanic who knows these would probably not be hella expensive, especially compared to 3k...

lizardheart · Post by **lizardheart** » 05 Jun 2014, 00:11

And it DOES look very solid, seems like a good answer

Post by **JDS60R** » 05 Jun 2014, 00:12

I would expect to pay $250 max