Spark Plug Trouble

[lilvi3tboi915]

Okay, so I have a '93 Camry. And lately, I've been seeing/feeling a spark plug out of place. When I check it, sure enough, it is out of it's hole thing. Before, I was able to just push it back in, but it was still a little loose. Recently, I can't push it in anymore. It's about a half an inch out. I don't know why.

Help please?

The picture below is a picture of two spark plugs. I compared them. The top one is the one that is loose. The bottom one is one that fits fine.

[toyomoho]

Any oil in the spark plug tube or on inside/outside of the socket? Are you installing the socket when the engine is hot? Is the socket clicking onto the end of the spark plug?

Try cleaning all the parts including spark plug to remove any oil, etc. Install the socket when engine is cold.

[lilvi3tboi915]

Originally Posted by toyomoho

Any oil in the spark plug tube or on inside/outside of the socket? Are you installing the socket when the engine is hot? Is the socket clicking onto the end of the spark plug?

Try cleaning all the parts including spark plug to remove any oil, etc. Install the socket when engine is cold.

Any oil in the spark plug tube or on inside/outside of the socket?
- No oil inside or outside

Are you installing the socket when the engine is hot?
- When I'm going from point A to point B, somewhere in between the spark plug falls out of the socket. (Remember, it's not going in all the way anymore. It's out of the socket about half an inch.)

Is the socket clicking onto the end of the spark plug?
- It's not clicking. I think I know what you mean by this one because I compared the messed up one to the ones that are fine.

Try cleaning all the parts including spark plug to remove any oil, etc. Install the socket when engine is cold.
- How do I go about cleaning it?

[Mike Gerber]

Look inside the ends of the 2 spark plug wires where they attach to the plugs. Do they look different? Look closely.

Mike

[toyomoho]

Yes, and pull a plug or find a spare. Then install it into the both the good and bad sockets, determine if there is a difference in how well they hold the plug.

[Kep]

OK, I have got to point out that those tubes in the picture are not spark plugs. They are part of the plug wires. I am concerned that the actual spark plug (of the tube that doesn't seem to be seating properly) is unscrewing down in the spark plug tube. If it loosens enough the engine can blow it out of the block and damage the threads, hood and (of course) the spark plug. Please remove the tube and remove the spark plug. Put the spark plug back in making sure that you don't cross thread the plug or over tighten it. I hope that I am wrong but please check this before you start the car again.

Kep

[lilvi3tboi915]

Thanks guys! I've replaced my plugs and wires and now the engine works and sounds fine. The spark plug got loose somehow which eventually messed up the spark plug wire you see above. =( I had to get them replaced. Thanks!