5th & 6th Generation (2002-2006 & 2007-2011)Toyota Camry Discussion for years: 2002-2006 & 2007-2011
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Well, with more than 70,000K on my 07' 4cyl Camry, I decided to change the sparkplugs - it wasn't ideling like it used to, had some trouble starting this past winter, and overall, did not run like it did when I first got it.
So, as the engine was cold, I took out the sparkplugs - they were in there pretty tight and needed some force to get them out. I put in new Denso plugs, and found that I could not torque them to the 14 FT lbs as prescribed in the service manual. I would feel them get tigher, but then it felt like it was staying the same, and not getting any tighter, so I left it as is. I did use a small amount of anti-seize on the plug threads.
A few weeks have passed and I have noticed my car does not accellerate as good as it once did, and it hesistates if you really push it - not like it was before at all.
So I took the plugs out of it again, and noticed a small bit of oil, just a trace amount on the area of the plug closest to the cylinder head, leading me to believe that some is getting by the threads.
Needless to say, did I strip the cylinder head plug threads? I did not see any metal shavings on the old or new set of plugs when I took them out. I cannot torque them down either.
I will be bringing the car to the Dealer for them to look at. I hope it won't cost an arm and a leg
The car idles well, but it struggles to get up to speed. The gap of the plugs were pre-set and verfied to be the same from plug to plug.
Does anyone have any experience/advice for me? Does anyone know what it may cost to fix them?
I'am doing my sparkplug this weekend. Make sure you got all the same sparkplugs. I work for a auto parts store and sometimes sparkplugs that are the same brand but for different car get put in the same location. Take all plugs and line them up and check the part numbers. Check the old one too. You would have to have turned plugs pretty hard to strip out that out. If it is stripped you can tap that hole and use a bigger plug in its place. Don't use that 1950 cure all crap for this modern motor like J&B weld or quik steel it won't work.
If the threads are stripped you can buy a repair kit. It's basically a HeliCoil/thread insert kit.
Most recommend that you remove the cylinder head to install them. I don't think that it's necessary when the head is aluminum.
^yeah, but make sure you do it properly- heck, have a shop to that so you have some sort of warranty.
i stripped my 3vz-fe head, did the repair, and the repair stripped the head. in otherwords, i was screwed-to-the-max. new diy/slightly port-and-polished head and head gasket was put in though...
If the threads are stripped you can buy a repair kit. It's basically a HeliCoil/thread insert kit.
Most recommend that you remove the cylinder head to install them. I don't think that it's necessary when the head is aluminum.
This would be the better way to go rather than tapping the hole. helicoil is stranger than doind a tap. I would recomend bringing it to a machine shop rather than a dealer if you are not familiar or dont feel confident doing it yourself.
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2008 CAMRY SE
1992 HONDA CIVIC HB 400+WHP
Sorry its too late for your head but anti sieze compound avoids a whole lot of problems and i use it on everything...your plugs were seized in place, removing them destroyed some threads. What a hassle! I HATE stripped threads, so much work, hassle and expense to fix em! If i remove something, it always gets anti sieze on it when it goes back in...
This would be the better way to go rather than tapping the hole. helicoil is stranger than doind a tap. I would recomend bringing it to a machine shop rather than a dealer if you are not familiar or dont feel confident doing it yourself.
The hole will still have to be tapped to install a HeliCoil thread insert.
You might want the try a thread chaser (NOT a tap) first.
Yeah i understand to install the helicoil you would, I was just trying to say only tapping the hole is not nearly as strong as if you were to install a helicoil
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2008 CAMRY SE
1992 HONDA CIVIC HB 400+WHP
Yeah i understand to install the helicoil you would, I was just trying to say only tapping the hole is not nearly as strong as if you were to install a helicoil
You don't want to tap the hole anyways, it will only make the problem worse. A thread chaser could be tried and might be helpful.
You said the Engine was cold, had it sit overnite?
I have always removed plugs on a car with aluminum heads when cold, ie.. let the car sit overnight before removing the plugs. They still may strip coming out.
I drove it to the Dealer today, and I told them how I couldn't torque the plugs down properly. The gentleman I spoke to said he doubts that I stripped the threads in the head, and told me I may not have tightened the plugs enough. He told me that once I have the plugs in hand-tight, that I should be able to get a full turn of the torque wrench before it will torque down properly. I did not do a "full turn", as I always thought a 1/4 to a 1/2 turn is all that is necessary. Needless to say, as for it not getting tighter, he said that may have been due to the metal plug gasket, since that presses against the plug and head, that I may have felt that it was not getting tighter, when it may have been. He also said that if I stripped the threads, that I wouldn't have been able to get the plug back in by hand. He told me to try it again when the engine was cold. Needless to say, I told him I would rather have them do it in case it was stripped, and then they could fix it then and there. He told me worst case scenario, I would need a new cylinder head - that is the absolute worst case he said. He did say that for stripped threads like that, they use a HeliCoil, like TRD mentioned. I will be making an appointment for the end of the month to get it in. They are booked up until next week, and due to scheduling conflicts, won't be able to bring it in until the end of the month.
The engine sat overnight and I did not use it before I took out the old plugs. The old plugs were all the same NGK's, and I made sure the Denso's were the same number as well.
I guess this problem can happen and has happened to other people. I wonder why the manufacturers don't use a bit of anti-seize on those areas.
I will keep everyone posted as to what the final outcome is.
If the threads are stripped you can buy a repair kit. It's basically a HeliCoil/thread insert kit.
Most recommend that you remove the cylinder head to install them. I don't think that it's necessary when the head is aluminum.
i think this is the most idiotic thing i have every heard. you are going to tap new threads while the cylinder head is still on the car? no no no sir i disagree with this very much. at this point it is not a chance of introducing a foreign object into the combustion chamber, it is a pure certainty. if you havent destroyed something yet you are lucky if you are doing things like this
i think this is the most idiotic thing i have every heard. you are going to tap new threads while the cylinder head is still on the car? no no no sir i disagree with this very much. at this point it is not a chance of introducing a foreign object into the combustion chamber, it is a pure certainty. if you havent destroyed something yet you are lucky if you are doing things like this
Alex
It's pretty apparent from this comment that you have no clue what you are talking about.
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2007 V6 Camry LE, Built TMMK 27 September 06
"People who think they know it all are particularly irritating to those of us who do."
Just got back from the Dealer - the threads were not stripped - they changed the spark plugs with no problems. I guess I just didn't tighten them enough. The Dealer also fixed the A/C smell problem I had by utilizing some type of disinfectant/deodorizing spray. Now it smells great!
Just figure I would let everyone know of the outcome,
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Stripped Cylinder Head!!??
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