Club 80-90 Forums

Folks,

My wife called me at work today..

'The van made a loud bang and now it sounds as rough as................'

Held phone for me to hear what sounded like a blowing exhaust.

Anyway I got home and began to check the van over.

Started the engine and all the noise was from the top not the bottom.

Looked in to the engine bay and found Plug 1 out lying there and the plug lead seperated from the plug cap.

The thread on the plug looked a bit swarfy on the very bottom two turns but othewise looked ok and was a good colour.

Cleaned and brushed the plug. Oiled the thread slightly and wiped off and reassembled the whole thing - finger tight then 1/4 turn with a socket spanner.

Engine started first time.

Drove it a few miles under acceleration - no problems.

Came home let it all cool a bit - took the plug out - inspected and cleaned for good luck then reassembled and drove it again.

So far so good..

Someone tell me the bad news or could it just have been put in a tad looser than it should have been and my 1200mile trip to France earlier in the month has shaken it loose?

Finally - think I might replace all the plug leads and caps as they look original - or very old at least - what should I get?

Andy

if they are not tightened correctly they can certainly unscrew themselves. If it tightened OK then see how it goes.

Ta - feeling like there is nothing but doom ahead! After a year free of drama.... Fingers crossed eh?

If it screwed back in easily enough, and took a suitable amount of torque when you tightened it, up then it will almost certainly be OK.

You can always use a Helicoil (sp?) if it has striped.

I've had this with several flat four VW engines over the years. Unless its stripped thread I wouldn't worry. Pop it back in and crack on..

All back in nice and tight thanks guys. Copper slipped the plug and it's gone in nicely and tightened a 1/4 turn as per the Haynes! Ragged it around the Blackdowns for half an hour and it all seems fine……

…… for now!

Andy