spark plug 1.4 astra stuck ?

Hi I have just bought the above for £2035, 1999 66,000 miles. On a invoice from 5/4/05 it states "unable to change number 4 spark plug". I did work as a semi-skilled mechanic 22 years ago, so I do know a little bit but are the spark plugs difficult to get to? I think it is also due for a timing belt, it was done about 25,000 miles ago, roughly what would this cost. Any other pointers? Many thanks .. Nigel

Reply to
Nigel Bywater
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They can't be impossible if you've got the right tools. However, maybe it's seized in the hole and the fitter though he might damage something if he needed a 10 foot bar on the spanner.

Rob Graham

Reply to
Rob graham

No but they seize & if you get them out there's reasonable odds you need to helicoil the head

Do the sparkplug first, then at least if you do end up taking the head off you can do the belt at the same time.

Reply to
Duncan Wood

If it's a small body type plug, it could be the mechanic was reluctant to try due to corrosion in the area. If these plugs get rusty and stuck, they can shear - I know, because I did it on my Ka!. If this happens, I found a technique to get the stuck nose out without head removal.

Reply to
Russell

in general pour some oil round the base of the plug and use the car for a bit, try undoing the plug, first try with the engine cold, if no joy then try hot, if the plug moves a bit but is very stiff, loosen the plug as much as feels safe and leave it, put some more oil around the base and use the car a bit more, then try doing the plug up and then undo it, this will usually work eventually, but you may need to be patient. if however the plug is stuck because it is cross threaded then you just have to undo and hope, then hope you can clean up the thread enough to be usable.

mrcheerful

Reply to
mrcheerful

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