2.4 Headgasket failure

I'm kind of missing how a blown head gasket would cause a plug wire to fall off, or would cause an oil puddle way up at the valve covers. Also, how do you know the plug wire is actually moving "with" piston movement, or is it just wiggling when the engine is turning?

First thing I'd do is inspect the plug wire. Could the connector to the plug have failed? I'm not familiar with the 2.4, so I'm assuming it's either got a distributor or a coil pack (not coil-on-plug) so you're talking about traditional plug wires.

Second would be a more serious inspection of the plug. It's hard to imagine it failing in a way that would create a passage for gasses to go up and blow the wire off...

Not that this is terribly relevant, but my '78 Newport had a couple of plug wires that fell off continually until I gave up and put a loom on to keep them from swinging around so much.

Turns out that it was a cracked spark plug, allowing compression to escape and blow off the plug wires.

The valve cover gasket was leaking oil pretty back, so I am not sure if that caused the plug to crack. A new valve cover gasket, plugs, and plug wires, and it is running well again.

From what I hear, the newer MLS headgasket holds up pretty well.

Thanks,

KM

blow off the plug wires.

Glad you got it fixed; I was about to post that I have had spark plugs do exactly that!

and blow off the plug wires.

OK, I guess I need a better imagination!

cape and blow off the plug wires.

wow, that would make a nice question for "car talk".