Issue with removing spark plug - something concerning possibly found

[Benihana]

Just tried to put in a new set of plugs and upon removing the 3rd plug I couldn't get the socket to grab the plug. After messing around too much with it I pug a light upto it and I found a strange blockage formed around the plug. I have included pics.. Anybody have any idea what this is or what could have caused it?

Thanks!

 

[BudgetPhoenix]

You got a close up focus lol? I cant really see anything. Only thing I can imagine getting down there is oil and sealant from the cam cover.

 

[khail19]

One time (on a different vehicle), the rubber part of my spark plug socket stayed on the plug and I couldn't get the coil boot to fit back on. Took me a minute to figure out what had happened. I invested in a magnetic socket so I don't do that again.

Make sure your coil that came from that cylinder is in good shape. Maybe part of it broke off and is down there still?

 

[Benihana]

You got a close up focus lol? I cant really see anything. Only thing I can imagine getting down there is oil and sealant from the cam cover.

Lol i'll take a better pic of it tomorrow. I ordered a heavy duty pick set to try to dislodge it somehow, it will arrive tomorrow. Hopefully I can get that squared out.

 

[Nineeightyone]

Lol i'll take a better pic of it tomorrow. I ordered a heavy duty pick set to try to dislodge it somehow, it will arrive tomorrow. Hopefully I can get that squared out.

Harbor Freight also has the little medical grabby scissor guys... I forget what they're called. But they might be a viable solution, IF it's a soft material. Or at least, something you can fidget with to see if you can determine what you're up against.

e: https://www.harborfreight.com/12-inch-locking-clamp-94952.html these guys I forget what they're called but they might help.

 

[Benihana]

Just took another stab at it with a new pick set but they ended up being too big to move around in the spark plug hole. But, I was able to at least find out that it is a rubber piece(have no idea how it got there), and it is removable If I can reach it with the right tool. Just ordered a shorter pick set that will be here tomorrow, hopefully it will work!

 

[The Fed]

Harbor Freight also has the little medical grabby scissor guys... I forget what they're called. But they might be a viable solution, IF it's a soft material. Or at least, something you can fidget with to see if you can determine what you're up against.

e: https://www.harborfreight.com/12-inch-locking-clamp-94952.html these guys I forget what they're called but they might help.

https://www.mystethoscope.com/strai...html?msclkid=73a06828359e11acebef0d9ccffc93bd

 

[BudgetPhoenix]

I wonder if you could suck it up with a strong vacuum and a tight seal as well

 

[Benihana]

Finally got it out! I had to break it into chunks before it would get dislodged, but I snapped a pic of the biggest piece. No idea how it got in there, nor how it wrapped itself around the spark plug so snuggly. But it was a bitch to get out……stabbed it into chunks with a long pick and took the big pieces out then blew out the rest with compressed air.

 

[Mk_GTI]

Piece of the coil boot stuck to the plug and ripped off. You may want to replace that coil pack. Dab some dielectric grease on the inner coil boots so they don't stick like that again. This is a common problem.

 

[Chogokin]

I had something similar happen to a 2.5. I could not figure out why the socket wasn't fitting over the sparkplug. So I ended up getting a pair of long needle nose pliers to see if i can turn or move the plug. It turned out that the metal core of the coilpack got stuck on the insulator part of the plug. Once removed...the socket was able to fit over the plug.