Spark plugs bent

JackJones

JackJones

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So, after seeing my engine management light for a second time I took out the spark plugs to find the same problem I had not so long ago. Only this time I have the problem on cylinder 1 and 4. Both spark plugs are bent and touching the tip one more severe than the other.

Can anyone advise me to what the cause may be.

I recently had a cam belt change and I am wondering if this has any relevance to what's going on. Seems I have only incurred the problem after having this done. Also had a major service at the same time. There is no knocking coming from the engine after I put in some more plugs and the car seems to run fine now but I'm worried the problem will just re appear if I do not resolve it.

Any help would be appreciated.
 
Just to state the obvious, are you sure that the plugs you are putting in are the correct type and most important the correct length? If the pistons are contacting the plugs, it's nothing to do with cam timing which only controls the valves. All I can suggest for the moment.
 
Last edited:
Well it was a mechanic who got the plugs and put them in I would expect him to know his stuff :)

I have just got the original plugs the car came with and put them back in as they didn't need changing in the first place I had it done just for good maintenance. But I'm still worried that the same thing is going to happen, I don't even want to drive it.
 
indeed , cam belt change can't affect stroke of the engine and cause piston contact , unless timing is well out but then it wouldn't run ?
What is the spark plug number and make ?
 
I might also add 2 plugs were bent but the other 2 looked kind of blue. If that can give any bearing on the matter.
 
Might have been useful to simply update the original thread you created.

My answer would be the same as I gave you two weeks ago.

When you replaced a week ago did you set the gaps?
Do you have a pic of the 'bent' spark plug and if not what do you mean by bent? Was the gap just closed or something more serious? If it was something more serious then I would check the following

1. You definitely have the correct spark plugs. Incorrect one might protrude too far into the combustion chamber.
2. Something has found its way into the combustion chamber and is too large to go out through the exhaust valve. Valve could have broken.
3. Rod bearing is letting go and therefore piston has contacted the plug.

After checking spark plugs are correct ones I would be getting a compression test on cylinder 4 done pretty sharpish before I put a new spark plug back in.

Reading back through this and the last thread you seem to be grasping at straws. In addition you state above that your mechanic friend knows what he is doing. But reading back through previous thread he didn't know if he'd bent the spark plug on install.

Have you had a compression test? And I don't mean doing it yourself I mean by an Audi specialist?

Is it the same two spark plugs that are bent? If so it could well be point 2 above.
 
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ImageUploadedByTapatalk1398536209268219thats the only sticker I could see in the boot pal.
 
Just checking engine code against plugs. That says BHZ so it looks as though you have the correct plugs.

Let us know how you get on with Audi and simply update this thread with the info.
 
The car is at audi till tomorrow and I'll be honest and say they haven't helped as much as I'd hoped, they told me they need to do process of elimination, starting with new "genuine audi plugs" really tickled me. But I'v gone along with it. Now I have to wait for me car to basically brake once again until they are prepared to investigate any further.. Sigh...
 
Just to let you know i head my whole head stripped down from audi head took to specialist and all cleaned up and other stuff which needed replacing due to my problem which was bad it cost me £2.5k.
 
Yeah I'm thinking of taking an alternate route. Looking at a VAG specialist instead. Luckily I have one close to me and will go and see what they are saying when I get my car back.
 
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If he had no compression wouldnt it seem like its misfiring? I had no compression on two cylinders (i think maybe it was one) due to the flap on the inlet manifold snapping off and getting side doing some dirty damage and that was like misfiring. Letting you know i hardly have any mechanical knowledge snd can see you do so im not questioning you in any way was just mentioning lol
 
pluves1 said:
Might have been useful to simply update the original thread you created.

My answer would be the same as I gave you two weeks ago.

When you replaced a week ago did you set the gaps?
Do you have a pic of the 'bent' spark plug and if not what do you mean by bent? Was the gap just closed or something more serious? If it was something more serious then I would check the following

1. You definitely have the correct spark plugs. Incorrect one might protrude too far into the combustion chamber.
2. Something has found its way into the combustion chamber and is too large to go out through the exhaust valve. Valve could have broken.
3. Rod bearing is letting go and therefore piston has contacted the plug.

After checking spark plugs are correct ones I would be getting a compression test on cylinder 4 done pretty sharpish before I put a new spark plug back in.

Reading back through this and the last thread you seem to be grasping at straws. In addition you state above that your mechanic friend knows what he is doing. But reading back through previous thread he didn't know if he'd bent the spark plug on install.

Have you had a compression test? And I don't mean doing it yourself I mean by an Audi specialist?

Is it the same two spark plugs that are bent? If so it could well be point 2 above.
Click to expand...
If he had no compression wouldnt it seem like its misfiring? I had no compression on two cylinders (i think maybe it was one) due to the flap on the inlet manifold snapping off and getting side doing some dirty damage and that was like misfiring. Letting you know i hardly have any mechanical knowledge snd can see you do so im not questioning you in any way was just mentioning lol
 
No probs :) I just hope it's something or nothing. Car runs perfect until the spark plug bends which is random. It's this which is causing the miss fire and nothing else at the moment. Problem is what's causing the piston to bend in the first place.
 
audi upgrades
If I'm going to spend in excess of 2k then I'm probably going to get everything done and it re machined etc new conrod sand pistons all aftermarket. Will see tho
 
Another update, got the car back from audi they told me they was repaying injectors but didn't as they were fine reset the gaps on my plugs and then gave it me back. Not happy at all as they didn't listen to me one bit and I'm now down xp amount in cash with a problem which will be (in my opinion) reoccurring.
 
Gone to a V.A.G. Specialist and the guy thinks my timing could be slightly out on my cam belt as I had recently had that done. They will be checking it on Wednesday and then I'll find out more.

After doing a lot of research and looking at internal pics of my engine. I have a theory :)

Do you guys think it's possible that when I had the cam belt done is it possible the mechanic slightly bent some valves ? And the valve is sitting between the piston and the spark plug head ? When the piston reaches the top. Causing it to bend. Or is that not possible ? As the valve should have retracted when the piston is at the top right ? But could point towards the belt timing again.
 
Think VAG will be doing a compression test after they check the timing belt. That's all I have for now and will keep you guys updated.
 
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