|
14-01-2015, 07:35 AM | #1 |
Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Sutherland
Car: Mazda 323 sp20 2002
Posts: 3
|
Piston hit the spark plug, please help.
Hi
I have a 2002 323 sp20. Yesterday upon start up I heard a knocking sound and the car was sluggish on the drive home from work. Under closer inspection I have found that leads and coil packs are fine, as my fiancé also has a sp20 which I could swap them with. Car still had the same problem. I then checked the plugs to notice that the piston has hit one of my spark plugs and closed the gap between the pins. Clearly the cause of the car being sluggish. I bent the spark plug pin back and reassembled the the rest. I drove the car from the front yard to the garage and the sluggish problem was resolved. I am now trying to figure out what caused the piston to hit the plug. My assumption would be that the time belt slipped. Any suggestions. I also have another question. The fact that the engine seems to be running fine, does that mean that the valves and cam gear have not been damaged in the process? Any advise on the matter would be greatly appreciated Thanks. Last edited by Skinnerj; 14-01-2015 at 07:39 AM. |
Sponsored Links |
14-01-2015, 04:31 PM | #2 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: USA
Car: .
Posts: 2,623
|
it's not the piston that bent the spark plug
it's the VICS (butterfly shutters) screws in the intake manifold that came off and went through the combustion chamber (hopefully) this is a known defect hopefully the engine is fine... run a compression test to see if it stuffed the engine or not.... if compression is good, replace the intake manifold (good idea to tighten the screws with new thread sealer)
__________________
Protege FAQ, the best 323/Protege/Mazda3 resource enjoyed worldwide for 10 years |
20-01-2015, 10:19 PM | #3 |
Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: brisbane
Car: car & bike
Posts: 2
|
I guess but not sure if you put in plugs with the proper heat range the piston will not hit them, be sure you have right plugs in it
|
21-01-2015, 07:30 AM | #4 |
SP20 Member!
|
I think that if he had the wrong plugs then all the pistons would strike them and the car wouldn't run at all.
__________________
Exhaust: Autoexe headers; Custom midpipe; Racing Beat catback Engine: AWR mounts; Twiggy cams; Custom CAI; RR Racing UDP; Mishimoto rad EMS: Microtech LT-10; J&S Safeguard; Gearbox: MSP LSD; Fidanza flywheel; 5th gear Rims/Suspension: MX-5 rims; Tokico Illuminas; Eibach Pro-kit; Progress RSB; AutoExe STB Exterior: MSP front lip & rear spoiler; Matt V headlights; AutoExe grill; EDM tails Interior: JVC AVX-77; Autometer gauges; DaveBs; B&M shifter Projects to come: Engine rebuild |
26-01-2015, 08:36 AM | #5 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: n/a
Car: n/a
Posts: 10,929
|
|
10-02-2015, 10:10 PM | #6 | |
Junior Member
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: brisbane australia
Car: mazda 323
Posts: 3
|
bent plug
totally impossible that the belt slipped the first victim would be the inlet valves mabe the plug was dropped on instalation or the plug is to long [/B]
Quote:
|
|
11-02-2015, 05:46 PM | #7 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: USA
Car: .
Posts: 2,623
|
wrong
all 323 petrol engines are non-interference.... breaking or slipping the timing belt will NOT result in engine damage
__________________
Protege FAQ, the best 323/Protege/Mazda3 resource enjoyed worldwide for 10 years |
11-02-2015, 11:34 PM | #8 | ||
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Auchenflower, Brisbane
Car: Blue SP20
Posts: 2,782
|
Quote:
^^ This. Quote:
In all seriousness check the VICSs screw. Also check for further engine damage as a vics screw has been known to cause fairly substantial engine damage. Most people dont tend to have too much, but if your unlucky... EDIT: Also replace the bent plug.
__________________
|
||
|
|