Ok Neon owners I know I'm a Ram owner but I need your help. A co-worker's daughter has a 97 Neon with a semi-serious problem. Her ex bf changed a (1) spark plug and must have cross threaded it because it has blown out two time. I guess there is no threads left to hold on to. My question to you all is what can she do? Is there a longer shanked plug for a 2.0, Chase the treads and hope for the best that pieces of alumminum don't get down in there, or should she get a new head and where is the best place to get one. Thanks peps I will try to watch out for you little guys from now on.

 

The whole Spark Plug gets blown out of the Cylinder Head?

That is unusual - even after being cross threaded.

If the X change out only one spark plug - are we sure he purchased the correct spark plug?

Don't know of a larger spark plug - but the best practice would be to see if the threads can be repaired in the cylinder head.
not sure if it could be rethreaded - it would also depend on how much damage is done to the cylinder head.

Heads are cheap from junkyards - I assume it is SOHC?

Of course there is alot of work to replace a Cylinder Head.

 

I believe they sell something called Heli-coil, or something similar, (thread insert) which can be used to repair moderately stripped spark-plug threads. Beats having to swap in a new head.

Hope it's just the wrong plug!

 

She said it blows right out of the head. As far as the right plug I myself have not looked at it. I guess it happened this past weekend and it is sitting at her aunts house.

Yeah it's a SOHC.

I know about changing heads on a 8 pretty well but I know a 4 is a PIA had a Cavalier with a blown head gasket. As far as repairing the treads, would have to take it off to do a helicoil on it but don't think it would hold plus if it was off mite as well just replace it. So if there cheap then I guess I'll tell her to get one from a yard. Thanks NYG

 

Heli-coils can be used with the head on the block, just be sure to use lots of grease to catch shavings and maybe try to vacuum out afterward. not really recommended though. Done properly they'll hold.

BUT IMO it's better to be safer than sorry!

 

If the threads are stripped the only option you really have to do it right is remove the head and either fix it or replace it.