'02 Accord V6 Coil Spit Out

[benjamming]

2002 Honda Accord 3.0L V6 with ~288,600 miles spit out the coil pack from rear bank middle cylinder. See photos. Multiple codes set were P0301, P0302, P0303, P0305, P0401, P1491, P1300, & P1399. Plugs were last changed at 230k miles (so close to 60k miles ago) with Denso 3396 Iridium Long Life SKJ16CR-L11. At 266k miles, P1399 was set due to cylinder #2. Replaced with Honda (mfg Hitachi?) p/n 30520-P8E-S01.

So, what causes this typically? Do I just replace the coil? Any need to remove the plug too? Oh, I'm 350 miles away from home on work travel in Aiken, SC at a hotel parking lot until Friday when I need to drive back home.

 

[bdcardinal]

Dumb question, is the plug still in there? Usually when the coils exit the chat, the plug is either still stuck in the boot.

 

[Hirev]

Wow that is a new one for me. I would pull the plug to see if it was loose or signs it was leaking. I've seen a plug porcelain insulator separate from the metal body before.

 

[benjamming]

I assume the plug is still in there, but I will double check.

 

[The Critic]

Plug may have exited the cylinder head. Not as common on the J series from that era, but Honda plugs sometimes loosen on their own. For this reason some people tighten beyond the OE spec.

 

[benjamming]

And if it has exited the cylinder...?

 

[KGMtech]

And if it has exited the cylinder...?

You need a new spark plug, and associated tools for re-installation presuming the threads are not damaged.

 

[The Critic]

And if it has exited the cylinder...?

Potentially a thread insert.

 

[dogememe]

More common on early Ford 4.6/5.4/6.8 engines and Honda Fits, not too common on Honda V6s, but I guess plugs blowing out can happen. Yeah, look down the hole, bet the plug is no longer where it's supposed to be.

 

[benjamming]

Yeah understood about the replacement spark plug but chances of a threaded insert is my concern, naturally.

 

[Exhaustgases]

And so what did you find? Just an empty hole? Was the plug in the hole and tight or what. My mind reading is a bit off today.

 

[RedSpider]

Check the plugs to see if they are loose. Recently went through this with a family member's Pilot with the 3.5 v6. Three burned coils and five of the six plugs were loose, a couple to the point where I didnt even need a ratchet to remove them. Had misfire codes of five of six cylinders.

 

[benjamming]

And so what did you find? Just an empty hole? Was the plug in the hole and tight or what. My mind reading is a bit off today.

My apologies. I thought the picture showed that but tits not really clear. The plug has left the premises.

 

[benjamming]

Check the plugs to see if they are loose. Recently went through this with a family member's Pilot with the 3.5 v6. Three burned coils and five of the six plugs were loose, a couple to the point where I didnt even need a ratchet to remove them. Had misfire codes of five of six cylinders.

All at the same time?

 

[RedSpider]

Yup. Although in fairness it had been getting progressively worse according to my niece who drives the car. She and my sister had been begging me off and on for several weeks to check it out as it had been running more and more sluggish and finally it was almost undriveable. I pulled the codes and it was giving misfires on all but one, and as I started digging into it pulling coils and the plugs to see whats going on thats when I discovered all the carnage.

 

[tcp71]

Try threading a new plug in and tighten all the others. obviously a new coil is required as well. Then check for codes.

 

[benjamming]

Yup. Although in fairness it had been getting progressively worse according to my niece who drives the car. She and my sister had been begging me off and on for several weeks to check it out as it had been running more and more sluggish and finally it was almost undriveable. I pulled the codes and it was giving misfires on all but one, and as I started digging into it pulling coils and the plugs to see whats going on thats when I discovered all the carnage.

What was the carnage like? Oil soaked plugs? Broken coils? Or what?

 

[RedSpider]

Mostly burned coil boots, two of the coils came off without the boots. One I was able to snag it with needle nose pliers and get it out, one other completely melted to the point I had to literally jab at it with screwdrivers, picks and whatever else to get pieces of it up and out of the plug tube before I could even get the plug socket on the flats to get the plug out, it had melted to the plug. Of course that had to be one on the back row, up against the firewall, with about 3 inches of room to work, if that. Tons of fun. A couple of the other coils came out ok, but the boot was burnt enough that I didnt reuse them.

No problems with oil anywhere.

The five loose plugs were caked with thick, black carbon all the way up to the top of the threads. I had pictures of them on my phone but I must have deleted them, I cant find them now otherwise I would post them. One plug was tight and completely normal.

 

[Exhaustgases]

I had a similar issue with a v-6 mazda one time. Plugs all torqued to factory spec mid value, and like 5 loosened, one spit out and ruined coil. It was a rear of firewall side plug.
Lucked out and the replacement screwed in and tightened up okay. Yup didn't do the factory spec for tightness again I pity the fool that has to remove them.

 

[benjamming]

So 2 cylinders both on passenger side 1 front bank & 1 rear bank are dry. The other 4 have oil in the well (well middle rear doesn't anymore since it threw out the plug) with the front 2 swimming in oil so no wonder all the misfires. It sounds like I need to replace the valve cover gaskets & spark plug tube seals now too. Driver's side rear bank wasn't too bad with oil but I had to wipe off the end of the coil boot. None of the plugs were loose. It's just weird that the problem showed up all at one on the 4 cylinders with 2 in good shape.