Thar She Blows! My SVT Focus' spark plug, at least.

A month and a half ago, the spark plug for cylinder #4 blew out on my SVT Focus. The ground electrode was bent onto the center electrode, so I assumed it to be a faulty plug. After walking to buy another plug (and get my tools), I installed another without any issue.

This brings me to today, when the plug on the same cylinder blew out. This time, it will not re-thread into the head. Looks like the threads are gone. What now; install a helicoil? Or, is there a better alternative that won't also cost an arm and a leg?

Helicoil or Timesert seems to be the answer on this.

Timesert. Haven't done one on a SVT focus, but generally pretty simple install

Heh. From the 'latest news' feed on the Timesert site.
"Ford spark plug blow-out? Repair kit part number 5553 Ford Triton spark plug kit will repair blown out spark plug's in Ford heads. "

Is the consensus that it's worth the extra $150 or so to go Timesert vs. the Helicoil route?

This is the one that I'm looking at.

What year is it?

It's a 2003.

Well! Looks like I will be using a Helicoil. Life sure is funny; my back-up transportation decided to not start today. Thankfully there was an O'Reilly open until 10 within biking distance, and at least my bicycle works!

Mitchell wrote: Thankfully there was an O'Reilly open until 10 within biking distance, and at least my bicycle works!

Don't get cocky...you'll have a flat tire on the bike before you know it!

Bryce

I had a helicoil installed in my mercedes cyl 6 and it has held up well. Good luck getting the car back together.

i "fixed" a stripped out spark plug hole in the head of an older Subaru (late 80's/early 90's-ish.. looked like Inspector Gadgets' car) with some high temp JB Weld like goop... just smeared it on the spark plug, jammed it in the head, and let it cure over night... put about 200 miles on it like that without any problems, and the guy that bought it from me drove it for about a year like that before i moved and lost track of the car..

Well, it passed the round the block test, the come to temp test, and most importantly, take me to McDonald's test.

I freaked out for a few minutes because the tip of the plug was seated 3mm lower than the other three. I then remembered that this plug was a different model than the others; sure enough, the plug was 3 mm shorter than the others. Phew.

Nashco wrote:

Mitchell wrote: Thankfully there was an O'Reilly open until 10 within biking distance, and at least my bicycle works!

Don't get cocky...you'll have a flat tire on the bike before you know it! Bryce

I was amazed that it was open so late; auto parts stores always seem to close 15 minutes before I need them.

First I've heard of in a Zetec. Wonder what bent the electrode on the plug. Curious. We used inserts on the ac vw's.

Searching around on the Internet, I found a few other instances where it happened.

Honestly, the previous seven of the right years I have had the car have been quite abusive. Almost exclusively short trips, always parked outside, no time or money to fix the little things (I had a seven day schedule between work and school). I'm finally getting around to making it a good car again.