2000 toy Camry/4 cylinder/automatic/137,000 miles

GATORFTBL

MEMBER
2000 TOYOTA CAMRY

I was driving along doing fine when a loud pounding noise came from under the hood. Immediately pulled over & shut off the motor. One of my spark plugs had come out and was "ping-ponging" up and down (dinted the hood). My question is how unusual is this? Do spark plugs come loose? Although its been over a year since my last tune up should this happen? It was reinstalled and everything seems to be running fine. What do I listen/look out for in case more damage was done than I can see?

8 Replies

BLACKOP555

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10,371 POSTS

Was the sparkplug that fell out dented or smashed on the end that the produces the spark?

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Wednesday, October 31st, 2007 AT 8:38 PM

GATORFTBL

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It did not appear to be bent or smashed but the end did have to be "spaced" again before re-installing. The space was completely closed but did not appear to be damaged.

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Thursday, November 1st, 2007 AT 9:44 AM

BLACKOP555

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Sounds like the piston came up and hit that one, take off the head and examine the piston for damage, if its damaged you will have to replace the piston. If its good then theres nothign to worry about, also check for a striped out cylinder fromt he sparker being poped out may be a little stipeed and need rethreading.

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Friday, November 2nd, 2007 AT 7:23 PM

LOSTINMARS

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I can't see a piston doing this. Even if the piston did hit the plug it would of broke the plug before it blew it out. And even if this all happened it would of ruined the threads in the head and the plug, then the plug wouldn't of be use again.

Chances are it wasn't installed tight enough to begin with and over time it loosened up. Once loose enough the compression of the engine pushed it out.

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Sunday, November 4th, 2007 AT 1:27 AM

BLACKOP555

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But would that describe the sparker being bent over on the end? Compression didnt do that! And im sure he didnt install it like that.

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Sunday, November 4th, 2007 AT 7:47 AM

GATORFTBL

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About the spark plug being closed on the end, don't forget that the plug did "ping-pong" up and down several times before being able to pull over and shut off the motor. It "ping-ponged" hard enough to dent the hood which in turn knocked my wiper squirter loose, as well. I just discovered that tid-bit today. So I think the bent end came from that since the threads are fine and the car is running great with the same spark plug. I am no expert and could be totally wrong but it does make sense that the plug worked its way loose over time and was spit out if it was not installed tight enough to begin with.

Blackop555 you recommended pulling the head. If the car is running fine since re-installing the spark plug, do you still recommend pulling the head and looking for damage? What happens if I choose not to?

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Sunday, November 4th, 2007 AT 3:24 PM

BMRFIXIT

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I don’t like to get involve in this.......
BUT
Your car is running fine !
Don’t worry and
don’t pull any thing !

It happen spark plugs become loose if they were installed incorrectly or left loose
So thank your lucky starts
double check the rest of the plugs
And happy driving

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Sunday, November 4th, 2007 AT 6:17 PM

BLACKOP555

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Im saying if it does give you problems you know where to look, it just I dont think it would fall out loosely and bounce around with that much pressure to cause the plug to close it on the end. But since its not striped I wouldnt be to worryed.

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Sunday, November 4th, 2007 AT 7:16 PM