Spark plug keeps turning. I cannot get it out.

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Technical Discussion' started by bobby515, Aug 4, 2025 at 9:48 PM.

  1. bobby515

    bobby515 Member

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    Question: My generation free-spark plug? I cannot remove it. It just keeps turning.
    A little bit of background, before changing the head gasket, I did a cylinder leak-down test. That had an adapter on it. It seems the adapter got stuck in the spark plug hole.
    I look with my light. A camera light and seen, wow, the adapter came off.
    Went to the store, got an easy out and a tap. Came right out, I ran the tap, just a turn or two, and the spark plug the whole was fine.
    A few months later, I did a head gasket, and I had no problem with this cylinder.
    Fast forward this weekend, the plug keeps turning and turning.
    I got fatigued, and I said, You know what, I think this has been like this for a while. So I put the car back together with three new plugs start of the motor. I hear no compression leak. The car runs well.
    Drove it 140 miles yesterday.
    Use the car for work like a taxi cab. Any advice? I think the car is going to continue to run well.
    The option is to take the head off??. having it retapped. Or getting an extra head, I'm doing a swap.
    But if it runs good, I'll do that in the future before it gets cold two hundred and thirty-two thousand miles.
     
  2. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

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    Eventually, the plug hole will fail. What's keeping the plug seated is the coil pushing
    on it.
    You might be able to find a machine shop that could pull the plug out, and install a heli coil
    with out having to remove the head.

    But sooner or later, that plug and/or coil will fail.

     
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  3. bobby515

    bobby515 Member

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  4. bobby515

    bobby515 Member

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    Makes perfect sense. Never really thought about it. The coil kinda locks it down some.
    As far as a machine shop. You mean I can maybe find one who can get it out on the car.. kinda like a repair shop.??
    When it fails think the plug will blow out.
    How should I prepare. I have a feeling it may have been like this awhile.
     
  5. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

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    A repair shop might be able to do it, you'll have to ask them.
    Perhaps a shop that works on the Prius.

    How long will it last? No one really knows. My thoughts are the pressure will keep slamming
    the plug against the coil, will likely will eventually damage it, and you'll get codes and the engine
    will only be running on 3 cylinders.

    I would suggest you get it repairs as soon as possible.

     
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  6. bobby515

    bobby515 Member

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    There's a prius shop. Or a car or a guy that has a lot of prius's in the parking lot. I'll drive by and ask.
     
  7. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk MMX GEN III

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    I'd focus more on competent/diligent machine shops; there's nothing unique about the spark plugs or cylinder head on a Prius.
     
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  8. bobby515

    bobby515 Member

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    as you have been helping me all along with all the great info. I will try to find a machine shop and if they seem fair , I will remove the wiper covers and drop it off.
    Recap. While doing a cly pressure test last year. The cheap attachment that adapts the gauge to different cars. Got stuck in by accident.
    I brought a tap from the store..turned in in alittle . adapter came rt out. chased the first few cly head threads. was ok.
    did the head gasket. replaced the spark plug again. no problems.
    something went wrong somehow.
    i burn less that 1 qt of oil every 5k..i would think about swapping the head can do in 5 hours . but. this head is good. so machine shop it is.