7th Generation Civic 2001 - 2005 In the years from 2001 to 2005 Honda released it's 7th Generation Civic.
Chassis codes: EM2, ES1, EP3, EU1

spark plug tubes/ rounded spark plug

 
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Old Apr 28, 2018
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spark plug tubes/ rounded spark plug

I bought my daughter a 2005 Honda civic , I changed 2 of the spark plugs but 2 are rounded and cant get out. was wondering , I bought an Irwin extractor socket for grabbing rounded nuts, but is to thick to fit down in spark plug tube. are the spark plug tubes easy to come out once valve cover is off? I see no information on the internet at all on taking off 7th generation civic spark plug tubes. no videos or written mention. are they removable?
Old Apr 29, 2018
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Re: spark plug tubes/ rounded spark plug

spark plug tubes

are they removable?
IMO no.


I don't think I've ever seen anyone booger a spark plug hex that way.
Old Apr 29, 2018
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Re: spark plug tubes/ rounded spark plug

Can you grind the socket down or would it remove to much material?
Old Apr 29, 2018
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Re: spark plug tubes/ rounded spark plug

Originally Posted by ezone
I don't think I've ever seen anyone booger a spark plug hex that way.
How stuck are the spark plug threads to strip the plug's hex nut?
Wouldn't be surprised if the engine has coolant leaking into those two cylinders and the car sat for a few weeks without being used..which caused rust to the spark plug threads. Either that or a severe over-heat condition that binded the threads. Just my guess.

OP: have you tried fitting the nearest size standard (not metric) socket onto what's left of the hex nut?
Try finding the closest fit standard socket and carefully tapping down with a hammer if needed.
You may want soak the to plugs/threads with PB blaster overnight first to possibly help if the threads are rusted or a previous installer cross-threaded them.

Last edited by Wankenstein; Apr 29, 2018 at 01:36 AM.
Old Apr 29, 2018
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Re: spark plug tubes/ rounded spark plug

the car car has 200000 miles and who ever had last rounded off , just wondering about the spark plug tubes if they come out. many other types of cars you can take tubes out and reinsert tap in with hammer , wood and sealant, what about this Honda?

I thought about cracking the spark plug porcelain, drilling into plug and then backing out, but was looking for a simpler way.

car runs fine, but thought it would do just a little better with new plugs, couldn't get a smaller socket to grab on

I will try the pb blaster but not sure if anything can grab it
Old Apr 29, 2018
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Re: spark plug tubes/ rounded spark plug

Originally Posted by ezone
IMO no.


I don't think I've ever seen anyone booger a spark plug hex that way.
I haven't either, I will try and take pic when I get a chance
Old Apr 29, 2018
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Re: spark plug tubes/ rounded spark plug

Originally Posted by GolNat
Can you grind the socket down or would it remove to much material?
would be pretty hard it is the 11/16 and pretty solid/wide the smaller sockets are much more narrow
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Old Apr 29, 2018
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Re: spark plug tubes/ rounded spark plug

If it's running fine just leave it alone then approach it during impending head gasket replacement within the next 50k miles. Afterall, it's is a Civic..lol.
Old May 1, 2018
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Re: spark plug tubes/ rounded spark plug

Originally Posted by CBAILEY IN GA

I thought about cracking the spark plug porcelain, drilling into plug and then backing out, but was looking for a simpler way.
then if you do get the plug out, all that crap will fall into the cylinder

car runs fine
i would leave them alone then,

plugs in these cars could last the lifetime of the car
Old May 1, 2018
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Re: spark plug tubes/ rounded spark plug

Sounds like excellent advice all around.

When I did a compression test the adapter to the compression tester remained in the head when the hose was unscrewed. It would not come out no matter how many times or how tight I screwed the hose in. The adapter was probably only getting tighter each time. The fitting on the adapter was 11/16" and a 11/16" socket wouldn't fit in the spark plug tube.
I guess this is the sort of thing that happens to novices (like me).
After a few moments of panic I decided to try to grind a 11/16" socket down. Hated to sacrifice a socket but it worked. Lesson learned: make sure that adapter is very snug on the tester hose before it goes in the tube.
If worse came to worse and those rounded spark plugs had to come out, I would try grinding down an extractor socket... but only if absolute necessary. Good luck!
Old May 8, 2018
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Re: spark plug tubes/ rounded spark plug

Originally Posted by GentleBen
When I did a compression test the adapter to the compression tester remained in the head when the hose was unscrewed. It would not come out no matter how many times or how tight I screwed the hose in
Let me guess: you purchased the compression tester from Harbor Freight?. If so, the same thing happened to me and it took me a bit to work the adapter out chopstick style with two flathead screwdrivers on opposing sides of stuck adapter. I used a tie rod as a horizontal pry to spin screwdrivers.

After I removed the adapter I reinstalled it on the tester lead with a bench vice and channel lock to get it as tight as possible without bending it out of place. Prior to tightening I added blue thread locker to the threads. Usedd it several times since without issue. Also, I use a thin coat of oil on the threads before inserting into spark plugs holes + screw down without over tightening.
Old May 8, 2018
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Re: spark plug tubes/ rounded spark plug

"Chopstick style."
Necessity is the mother of invention.

It has been many years ago but I believe the compression tester was purchased at a parts store. Anyway the fault was mine for not tightening the adapter sufficiently. That only happened once. "If you're gonna be dumb you better be tough" (or get used to living with frustration)!

Thin coating of oil on the threads...indeed.

Didn't think about thread lock...but anything that will prevent that adapter from escaping is fine with me.
Although, I still have that ground down socket. Just in case.
 
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