I think I blew a cylinder...

In an earlier post I explained how I discovered one of my sparkplug cable caps wasn't fitting into the chamber anymore (sticks up about 1/2")
http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=2657073&goto=2657073 ('91 CRX dx - all stock)

...anyways, today I noticed small bumps on my hood. Kinda like a "reverse dent". Basically, it would seem the sparkplug cable cap (the part that fits into the chamber and the rubber cap that seals it up on top) was popped up with so much force it dented the hood!

From what little mechanical knowledge I have, I'm guessing the piston slammed up onto the sparkplug so hard it sent the cap flying. Did I blow a piston? What the hell could cause this to happen? I haven't had it checked yet, but I know there's damage in there since the sparkplug chamber is now shorter than it should be.

What really troubles me is that this car's in excellent shape. It's all stock, no mods, I drive "normal" (no racing, no red-lining), and it only has 138,000 miles on it. The timing belt was replaced 3 months ago along with a minor tune-up & inspection. Alternator was rebuilt about 6 weeks ago. It was shortly after that that the engine started making a "knocking" noise.

Am I right in thinking that only a timing belt problem can cause this? Maybe they did a shitty job adjusting it when it was replaced? If so, can I hold them responsible for the damage to the engine???

~RB

The only way the piston could hit the spark plug was if the rod broke and the piston went up that far(you would have noticed that). Did you check to see if the plug was tight?

Yeah my plugs work their way out sometimes.

what they said

sure u have the right plug in there? even if the timing belt was adjusted incorrectly it wouldnt hit the spark plug as the piston can only travel so far. with the "knocking" sound, u might have been outta oil and something jammed, fucked up and the rod snapped on one of the up strokes. it would be a good idea to rip the head off and find out because if that happened, its most likely u bent a valve too. when u get it apart, take some pictures :)

new engine.

put it back togather and tighten the plugs better this time. like get it snug and another turn or so . i dont rember i havnt messed with mine in like 3 months just get it tight

Welp, the lesson here (for me anyway) is that appearances can be deceiving.

Replaced the sparkplugs and cables. Everything now is A-OK.

Why a bump appeared on the hood? Could be cuz I left my damn flashlight inside! (DOHHHH!)

goodness gracious

the knock went away with new spark plugs and cables?

Yup... the knock went away. Apparently it wasn't a knock like mechanical parts, but a knock caused by air escaping past the spark plug...

Welp, the lesson here (for me anyway) is that appearances can be deceiving.

Replaced the sparkplugs and cables. Everything now is A-OK.

Why a bump appeared on the hood? Could be cuz I left my damn flashlight inside! (DOHHHH!)
AAAHAHAHAHAHAHA ...omg nice one
sorry but that just earned you the title AF's dumbass of the week (something we should start..lol) no hard feelings im just playin.

:lol2: well a cheap and easy fix is a good fix

yes :) very glad to hear it wasn't a serious or expensive problem :P and stay away from those flashlights!

Ahhhh a true noob. Its ok, atleast you learned, we all start somewhere. Good job fixing it!

that reminds me of a story. I work at a fairly large shop and one time one of our senior mechanics was doing some suspension work on a minivan and he finished it up and went home. Well the lady came back a little while later and said that the problem was fixed but now whenever she turned right there was a rubbing noise but when she turned left it was fine. Well I, being the closer, said that i'd look at it. When i pulled the wheel off the right side a mag light was wedged inbetween the fender liner and the control arm in such a way that it would rub when the wheel turned to the right. I pulled it out and told the customer that we'd fixed the problem and managed to give him a hard time about it ever since. The moral of the story is Light is a great thing when you are working on cars, the more light the better, just make sure that they are out of the way when you put the car back together.

i once left my titanium watch my wife brought me under the hood...was missing for a good while till i saw something dangling from underneath the front bumper...