Spark Plugs

Hello, I just now tried taking out the spark plugs on the engine, but my wrench got stuck inside, its loose but even pliers don't seem to get it out, i tried hooking the wrench back up and tighten it a little to see if it would work but nope. any suggestions? thank you

just what kind of wrench are you talking about? Is it a spark plug socket? U plug socket wprks well for removing spark plugs, but I use a regular deepwell for putting them back in. If you have a socket stuck, you should be able to remove the plug completely and pull the socket off.

By chance, is it a 1991-1996 Escort with a 1.9L engine and the left most spark plug?

Grab it with vice grips or why not take the plug back out?

Well my problem is it doesn't come out with the spark plug, my dad was helping me out and i think he made a mistake and gave me the wrong socket size. When i loosen it all the way it still doesn't come out. The only thing i could guess is the wrong size. And zzyzzx2 its a 1.8l and it did this with two of the plugs, luckily i got one out lol.
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this really isn't making sense to me... if the socket is on the plug and is loose, then they should both pull right out together.
If they are not coming out then I would think that your plug is damaged somehow and something is physically preventing it from coming out of the head.
If it is a plug socket that was used, it is fitted such that it will sit snugly on the plug for easy removal.... you need to figure out what is obstructing the plug and preventing it from coming out.

Thats what im not getting. im trying everything to figure out why they dont just come out. I tried yanking them out with needle nose pliers but all it does is wiggle them around.

If you are certain that the plug is completely loosened past all the threads and it still won't come out, then something internally has to be holding it in.

Personally, if it were me, I would go ahead and pull the head and have a look inside. You might be able to wiggle it out, but there might be an internal problem that you are unaware of, and part of the plug might also break off inside the cylinder.

Has the car overheated at all?

Anyway... it is more work and more money, but I would be curious enough to yank the head, and it is old enough that it might be ready for a valve job anyway.

Well I actually just got this car and I am fixing it up, the previous owner just had it sitting for about a year, and i have to change the brake lines, give it an oil change, and pull those spark plugs. I was just looking at it and the wrong size socket was used, it was bigger than it should be. Since i got the other plugs out i looked back at the one that was stuck, and its not unscrewed all the way, just a little bit, but no matter how much i try to loosen it with the bigger socket thats stuck in there nothing happens, I'm surprised it was even loosened a little bit and cant loosen anymore.

Try vice grips.

Try vice grips.

I would but vice grips will not fit in that hole, also the socket is pretty close to the circumference of the hole the plug is in. basically the only thing that fits in the hole is the wrench, and pliers lol. Thank you

form a hook with a wire coat hanger and pull the socket out.

form a hook with a wire coat hanger and pull the socket out.

:biggrin:Basically what I did, I finally got it, with a dentist tooth scraper, and pliers. Thank you all for your great help!

Some newer Fords use a 5/8 inch spark plug socket. Some use a 9/16 inch socket. Did you use a 13/16 inch socket. Use a 6 point deep well socket. You may have to use a hammer and tap it on if you rounded the edges. I use a 3/8 inch drive with an extension.

Some newer Fords use a 5/8 inch spark plug socket. Some use a 9/16 inch socket. Did you use a 13/16 inch socket. Use a 6 point deep well socket. You may have to use a hammer and tap it on if you rounded the edges. I use a 3/8 inch drive with an extension.

I beleive it was 11/16 but i know better from now on:)

For those Escort heads......Happiness is having a 5/8" deep socket, 6 point, that has a fairly thin wall. Then there are some 3/8" drive extensions that have a more robust retaining 'button' than others, and are more likely to bring the socket out with them. I unscrew the plugs with the 5/8th socket, then remove the socket & pull them out with an extra long pair of needle nose pliers.

I just bought a 95 Hatchback 1.9 and pulled one of the plugs just to take a look and it was a bit difficult coming out. When I looked at the threads on the plug they looked like they were slightly bent over. Was afraid I was gonna pull the threads in the head but the plug went back in OK. Put some anti-sieze on it first. Any ideas why that may have been the case? :confused:

By chance, is it a 1991-1996 Escort with a 1.9L engine and the left most spark plug?

Is there something special about the left plug on the 1.9? :confused:

Is there something special about the left plug on the 1.9? :confused:

The plug itself, no. It's just really hard to get to so I could see someone having trouble getting the socket out or otherwise having lots of trouble with it. Of course, if you don't have A/C and remove the alternator, then it's just as easy to get to as the other three.

I get to that plug quite easily with a long 3/8ths drive extension. A plug socket will grip the plug and pull it right out and a regular deepwell will put it right back in without getting stuck.

Thanks guys. :smile:

I get to that plug quite easily with a long 3/8ths drive extension. A plug socket will grip the plug and pull it right out and a regular deepwell will put it right back in without getting stuck.

I'll have to remember to use a regular deepwell next time I put that one in. Getting the socket out was the worst part.

For the one who was worried about the plug going in use one of these.
http://www.autopart.com/tools/toolsmain/tool/T_2360.htm This is a picture of one. Use search for 2361 for the other size. These are available at most parts stores. I keep two sizes of them. Always coat with greese before using.
For this application use the small size. because of axcess requirements.
If the plug doesn't go in by hand don't force it use one of these.

This tool won't drop shavings or anything down on top of the pistons will it? Which one of the tools do I need? The 2360 or 2361? Thanks for the suggestion! :smile:

I would use the one in the link 10mmx14mm. The greese catches most of any shavings. This isn't tapping it straightens the threads and cleans them. I only use it if the plug doesn't start. On a Ford Triton my friend gets around $1000.00 to tap and install a sleeve. This includes R&R of the head. Can you
imagine going to the garage and for a deformed thread they quote you this much when all you had budgeted was a $200.00. The garage owner might not get paid as they don't have the money. I use them on my own vehicles and I never had a problem. I got a used car and I cleaned it up and kept it for 4 or 5 years. It rusted out never used oil.