Re: plug wire problem

["Craig Squier" <craigsquier@earthlink.net>]

> Date: Sat, 2 Mar 2002 19:45:52 -0800
> From: "jeff" <jjm@attbi.com>
> Subject: plug wire problem
>
> About a month ago I changed the plugs on my 98 GLX.  Ever since then, the
wire on
> plug #4 keeps popping off the plug.  I'll put it back on, snap it on
tight, drive
> the car, it comes off, the car drives like crap and the engine warning
light comes
> on.  Then I repeat the whole thing over again.  This has happened
repeatedly, and
> only on the one plug.  Anyone have any ideas?

This sounds like an EEK! to me. What is likely happening is that the plug
itself is not
tight, is crossthreaded, or actually broken somehow. Cylinder combustion
gases are probably
escaping through threads (if loose or crossthreaded) or the ceramic part of
the plug somehow
(broken maybe) and "popping" off the plug wire. Pull plug and check the
threads, make sure
it screws down straight. Use a little mirror thingy or a lightscope to check
the head threads.
If they are crossthreaded, then get a heli-coil kit to fix the head. It may
be that the plug
is just not all the way tight. Use a torque wrench to make sure. Try
replacing
the questionable plug with a new one. If the problem persists, then prolly
crossthreaded.
Or swap the ? plug into another cylinder and see if the problem migrates to
the new
cylinder, if so, then the plug itself is the cause.

Just pray to the VW gods that the head is not x-threaded. If it is, the
heli-coil will solve it,
but be prepared for mucho pain with the daily knowledge that the repair is
there.
Also, you gotta be incredibly careful to not let chips from installing the
heli-coil from
getting into the cylinder/combustion chamber. These will cause motor
destruction
pretty quickly.


> Also, the rear bumper on the left side, right behind the passenger door,
is coming
> off.  It's hanging down about an inch or so, but I see no way to reattach
it.
> There's a clip that clips on the wheel well, but that's not holding.  I'd
like to
> get it fixed soon before the whole damn thing comes off.  Any suggestions
are
> appreciated.

Get a Bentley manual. Look to ee how the bumper attaches. There are clips
that
hold the bumper cover onto the body. There are also some little plastic
push-widget things. The widgets fall out alot. You can get new ones from the
dealer. If you cant get it to stay, then tak the whole cover off and look at
the
clips, some may be broken/damaged/missing. You can get replacements from the
dealer. If one of the clips in the middle is bad, you normally dont notice,
but a bad
one on the end will result in the droopiness.

Good Luck!
-Cabby
95 GLX