Date:         Tue, 30 Jun 1998 15:33:00 EDT
Reply-To:     SkyCruizer@AOL.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         Don Griffin <SkyCruizer@AOL.COM>
Subject:      ZOINKS!  Itsy bitsy Spark Plug pieces dancing in my engine?
Comments: To: vanagon@vanagon.com, type2@type2.com
Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII

Hey there Guys and Gals,

Well, I have a 2.0 AC stock 80 Vanagon Custom Camper that all of a sudden lost
power and is making this funny noise (like high pitched squeak that goes along
with rpms).  So, get home (not very far) and turn her off and go to the garage
to get out my of my tools to check out all the simple stuff like vacuum hoses,
coil, points, fuel lines, blah, blah, blah... OK! time to pull and check plugs
and run a compression check.  "Alrighty Then"#3,#4 little dirty but no wear so
I'll clean and regap til payday I'm thinkin. Then I'll do total tune up
replace plugs, cap, rotor, and so on.

Pull #2 and "Zoinks! Woah MAN! Looks kinda funky..."  The SIDE ELECTRODE is
missing!

OK! So that explains loss of power, funny noise and "The meaning of the
Universe"  Well, not totally.

Here are the ??????'s:
So, is there an EASY way to get this "Itsy bitsy piece o'plug outta my engine?
While "Dancing" around in dance hall #2 what kinda damage did it do.
Are my "Dance Hall Days" over :...(   ???
Any advice?--- Other than, "Oh, yeah... Ya might wanna replace that plug..."
Shougo
 HELP!

If anyone is curious, the plugs are "Bosch Super RO 271's" I've used "Bosch"
since I started driving and never had this happen.  I know they last forever
but I usually just regap them one time before I replace them but now I'm
starting to wonder... Does the regapping weaken the side electrode?  Yes, I'm
doing it properly I'm not banging it on the driveway to adjust the gap.  Dad
taught me right.  He was a "Dub" man himself.  BTW, these plugs where only
gapped when new so they haven't been bent repeatedly.

Also, I'm not using my regular computer so don't have the address for the "New
and Improved REALLY COOL Archives" here.  If someone would be so kind as to
supply me with that I would be eternally greatful...(I'll even GROVEL it need
be)

Well, thanks in advance for any advice and PITTY you al" send my way.