# Spark plug possibly broke off in engine

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/spark-plug-possibly-broke-off-in-engine/165900>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** sparkplugs, f-150, engines, ford\
**Created:** [June 17, 2020, 3:47am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/spark-plug-possibly-broke-off-in-engine/165900 "2020-06-17T03:47:11Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![OnTheRoad645](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/82dd89/32.png) [@OnTheRoad645](https://community.cartalk.com/u/OnTheRoad645)\
**Post date:** [June 17, 2020, 3:47am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/spark-plug-possibly-broke-off-in-engine/165900/1 "2020-06-17T03:47:11Z")

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Hey all, driving back to Ohio from Georgia. 1994 f150 with 96,000 miles and haven’t had much trouble with it prior. At first I heard a minor clicking like noise in the highway, turned down my radio, then a minute later, heard a loud DDDDDDDDDDD and pulled over. As I pulled over the noise slowed down. Opened the hood and noticed a spark plug was broken off. The actual head was broke. I’m sleeping at a rest stop now, planning to change my spark plugs in the morning. But I’m wondering if that initial clicking sound was a piece of my spark plug in the engine. I really don’t know much about cars but have been researching this problem online. And it seems if part of the plug broke off into the engine, it’s a big problem.

 ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/8/1/8142d513e715469f70b0f78ea11d8c38914b7a33.jpeg)

Basically, it’s that initial clicking I heard which caused me to turn down the radio. If there was a piece broken into the engine, do you think I’d be able to hear it?

Thanks in advance

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**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\
**Post date:** [June 17, 2020, 3:51am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/spark-plug-possibly-broke-off-in-engine/165900/2 "2020-06-17T03:51:54Z")

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I have a feeling your spark plug actually blew out

If so, you’ll need to get some new threads in there . . . helicoil or timesert, for example

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**Author:** ![tcmichnorth](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tcmichnorth/32/25126_2.png) [@tcmichnorth](https://community.cartalk.com/u/tcmichnorth)\
**Post date:** [June 17, 2020, 9:52am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/spark-plug-possibly-broke-off-in-engine/165900/3 "2020-06-17T09:52:42Z")

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Some Ford’s with aluminum heads have this as a known problem. First a clicking sound is heard, then plug blows out. There is a TSB on it but no recalls.