Hey Guys,
I have a 2004 TL that had some ECU issues about two years ago, which caused the ignition coil to melt down into one of the tubes...dealership had my car for about a month trying to figure it out, which they finally did...A/C unit was dripping down onto the ECU...blah blah...they "fixed it" and it's been okay since.

Lets fast foward to last weekend. I was replacing my spark plugs when I noticed oil in one of the tubes. So, after reading this site, purchased the cylinder head gasket kit and began to tear into the project.

What I found was not good. The tube that was filled with oil had severe chunks broken around the top edge and you could tell that it was beaten with something. I assume that it was caused when they were digging the melted coil out of the tube. There was even damage on the head cover, which I have already ordered.

The issue is, even with the new head cover and new gaskets, the damage to the tube is so bad that I don't think it will make a good enough seal.

I saw a video online on how to remove the tubes, and replace them. Didn't seem too complicated, my only issue is finding the dang part!

Has anyone ever had to replace their Spark Plug Tube, and if so, where or how did you find the replacement.

I can post some pics of it if anyone is interested or needs more detail on the issue.

Thanks in advance! Looks like my Acura is going to be offline for a while.

 

Pics are always good.



Edit.

You don't mean the gaskets on the bottom of the Cylinder Head cover do you? Item #7 here: http://www.acuraautomotiveparts.org/...s=&view=normal

 

I will try to get some pics posted in a few...

No, not the gaskets, the actual metal tube itself is damaged.

 

I can't find anywhere in the SM or the parts list that shows that as a separate part.

 

Yeah, me either. I'm going to try to take it out, if I can, then I will just get a machine shop to make the part...or check with some junk yards. If I can't get the tube out, then I am going to have to replace the whole cylinder head anyways...which I'm not sure I can do. I will have to check on here for some instructions on that one. Thanks for looking.

 

To try and remove the tube, slide a socket inside the tube. You'll need a socket with an O.D just slightly smaller than the I.D of the tube, so try metric and SAE so as the socket slips inside the tube with minimal clearance. With an extension attached, slip the socket inside the tube and hold the socket at the top of the tube, then you'll be able to use channel locks or vice grips on the tube and not have the tube collapse. Not certain as to how tightly these are pressed into the head, but with a little luck, it can be removed. Just don't know where another can be purchased new, so used may be the way to go. Some cars that have the pressed in plug tubes actually will need to have them reinstalled as they work their way out, so hopefully it won't be too difficult to remove.

 

Not to rub salt into the wound, but you should had posted the issue here about your coil meltdown. We could had told you what was wrong with your car within a few minutes, not a month

1) Ignition coil melted (click here)

2) Car won't start: AC Froze up and now the PCM is full of water (click here)

3) Bad news - Water in PCM/ECU. Warranty advice? (click here)

4) Water Leaks into Control Box (click here)

5) Engine spitting, CEL on/flashing, bad vibration... (click here)

6) HELP! plugged a/c drain ruined the ECU (click here)

7) Car won't Start (click here)

8) A spiders nest cost me $5,000 in engine repair!!!!! (click here)

9) Computer failure b/c of AC unit - anyone have this happen? (click here)

 

Turbonut - I tried to get it out last night using that same method. No luck, that thing is in good. I'm going to try it again tonight when I get home. Any yeah, as for the part...still no luck finding it. I have found several used heads for $150 and up, I may just buy one and get it checked over at a local head shop before putting it in.

 

Inaccurate - Yeah, it happend right after I purchased the car and didn't know of this site. The car was under warranty and the dealership tried their best to get me to pay for it, but after pulling my car on a dolly through their sales parking lot a few times, they came around. However, they got me back by destroying that tube and the head cover area where that tube slides through. I would post some pics, but I have no idea how to get the pictures uploaded.

 

Not certain as to your location but take a look at:
www.car-part.com
Heads for a little as $75 if you need a tube. Pretty expensive for just the use of a tube, but better than pulling the head, as long as you can get the damaged tube out.

 

Has anyone on here ever pulled a head and replaced it on their own?

 

Here are the pics of the damaged spark plug tube. I will post pics of the damaged head cover where this tube slides through.

 

Try this: Get some dry ice, get the engine up to normal temp.
Take an old spark plug & break off the top of it (the porcelene), remove the spark plug from the head & install the broken one, pack the bad tube with the dry ice, wait couple of min. then see if you can break it loose with the method above.

 

Opel (click here) has multiple times. He was posted that he did it overnight once. Combine the TL's engine with the CT Supercharger running the High Boost Pulley = A lot of practice pulling the heads off of the engine.

 

Great idea, but as there is no way to isolate the surrounding area of the head, and with the head up to operating temp, I'd be concerned that with the introduction of the dry ice the head would crack.

 

Thanks Inaccurate, I will hit up Opel for some guidance on removing the rear cylinder head. I know i can do it, but I don't think I need to remove as many parts as the service manual says to remove.