Plug wire keeps popping up
 

my number 2 cylinders spark plug keeps popping out after driving. so i crimped the metal a little to make it hold tighter but it still pops up. its on a 1.5 L.

You probably have a bad valve cover gasket. If crankcase pressure is venting into the plug well, and the plug wire seals around the top of the valve cover, then the escaping pressure is blowing it out. Also, if there's oil in the plug well, that's a good sign of a bad valve cover gasket. If that stuff is all good, then maybe your spark plug isn't fully seated. Don't try to torque your spark plugs down on a hot head or you could strip the threads. Let it sit overnight first.

It just occurred to me that you have 3 different threads with problems on your car. To me, they all look related. Fix one, and the others will probably stop. The jerking will happen if you have a plug wire loose. The plug wire will blow out if you have a bad valve cover gasket, and your car will crank poorly if only 3/4 cylinders are firing.

Sounds like it's time for you to do a tune up.

I'm thinking valve cover gasket. there a little trace of oil on the spark plug boot. and i thought it seemed like there was pressure popping it out. i'll change it tomorrow. thanks

I hope you have stock or NGK spark plug wires. Also sometimes the spark plugs come loose, so tighten them. Also if it is your gasket change you spark plug grommets.

it's not the valve cover gasket per-se but the o-ring around the spark plug tube.

the grommets....

I have the same problem with my d16z6 but without the other symptoms jsrusse11 has. I'm swapping out the engine for an lsvtec in couple months so I'm not that worried about it but do you think this is a power robbing problem or something I sould be worried about in the next few months?

I had this problem too on my car. Its not a gasket or anything in my experience.
I took a rag and cleaned the tube where the plug cable goes into. Ever since then never happened again.

That o-ring for the plug well is part of the valve cover gasket set. The D-series valve cover gasket set comes with the obligitory valve cover gasket, 4 rubber bushings for the fasteners, 4 plug well gaskets, and a distributor o-ring. They're around $40 at most places.

Flyromeo3: what was in the plug well that needed to be cleaned out? :thinking: