02 Land Cruiser coil pack and spark plug melted

[cand lruiser100]

I started getting a flashing check engine for misfiring. Took out the plugs and coils and replaced all plugs and the one coil that has the coolant on it.

A week later got flashing engine light again with VSC Off VSC Trac lights as well. In the same place that the original plug that had coolant on it had a coil completely melted along with the spark plug. How screwed am I? Going to rethread the spot and put new spark plugs in. Already replaced all the other coils as well. Thanks!

 

[GTV]

Where did you source the coils/plugs?

 

[Les Summer]

check your coolant reservoir for steam or any sign of bubbles after getting the vehicle up to operating temperature, maybe after a short drive. If you see that in the reservoir, the bubbles or steam, stop where you are, and park the truck. Decide to cut losses or have a head gasket job done on the truck by a reputable shop that specializes in land cruiser's, like OTRAMM in Virginia.

Don't beat yourself up, a head gasket can go up in anything, even with good maintenance. It just happens. It's still a good truck, it probably just ran hot at some point, or had bad coolant in its lifespan, and time took the toll on it. I love my truck too, but I'm aware that any day it could be a head gasket, although I'd like to think it's uncommon, and the truck could go a half million miles without a head gasket going bad on it. I bought mine with 261k miles, so I just don't know how it's been treated.

Culprit is likely head gasket leaking. you didn't mention if you are overheating. Do you recall if the plug that had the melted coil was loose? this could be part of the issue too. If coolant on the plug was never addressed from the first time, as you mentioned, than I have no other reason to believe it is anything other than a leaking head gasket.

I would only recommend DENSO coils, or Hitachi is what I'm running, but I would not venture from those two options. lots of junk out there. Good luck, I hope everything works out for you one way or another. I only mention this, because theoretically a combination of bad things, perhaps to include using cheap aftermarket parts, could lead to a failed head gasket. Again, not your fault. These trucks trade hands a lot, and it takes more than the average man has the time or money for to base line a used Land Cruiser all at once.

 

[2001LC]

Head is damaged. The quest is: Are any cylinders damaged. Borescope!

 

[cand lruiser100]

Looks like my spark plug hole needs to be rethreaded. When I try to screw it in it never stops spinning as in there is no end to the hole. I’m assuming this was part of the problem. Thing is the heads on every one of these plug saver/thread taps takes a 19mm socket and that’s too wide to even fit into the spark plug/coil pack opening. Went to 4-5 different auto part stores and no luck they all take a 19mm socket.

Any ideas to suggestions for parts would be greatly appreciated.

 

[3_puppies]

my WAG is you need a thread repair, heli coil, time sert, etc, trying to rethread the hole isn't going to work

 

[cand lruiser100]

my WAG is you need a thread repair, heli coil, time sert, etc, trying to rethread the hole isn't going to work

Took 2 days and visiting like 8 different auto parts store to find a rethread kit that didn’t need a 19mm socket. This one needs a 16mm and easily fits unit he coil/plug hole.

Added grease to the rethread tool to pick up the shavings and tape to the socket so that it goes into the coil/plug hole without moving around. This ensures I create the new threads straight.

Here’s what it looked like after removing the tool out of the spark plug opening. Not pictured here is me putting the heli coil on the new spark plug and tightening it in. I’ll drive it for a few days and remove the coil and plug to verify everything still looks ok. Fingers crossed everything is fine after this.

 

[zoomzoom913]

Hey @

View attachment 3671820
Took 2 days and visiting like 8 different auto parts store to find a rethread kit that didn’t need a 19mm socket. This one needs a 16mm and easily fits unit he coil/plug hole.

View attachment 3671825
Added grease to the rethread tool to pick up the shavings and tape to the socket so that it goes into the coil/plug hole without moving around. This ensures I create the new threads straight.

View attachment 3671828
Here’s what it looked like after removing the tool out of the spark plug opening. Not pictured here is me putting the heli coil on the new spark plug and tightening it in. I’ll drive it for a few days and remove the coil and plug to verify everything still looks ok. Fingers crossed everything is fine after this.
View attachment 3671829
View attachment 3671830

Hey how did this turn out? I have the same situation and trying to decide what to do.

 

[excessive]

was the spark plug "loose" the first time? I wonder if that is what cause the original problem

 

[cand lruiser100]

Yeah, when I originally changed the spark plug it was loose. It seemed that the threads were bad and that’s what caused it. Me being a noob I just put it in and hoped for the best. Luckily once I rethreaded it and put in a new one it’s been running without issues. Just crossed 317k on it.