So, my friend's boyfriend was going to do a tune up on my car a couple hours ago. He's an idiot and totally messed up! The bolt on the wrench got stuck in the socket where the spark plug is and he couldn't get it out so I have up wait until tomorrow. He said it would be fine to just drive home and to auto zone in the morning, that it's going to sound funny, it won't be damaging my engine. It started shaking as soon as I pulled off, the engine light turned on, and when I parked at home it smelled like something was burning. I'm just scared that I messed up my engine driving it like that at all. He said that it is just doing that because it's running on three spark plugs, but I'm really freaked out about it. Do you think I messed it up driving like that?*Or did it do these things because of the reasons stated above? All was well before this. I drove maybe 2-3 miles home and am going straight to the mechanic in the morning. About a mile away.

My car is a 1996 Honda Accord 4 Cylinder, no vTech engine. 177, 000 miles. Well maintained!! I am just trying to get a little peace of mind before bed.

Thanks in advance. :''''(

 

Have to*** wait until tomorrow

 

I don't get what you mean by the bolt got stuck on the wrench where the spark plug was? Why would you listen to him? And even if you don't know anything about cars why didn't you stop driving it when the cel came on and started shaking? You possibly could of messed something up but you should be fine just don't start it again until you fix it.

 

The wrench used to take the spark plugs off...there's a bolt (I'm probably not using the right term) that got stuck on top of the spark plug.

 

Bolt on top of the wrech

 

Uhh you can't use a wrench to take out the spark plug and there no bolt involved but I guess that's besides the point since you were just asking if you damaged your car by driving it. But if you want to be more clear on what he messed up someone here might have a solution to your fix since the guy that worked on it obviously didn't

 

Whatever the tool is that is used unscrewing the spark plugs!!!!

 

There are tips and extensions that can be interchanged

 

I said I don't know what it's called

 

He wasn't able to pull the spark plug socket out, so the car is running on 3 cylinders instead of four. He need to use a better quality extension and push it on the socket to pull it out. Should be an easy fix with quality tools, not cheap tools.

 

For example,



The part on the left is down in the spark plug tube and will need a better quality extension shaft to remove it. The small ball you see is what holds onto the socket.

 

Thank you. I'm not planning on letting him touch it again. I just want to let a mechanic get it off. Do you think the car will be okay and will it be okay to take the short drive to the shop in the morning?

 

Yes that's exactly what is stuck in there!!! And a better extension is exactly what's needed to get it off.

 

He probably used a regular socket instead of a spark plug socket which is why its stuck in the first place.

 

Is my car going to be okay? That's what I really wanted to know.

 

You probably just through a code for misfire. What you can do is put the socket back on it and just wiggle a lil and it should pop off the spark plug. I don't really see what other damage you could have caused. It's not good to run on three cylinders but i don't really think it's going to cause any major damage.

Just need to pull the code to see wut it's throwing. Did it smell like fuel ?

 

The socket is still in there....

 

The easiest fix is to pull the spark plug back out, remove the plug from the socket and use the correct socket/extension/ratchet to reinstall. A little bit of lubrication on the rubber grommet inside of the spark plug socket should be all that is needed.

I hope he did not use the wrong size socket or overtighten the spark plug. Not sure why he would allow you to drive it that way since it is a fairly simple fix.

Good luck, I hope you find someone who can fix it for you. Driving on 3 cylinders for a short distance will not harm the engine as long as the plug is still installed. That is also what is causing the check engine light. As far as smelling something burning, I have no idea what that could be unless the loose plug wire is laying on the manifold.

 

I'm at the shop now. It died as I was pulling in. *phew* At least it made it here. I'm assuming it died because the juice from the other 3 plugs wore out. He simply couldn't get it off, which is why I had no choice but to drive it at least home for the night and to my mechanic. We tried using a tool with a magnet on it to pull it off, but that didn't work either. I learned my lesson, obviously, and no one will touch it other than my mechanic again. The rubber cover (the wire I'm guessing) wasn't in all the way. It wouldn't fit because of the socket in the way. Maybe that is whatade the strange smell.

 

What made*

 

I am wondering if the socket got stuck on the plug, typically you need a good quality spark plug socket it has rubber washer to grab the plug, also a locking extension is best so it doesn't slip off.

As for driving on 3 cyl not ideal just don't make a habit of it.

 

It's most likely her friend's bf doesn't have a whole lot of experience and may be using cheap tools. Even if the spark plug was stuck on the socket, he could have loosen the spark plug back then pull out both plug and socket. A quality extension and a little wiggle will usually get the socket loose without removing the plug while it is still tighten inside the cylinder head.