For my gearhead enthusiasts.....the importance of putting it in the hole properly

Just so you know, a "gearhead" is a term of endearment for people interested in cars/racing etc. And "putting it in the hole properly" refers to a story I'm going to tell about spark plugs. So, any of you perverts who thought you were getting a weirdo confession by me, then no such luck. I do think you'll find the story entertaining, as well as informative.

And speaking of informative, once again, the Internet comes thru as the single source of information. Misinformation that it is. I swear there is more written about any topic that is incorrect than it is correct....anyway, let's move on.

Last week, my ever faithful steed, my workhorse that has carried me over hill and dale, my companion for over 13 years, well, she threw a shoe. She must have stumbled over something but we hobbled back to the house, with first stopping at Autozone to diagnose the ailment.

I could have gone home to get my own evaluation kit, an OBD Code Reader but I'm too cheap to buy one.

(Hmm, methinks I might be losing some of you with this story. Nonetheless, I'll continue)

Anyway, a OBD Code Reader is one of those little devices you can plug into your car too see what is wrong with it, or at least what the error codes are telling you.......ugh, now I know I am losing more readers...

Anyway, it said my #3 cylinder wasn't firing. Which meant 3 options. Either a new spark plug, a new wire or perhaps a coil pack. (For you real old timers this is what we kinda used to call a distributor). Period.

Well, two things. I haven't kept a car long enough in my last 55 years that I needed to replace the spark plugs but I have always loved working on cars.

So, I get new plugs and new wires. I do a little Youtube viewing to refresh my thoughts and I proceed.

Dang it. For some reason my 5/8 socket is missing. This is what is needed to remove the plug. I head over to a neighbors house who has all the tools in the world and borrow a socket.

Dang it. For some reason my extension is missing. Hell, it's probably attached to my 5/8 socket. So, back to my neighbors house.

The plugs come out. Yep, they are really worn. The wires come off. Yep. They are really worn. I put in   new plugs one at a time. Except when I get to #4, which is right up next to the firewall (WHY AM I WRITING THIS? I DOUBT ANYONE I KNOW HAS ANY IDEA WHAT A FIREWALL IS!!!) So as I put it in the #4 plug I get the dang thing cross-threaded. I take it out. I put it back in. I take it out. Back in. Out. In. Out. In. The final time I very, very carefully put it back in. Crap. Still cross threaded.

I guess it's time to limp down to one of the best mechanic shops in Richardson and pay the price. Well, they said it would be 3:00 pm before they could look at it. I'm thinking, "Heck, that gives me a couple of hours to keep trying to fix it". So I go back home. Take it out. Put it in. Out. In.Out In.

What's that definition about "If you keep doing the same thing over and over again and expect different results, that's insanity". Well, have me committed then.

I'll go ahead and end now just for the sake of the one last final true gearhead who is still reading this.

The #4 plug is still cross threaded. BUT, it's in there nice and tight. No compression loss. And should be safe. The mechanic did put in a new coil pack, which was the reason why it was still misfiring after the new plugs and wires and not the cross threaded #4. I had priced one and it was $60.00 They did it for a total of $105.00 for parts AND labor.

My steed runs like she did as a young colt. Everything is fine, except my pride.

Just like I have decided to no longer get on a ladder and climb to the top of our steep roof, I think the time has come for me to put away my sockets. I deserve to rest.

Oh, I did find my 5/8 socket and yes, it was attached to my extension. And yes, I also found my gap gauge (you gearheads know what I mean) that I haven't used in 55 years. I had used a plastic credit card which is pretty close to the gap I needed, by the way. Although, here again, the Internet said nowadays plugs come pre-gapped. Well, some do, some don't.

All in all. I guess it was a success and it gave me yet another story to tell.

VROOM!!