Reconditioned Car engine (kilmarnock area)

Posted 20th Mar 2023

Hi all.
Can anyone recommend a company who deals with recon engines in Scotland. Long story short, sister in laws car broke down in Scotland so was towed to a local garage, she had to leave it there and return to Manchester. Garage with car diagnosis is spark plug has de threaded on the block. So needs to be re threaded, but they can’t do it. Just wondering if anyone had any recommendations?
Car is a Honda Jazz if helps.
Many thanks in advance if anyone can help.

22 Comments

sorted by

john184
20th Mar
There is a lot wrong with the way this question is posed but it raises concern about what you have been told and whether your sister is being ripped off.

Firstly, spark plugs aren't threaded into the block, they are threaded into the head. Even if the head was damaged you would not replace the engine, just the head.

I understand that everyone has different mechanical knowledge and this may just be crossed wires but as a non mechanic who has lost all faith in the mechanics in my area who are nothing more than conmen who wreck cars (long story), I would at least get a second opinion.

I have no experience with Honda Jazz engines but spark plugs don't typically damage their own threads without human intervention and secondly it seems strange that this would be the cause of the car breaking down in the first place (did it break in the rain?).

Also note there are things called helicoil which can repair (bodge fix) damaged threads although an undersized sparkplug would need fitted (not an issue as long as the probe length and heat rating is correct).

Also even removing the head and retapping an oversized thread is not a good reason to replace the engine with something of unknown quality.

Not an expert by any means but just pointing out some concerns.
Why_so_serious
20th Mar
Could it be that they knackered the plug by cross threading it when trying to fix it?
Mark_Hickman
20th Mar
You can get a used cylinder head off ebay pretty cheap, so long as the bores are in good condition should be good to stick on, pay a back street garage a few hundred rather than trying to replace engine, how does a spark plug thread suddenly get damaged whilst driving along ?
P_Bro77 Author
20th Mar
That’s what I’m confused about? Can’t see how it’s just gone bad. To be fair to garage that have the car they are saying they can’t fix it and suggested trying to get someone to strip it down to be rethredded or a recon maybe cheaper option. But they are not after the work. If that makes sense. Just she currently stuck with no car and not knowing who or how to repair
Deedie
21st Mar
where in scotland is the car, someone might be able to suggest an alternative local garage.
P_Bro77 Author
21st Mar
kilmarnock. Area. Added to post hopefully 🙏
slimy31
21st Mar
Personally I'd find a mobile mechanic who would be able to remove the head, take it to a machine shop to get it helicoiled, then refit the head. It won't be cheap (even removing the head is several hours of work and it makes sense to replace many components 'while they're in there'), but it's much better than just dropping in an unknown engine.

I'm not surprised it's beyond a garage's capability, they may be able to remove the head but may not have the expertise to drill the head, cut an oversized thread and fit the helicoil. If it's done properly the repair should allow a standard plug to be reused.
P_Bro77 Author
21st Mar
Thank you. She spoke with the garage last night. They have said they can strip it and send it away but they said they couldn’t guarantee it could be repaired, which has made her nervous about saying yes as she may have a bill and still no better off. I’m going to try call them today to see if I get any better answers
Pandamansays
21st Mar
I'd look into getting it transported home, then you can make a more informed decision.
Could be cheaper in the long run.
P_Bro77 Author
21st Mar
Was thinking the same but can just see ££££££ for asking for a tow from Scotland the Manchester
Timbonagasaki
21st Mar
What were the symptoms of the breakdown? If it's a four cylinder car it should be able to run on 3 cylinders. Unless the engine management system gets upset.
P_Bro77 Author
21st Mar
As I say wasn’t with my car myself. From what sister in law has said, very sluggish and sounded “like a tractor”, recovery guy initially said it was a spark plug that had failed. Towed to local garage who have said the plug has stripped.
Why_so_serious
21st Mar
Use a different breakdown provider to tow her home.
Use yours or another family members.
You might have to be imaginative with the truth but the way I see it there's no cheap honest way out of this.
P_Bro77 Author
21st Mar
That had also crossed my mind I go up and get imaginative. Know it’s expensive no matter what but just trying to help.
MonkeysUncle
21st Mar
It's usually the coils which fail, sparkplugs rarely just fail. They tend to degrade and give symptoms first like high mpg and sluggish acceleration or misfiring.

If it's the mk1 jazz they have 8 plugs.
P_Bro77 Author
21st Mar
Hi thanks for reply. 2013 so not sure about how many, just can’t think of how it has de threaded on its own. 😩
Christopher_ORourke
23rd Mar
Doesn’t matter if the spark plug exploded, shat itself, blew up. Nothing a spark plug can do would warrant an engine change.