n2hunters

Last week I heard a knocking type sound, it was brief, not everyday, and only when in park. Then when I started the car last Thursday, I heard a very loud pop and now it is making an awful noise, sounds like a lawn mower.

I admitt I really do not know anything about cars and lost my job 3 months ago, so money is tight. I can't drive it as it is running a little rough, making that noise, and has a faint gas smell. I don't want to watse money towing it to the dealership until I can get an idea of what is wrong.

Any help?

BraMas

kinda sounds like you might have blown out a spark plug?

n2hunters

If it was a spark plug, would I be able to see physical evidence?

MrTDR04

You should be able to but depending on the year you may have to take your coil pack off the plug first start with the two in the back next to your firewall. Those are the two most common to blow out on the 4.6L

n2hunters

Thank you so much for the reply. I dis find a tiny spring in the area of the furthest one back on the passenger side. Could that be part of a spark plug?

Sorry for all the questions and sounding lame, I honestly do not know much about it. I always take it somewhere, but that is not an option at this point.

BraMas

Sounds like a helicoil to me. the spark plug probably blew out in the past and it finally gave way again

TOMMY01GT

The spring is the conductor that hooks the plug to the Coil pack.

When I got my 01, the 3rd one from the front on the passengers side was blown out, I the boot was sticking up next to the coil pack with a mangled spring,

n2hunters

Thanks for all the advice to everyone. It was indeed a spark plug. But the problem is that the threads are stripped. I have looked at the TimeSert Kit and wonder if we could use it. The major hurdle is, it is the #3 plug and that happens to be a difficult area to reach.
Can we use this kit and not have to take apart anything? The video on their website was not helpful at all!

Alec

That was my vote

cliffyk

#3 is not that bad, you'll need to pull the fuel rail but if you release the pressure and wire tie the injectors to the rail (or just pull it all carefully) it can be moved out of the way leaving pretty good access the the #3 plug well...