Need Spark Pluh Help Please ASAP

[globe9]

I own a 1992 Protege DX(SOHC 1.6L). I am the original owner. About 2 years ago I brought my car to Firestone for a tuneup. I thought they did a good job until about 6months ago when I brought the car to a mechanic I had since become friends with who was going to do another tuneup. The spark plug on the far left(when looking at the engine from the front) was stripped. He had a mechanic who was working for him, tap a new hole. It rode fine for 6 months until last night when that spark plug blew out. He came to get it and began working on it today. He tried to put a heli <sp?> coil in it, but said it wouldn't work(He didn't try to remove the head). He told me I should get a new car since he couldn't think of anything else to do to try to fix it without having to send the engine to a machinist to fix the mistake Firestone made. Can anyone else please think of something that might work? I am a student and can not afford a new car. Other than this spark plug problem, the car runs fine and only has 110,000 miles on it. Please someone help me, I am desperate. I am a female and know my friend isn't trying to take advantage of my lack of car knowledge b/c he isn't charging me for labor...just parts.
Please help me!

 

[crispixoo7]

oh wow....that sucks major! i do my own "tune-ups" at home....


sorry i can't help ya.... (gossip)

 

[Salmon_Rob]

replace the head?

 

[RaiderMS3]

A Heli-Coil will work. I used to work on old vw bugs, and the plug threads would strip out after 20 or so years. So we would put in a Heli-Coil and it worked fine.

 

[globe9]

A Heli-Coil will work. I used to work on old vw bugs, and the plug threads would strip out after 20 or so years. So we would put in a Heli-Coil and it worked fine.

He was going to try a Heli-Coil, but he said you need to remove the head to do it right and let's face it, that's a lot of labor hours for a car that is only worth $1500 now. I'm at his shop now and he used a rethreader and put in the new spark plug with some "grip-tite" or something. I drove it around all over the Interstate and he looked at it and said it's in there tight. The only thing he said is that I'll probably never be able to get that spark plug out, so I guess I better start saving for another car, which kinda sucks. I really did like my little Protege and it never gave me any major problems in the 13 years I've been having it. Oh well, it's 13 years old...I guess it was going to be time for a new car sooner or later anyway. I'm gonna start looking for used cars soon.
Thanks all for your help and if anyone has any other suggestions, I'd appreciate it. I'm going to be paranoid driving around now that this spark plug may shoot out at any time.

 

[RaiderMS3]

He was going to try a Heli-Coil, but he said you need to remove the head to do it right and let's face it, that's a lot of labor hours for a car that is only worth $1500 now. I'm at his shop now and he used a rethreader and put in the new spark plug with some "grip-tite" or something. I drove it around all over the Interstate and he looked at it and said it's in there tight. The only thing he said is that I'll probably never be able to get that spark plug out, so I guess I better start saving for another car, which kinda sucks. I really did like my little Protege and it never gave me any major problems in the 13 years I've been having it. Oh well, it's 13 years old...I guess it was going to be time for a new car sooner or later anyway. I'm gonna start looking for used cars soon.
Thanks all for your help and if anyone has any other suggestions, I'd appreciate it. I'm going to be paranoid driving around now that this spark plug may shoot out at any time.

You do not have to take the head off to install a heli coil. It is easy to do, but if you are at all not sure how to do it, take it to a mechanic who does.