Thread Repair Advice - Automotive Repair Articles by a Master Auto Tech

WiseAutoTools.com © Summary: How to fix stripped threads - SOLVED. Do's and Don'ts, we've done the research. Repair threads by installing a solid bushing type repair insert. This resource page contains FAQ videos and links to our car, light truck and motorcycle aluminum thread repair articles which have helped save our customers save thousands of dollars over the years. Articles are written by Dennis Bandy, a Master Automotive Tech which has had many years of experience working as a flat rate automotive technician. He has also been answering "how to" questions and helping our customers purchase the best thread repair kits for specific applications since 2005. For more information see the articles below or give Dennis a call at 800-734-8665 or fill out our  contact us page for assistance in selecting a repair kit that's right for your particular situation. Please include details of what you're working on like first or second time repair, type of threads, year, make, model and size engine. FYI - The video playlist below is a series of 11 videos that will play all of the videos after selecting play once.  

                                         Spark Plug Thread Repair

• What causes a spark plug to blow out? (How do you fix blown out spark plugs?)

  WiseAutoTools.com © Summary: In this article we cover a common questions about Ford spark plug blowouts. What causes spark plug blowouts? Why did my spark plug shoot out? What caused my spark plug th ...

• Calvan 39300 3V Spark Plug Thread Repair Components (How to fix/repair 3V spark plug threads.)

  DennisB WiseAutoTools.com © Summary: Parts and tooling that’s included in the Calvan 39300 or ATD-5410 3V spark plug thread repair kit for M16x1.5 3-Valve engines and basics on how it’s used to ...

• Ford Spark Plug Blow Out – Solved (Best kits to repair blown out spark plug threads.)

  WiseAutoTools.com © Summary: This is one of our more extensive articles on spark plug thread repair. If you need answers fast to get a vehicle up and running quickly we understand. No time to re ...

• Dorman Cylinder Head - Spark Plug Thread Repair Kit Fail? (How to fix threads after a Dorman fails.)

  WiseAutoTools.com © Summary: Help is here for cases where the Dorman Cylinder Head Repair has failed and has made the spark plug hole too big to fix with a parts store kit. We get calls frequently fr ...

• Ford Spark Plug Blowout FAQ’s – Common Questions (How to repair Ford sparkplug threads.)

  DennisB WiseAutoTools.com © Summary: We’ve been selling spark plug thread repair kits for many years to vehicle owners and repair shops for Ford spark plug blowout repair. We answer frequently asked ...

• Harley Davidson Spark Plug Thread Repair – How to Fix (How to fix a Harley's sparkplug threads.)

  DennisB WiseAutoTools.com © Summary: In this article we cover motorcycle spark plug thread repair using the best kits available. Harley Davidson spark plug thread repair as well as other motorcycles ...

• Spark Plug Thread Repair Do’s and Don'ts (How to fix sparkplug threads right.)

  DennisB WiseAutoTools.com © Summary: Part of our ongoing effort to help make spark plug threads great again. Seriously, we specialize in thread repairs and this is a brief article on do's and don'ts ...

• Ford E350 Spark Plug Blowout – Which Kit is Best? (How to fix sparkplug threads in a van.)

  DennisB WiseAutoTools.com © Summary: Recent question from our customer regarding the correct spark plug thread repair kit for his Ford E350 van. Vans are harder to access when working on the spark pl ...

• Ford 3V Spark Plug Threading and Removal Application (How to repair Ford 3V sparkplug threads.)

  The following Ford vehicles have 3V engines that are prone to having spark plug problems. Typically the OE design spark plug may break when trying to do a regular spark plug change for maintenance or ...

• MTN-9201 Spark Plug Insert – Measurements & Info (How big is a Mountain 9201 spark plug insert?)

  Information on the Mountain 9200 kit and measurements of the MTN-9201 replacement spark plug thread insert. Yes, we sell the MTN-9201. It’s a replacement spark ...

• Spark Plug Threads Damaged or Stripped – Repair Kits FAQ’s (How to repair stripped threads for a spark plug.) This auto repair article is on commonly asked questions about spark plug thread repair on Ford, Dodge, Mazda, motorcycles and really just about any application. W ...

• Spark Plug Threads Damaged or Stripped – Repair Kits FAQ’s (Answer to frequently asked spark plug thread repair questions.) This auto repair article is on commonly asked questions about spark plug thread repair on Ford, Dodge, Mazda, motorcycles and really just about any application. W ...
• Ford’s Last Chance Triple Over Size Spark Plug Thread Repair (How to repair a very large sparkplug hole, with video.) Ford spark plug thread repair question about an oversized thread repair insert failing and now the spark plug hole that needs to be repaired is even larger. Faced ...

• Ford Spark Plug Thread Repair Tool Kits (Which vehicles have failed sparkplugs more often? Ford’s are by far the vehicle that has the worst track record when blowing spark plugs out due to failed aluminum threads. This repair article is written by a Master Auto Tech ...
• Calvan 38900 Application FAQ’s – Ford Sparkplug Thread Repair (Does the Calvan 38900 work 2004 Fords?)

  DennisB WiseAutoTools.com © Summary: The Calvan 38900 M14x1.25 taper seat spark plug thread repair kit, which is also sold under different labels, works on many Ford SOHC 4.6, 5.4 and 6.8 Liter engine ...

• 2001 and up Ford Problem Cylinder Heads (How to identify Romeo cylinder heads.)

  Some Ford cylinder heads have an extra "step shaped" material above the spark plug hole. Since the 55518 counter bore tool is included in the 5553 and 5600 kits; we recommend these two kits for 2001 ...

• Calvan 38900 Contents (Spark Plug)

  WiseAutoTools.com © Summary: The Calvan 38900 Ford spark plug thread repair kit has the tools needed to repair many 1996 and up SOHC 2-Valve 4.6, 5.4 and 6.8 Liter Ford engines. We identify all the c ...

• Which Thread Repair Kit to use when a SAV-A-THREAD Fails? (Spark Plug)

  DennisB WiseAutoTools.com © Summary: You guessed it we are talking about Ford spark plug blowouts once again. A recent customer with a 5.4 Liter in a 2004 Ford Expedition has experienced a SAV-A-THRE ...

• What’s the Difference in Time-Sert 4412 and 4412E? (Spark Plug)

  DennisB WiseAutoTools.com © Summary: Brief description of two common Time Sert kits and when they should and when they should not be used. Time Sert 4412 and 4412E are both M14x1.25 spark plug thread ...

• Time-Sert or Heli-coil? (General Thread Repair)

  DennisB WiseAutoTools.com © Summary: Time-Sert or Heli-coil? We answer this question a lot. In fact many of our customers call asking for a Helicoil kit. Helicoil is a brand name that’s synonymous w ...

• TIME-SERT 5553 Not Big Enough? – See our 5588 Add-On Kit (Spark Plug)

  DennisB WiseAutoTools.com © Summary: Information on getting an add-on kit for the Time Sert 5553 kit to allow it to do larger diameter repairs when other repairs have failed leaving the hole too big ...

• Big, Bigger, Biggest Thread Repair (Spark Plug Thread Repair)

  DennisB WiseAutoTools.com © Summary: We cover three of the best oversize Ford spark plug thread repair kits kits available today. See the YouTube video below at the bottom of the article which is bas ...

• Calvan 38900 VS Time Sert 5553 – What’s the difference? (Spark Plug)

  DennisB WiseAutoTools.com © Summary: In this article we cover a common question that we receive on the phone and in email inquiries. What’s the difference between the Calvan 38900 and the Time S ...

• Ford Fusion 1.6 Spark Plug Thread Repair M14x1.25 (Spark Plug)

  DennisB WiseAutoTools.com © Summary: This article covers the correct spark plug thread repair kit to use when a 2013 to 2020 Ford Fusion with a 1.6 Liter engine has failed spark plug threads. A ...

• Measuring a spark plug to determine repair insert size - Help with stripped sparkplug threads (Thread Repair) WiseAutoTools.com © Summary: We cover how to check the spark plug size, to help determine which is the correct repair insert for fixing stripped spark plug threads. We explain how to measure the diameter ...

                                  Head Bolt Thread Repair

Toyota Camry 2.4 Head Bolt Hole Thread Repair – Time Sert FAQ’s (How to fix Toyota head bolt threads) DennisB WiseAutoTools.com © Summary: Toyota Camry with the 2.4 four cylinder engine has a common problem of blown head gaskets due to the aluminum threads in the block failing for the head bolts. The ...

Nissan and Subaru Head Bolt Thread Repair Kit – Solved (How to fix Nissan/Subaru head bolt threads) WiseAutoTools.com © Summary: Head bolt thread repair kits for repairing head-bolt threads in the cylinder block if done properly can save thousands of dollars compared to replacing engine blocks. Adv ...

TIME-SERT Insert VS NorthStar “Stud” Type Repair Kits (Head Bolt) Originally posted on our previous blog 10/10/13 DennisB WiseAutoTools.com © Summary: Cadillac NorthStar head bolt thread failures are common in 4.0 and 4.6 engines, from 1993 and up. Aluminum bl ...

Time Sert 7220 and 4800 Wise Buy (Head Bolt) WiseAutoTools.com © Summary: The Time Sert 7220 is an M12x1.5 head bolt thread repair kit for fixing pulled threads in many Honda and Acura v-6 engines. The 4800 is a universal head bolt kit that wor ...

Time Sert 11155 Inserts – Same as J-42385-507 (Head Bolt) WiseAutoTools.com © Summary: See current Time Sert 11155 prices (be sure to click on Buy in bulk and save). Best prices on Time Sert replacement inserts part number 11155 which are the same as Kent M ...

Time-Sert or Heli-coil? (General Thread Repair) DennisB WiseAutoTools.com © Summary: Time-Sert or Heli-coil? We answer this question a lot. In fact many of our customers call asking for a Helicoil kit. Helicoil is a brand name that’s synonymous w ...

LS Head Bolt Thread Repair Including the Smaller Threads (LS Head Bolt thread repair for LS engines.) WiseAutoTools.com © Summary: Repair kits available for Chevrolet LS engines which have failed head bolt threads. Sizes include the M11x2.0 for the larger holes and M8x1.25 kit for the smaller M8x1.25 ...

 Pentastar 3.6 head bolt thread repair - How to fix stripped threads FAQ's  (How to) DennisB WiseAutoTools.com © Summary: Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep with the 3.6 Pentastar engine has a common problem of blown head gaskets due to the aluminum threads in the block failing for the head bolt ...

                                      Oil Pan Thread Repair

BMW Oil Pan Thread Repair – Aluminum Drain Plug Thread Repair Kit (How to repair BMW oil pan threads for drain plug)


Summary: Best recommendation for aluminum oil pan thread repair kit. Aluminum oil pans are used on most BMW’s (as well as many other brands) today to reduce the over-all vehicle weight. However, ...

Volvo Aluminum Oil Pan Problems - Drain Plug Thread Repair (How to repair Volvo oil pan threads for drain plug)


WiseAutoTools.com © Summary: Aluminum thread repair problems addressed, see our video on the Volvo drain plug thread repair issue. If dealing with a stripped aluminum oil pan on your Volvo and the dr ...

Harley Davidson Stripped Drain Plug Thread Repair - Do's and Don'ts (How to fix threads for a Harley drain plug)

WiseAutoTools.com © Summary: This article covers several options for repairing stripped threads for oil and transmission (Primary or Secondary) drain plugs on Harley Davidson motorcycles. H ...

10 Differences between Time Sert and Heli Coil Thread Repairs (Popular Thread)
DennisB WiseAutoTools.com © Summary: We are commonly asked about the differences in Time Sert and Heli Coil brand thread repair kits. In this article we cover ten main differences between these ...