KirkM > writes:

> I have a 2000 Chrysler Cirrus with a 2.4L engine.
>
> It only has 76,000 miles on it. Today, it started running rough. I
> opened the hood, and the spark plug wire for Cyl #2 was completely
> off. I started the engine, and the plug wire came off again, and moved
> up and down with piston movement.
>
> The plug, is still tight. I am guessing a headgasket failure may be
> causing this. There is also a puddle of oil on the valve cover, around
> the spark plug wires.
>
> As this is a 2000, so it should have the MLS headgasket that was
> phased in during 1999. Early 2.4's were prone to headgasket failure,
> so this new design was introduced.
>
> Any thought on this? Could it be something more involved than a
> headgasket?

I'm kind of missing how a blown head gasket would cause a plug wire to
fall off, or would cause an oil puddle way up at the valve covers.
Also, how do you know the plug wire is actually moving "with" piston
movement, or is it just wiggling when the engine is turning?

First thing I'd do is inspect the plug wire. Could the connector to the
plug have failed? I'm not familiar with the 2.4, so I'm assuming it's
either got a distributor or a coil pack (not coil-on-plug) so you're
talking about traditional plug wires.

Second would be a more serious inspection of the plug. It's hard to
imagine it failing in a way that would create a passage for gasses to go
up and blow the wire off...

Not that this is terribly relevant, but my '78 Newport had a couple of
plug wires that fell off continually until I gave up and put a loom on
to keep them from swinging around so much.