I changed all my spark plugs and wires, and my car starts sometimes, but sometimes it doesn't, and it is very random about when it does and doesn't. I am very confused and I don't trust that it is going to start the next time I depend on it.
2007-01-07 16:29:11 · 15 answers · asked by Robert O 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
This is the first time I changed Plugs but it is a simple procedure on my car. I did not cross any wires, and I tightened the plugs tight. My car was diagnosed that it needed new plugs, but it did start before. I did not check the gaps, I just told the auto parts store the gap size necessary for my particular car. It has started 20-25 times since I changed them, and it hasn't started like 4 times.
2007-01-07 16:40:54 · update #1
Well, if you didn't gap the plugs, you need to pull them out and set the gap properly. Plugs are gapped at the factory but will usually get knocked around quite a bit in shipping which tends to close the gaps.
It's also important that you tighten them with a torque wrench to the engine manufacturer's specification. Do NOT just "screw them down tight" as you can damage your heads if you overtorque them.
Next, make sure that the wires are firmly connected to the plugs. It will take a bit of pressure to connect them. Press firmly until they click into place.
There's a chance that you damaged the plug wires when you removed them. It's very important that you grasp the wires by the boots around the plugs, not by the wires themselves, when you remove them. If you pull them off by grasping the wires, you will ruin them and will have to replace them.
2007-01-07 16:47:41 · answer #1 · answered by Bostonian In MO 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Double check your wiring order. Some cars will start and run if two of the wires are crossed. Then Check the gap on tour plugs. The proper gap size is printed on the emissions label under the hood. The gap tool costs a dollar at any parts store.
2007-01-07 16:34:39 · answer #2 · answered by jwelsh1021 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In the mid-seventies, I had a modified Dodge Challenger that had a spark plug behind the headers that was nearly impossible to remove; naturally, when I tried it broke and part of the insulation went into the combustion chamber. I contacted Champion (the manufacturer of the plugs) and they told me, "Don't worry about it; the porcelain will get crushed and be blown out of the exhaust!" Naturally, they were wrong as within five hundred miles, a piece of the porcelain got into the cylinder and caused a piston to seize (I ruined a perfectly good engine). If you need to take the head off to retrieve the broken spark plugs, do it; it's still cheaper than replacing an entire engine. Have the car towed to a good mechanic and tell him what happened. It's going to cost you a couple of hundred dollars (at least) but, as I said, it's cheaper than replacing an entire engine! Good luck!
2016-05-23 07:56:03 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I had a similar problem, I just put the old plugs back in and the car worked fine after. Run the car when it's dark and look under the hood for wires arcing on other wires on metal parts. Look at the wires where they connect to the plugs.
2007-01-07 16:34:19 · answer #4 · answered by misc 75 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It would've been more helpful to know what sort of engine it is, but doesn't sound like it is your plugs though or else it will constantly do it all the time. IS it a electronic dizzy or a dizzy with contact points in it. If it has points replace them and find out what sort of settings the contact points should be set at. I take it you changed the spark plug leads as well. I would also take the plugs back out and set them as well, but I feel this is not your problem from what you have stated. Besides the dizzy if it is an electronic one, it might be on its way out, or else check the coil pack it too is probably on its way out too. please be more exact about what make and model it is so as to resolve it. It ain't something to serious believe me.
2007-01-07 17:19:28 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You got some good answers already but i didn't see any about cracking the porcelain when you installed the plugs.
Real common thing for first timers to do. I would first check that all wires were all the way on the plugs,pull plugs, inspect for cracks, gap, check firing order (wire routing to plugs)... If it has cap and rotor replace that also.
2007-01-07 20:32:58 · answer #6 · answered by justpatagn 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
could be wrong plugs..doubt it if you asked someone when you bought them . .but you could have broken wires..the wires wont show broken but they are made of carbon filament and you cant just look at them and tell.also you may have disconnected something partially that is close enough to catch sometimes and not pushed down hard enough to work every time.. could be electronic ignition connection could be anything .I would replace the wires first if you know you have the right plugs but then again you may have broken a plug and not know it and capped it back and its firing the first cylinder once and the next no.. check everything i mentioned doesn't sound serious though
2007-01-07 16:40:21 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Listen to the guy about looking under your hood in the dark!!! I used the wrong plugs on my car and didn't tighten all the way. My engine block was cherry red!!!!!! Make sure you have the right plugs for your make of car, that they are gapped, in the correct order and tight...
2007-01-07 20:17:17 · answer #8 · answered by Samm 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well let's see did you check to make sure you have the firing order right and the gap n the plug's them self .If the gap is to much or to little it will cause a great deal of problem's.Recheck your firing order and the gap.see if that changes thing's for ya. Good Luck.
2007-01-07 16:37:51 · answer #9 · answered by icddppl 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Check plug gap
2007-01-07 17:08:30 · answer #10 · answered by ViperMax 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋