What's up? Well, I changed my spark plug wires and replaced the plugs on the passenger side, and now my car has a major loss in power. I think it may be due to a vacumn leak. Does anyone have any suggestions as to how to locate the leak. If that is what it is. By the way, the reason I only changed the plugs on the passenger side is because I already replaced the plugs on the driver's side not too long ago. I thought I was doing a good thing by changing that stuff but it only made things worse.

 

why would there be a vacume leak from plugs.

I would go back to what you changed. make sure they are all tight. a compresion leak from a loose plug will cause this. so will a plug wire that is not connected. or having 2 wire crosed. also, did you gap the plugs properly?

 

According to my dad the plug wires are fine. Is it possible that during the installation of the new wires I accidentally messed up a vacumn line or something? Also, There is like one or two plug wires on the distributor cap that snapped but didn't really feel like they went on very good. I actually saw one slide back up, even after it snapped. Is there a certain end that goes to the plug, and one that goes to the distributor?

 

If all you did is change plugs, there is no reason why there should be a vacuum leak that didn't exist before you changed the plugs. I would double check the connection and routing of the plug wires. It is easy to mix something up when changing them around. Some wires will not "snap" well, such as my MSD 8.5mm, I am always wondering if they are all the way on or if they are creating a spark gap on the distributor cap. Anyway, just check everything once again. Also, are the plugs the same plugs you installed on the other side of the engine? What are they gapped to?

 

I guess I'll go check everything one more time after it cools down. Yes, the plugs are the same as the other side. I bought them all together I just never got around to changing the passenger side. They are gapped at 0.35.

 

Could an exhaust leak cause something like this to happen? I'm trying to think of anything I can. My dad seems to have been too busy telling me to get a job and not enough time trying to help me get my car fixed. How can I get to work without a car? Anyway, I really, really need to get my car running strong again. Thanks.

 

it would have to be a massive exaust leak, in the right place to really mess with the o2 readings. If you already tripple checked all your spark related stuff (still my bet), spray the intake area down with starter fluid, that will tell you if there is a vacume leak or not.

 

Should I spray it down while it's running or not?

 

yes running, move along any seam areas, you will hear the engine noise change if any starter fluid gets through, if it does, then you have a leak.

I'm still willing to bet a 6pack, that it is spark.

 

I tried spraying it down, but all I could hear was this really loud whistling noise. Plus, I didn't know what you meant by seam areas. Oh well, I guess I'll have to keep trying. Do I remove the air cleaner assembly? Because that's what I did. If it's not a vacumn leak, what else can I do to see if there is a problem with the spark?

 

yes, the aircleaner needs to be on, the idea is that if there is a leak, the starter fluid will be sucked in the leak, and cause the engine to fire diffrently, so you can hear it. by seams i mean anywhere there is gasket, opening, etc, that might be a potential leak.

spark wise, tripple check your firing order, if you took the cap off, check your timing. Check and make sure all the plugs are in tightly, check and make sure all wires are still in good shape, make sure they are all connected tightly, etc.

 

There's been a noise that sounds just like my valves are ticking, but I've just found out that it's coming from my distributor. What do you think this is?

 

Havnt read all the rest of the thread but it sounds like cross firing or arcing to ground in the cap. Youll have to open it up and see what the cause is. That will definatly kill your power and cause the car to run poorly.

 

I've seen something similar happen to a ford truck once...just driving down the road and it died.
Take your dizzy cap off and grab the rotor and see if it wiggles around at all....if it does....time for a new dizzy and that would explain your power loss.

 

Just from what I've read and now is kind of common, I'm thinking the 5 and 7 plugs either are switched or cross firing.

 

BadBlueRs91, dude that thing you said about that ford truck was very amusing to me. Just the thought of a ford dieing on the side of the road makes me laugh out loud. Ha! Ha! Too bad it wasn't a Mustang. Oh yea, I changed my dizzy cap and rotor, and now my baby is running good again.

 

Glad I could be of service