I've recently pulled the car out and idled it in the driveway while doing some adjustments. I notice that the car idled rougher and rougher each day until it started stalling. Before it really started stalling I found my timing was way off. I corrected it now it barely runs. Pulled the spark plugs and their black and wet. They smell like fuel. The haynes manual says that they're probably oil fouled....but I've also heard of plugs being fuel fouled as well. I have no doubt I'm running rich and I suspect my coil of being weak. What fouled up my plugs?

 

anybody?

 

The are very likely to be fuel fouled especially if all you where doing was letting the car idle I only drive my car about a quarter of a mile to work and about once a week I have to take it out and run the snot out of it to keep it from fuel fouling the plugs and missing like a mother.

 

When was the last time you changed the plugs?

 

The plugs are new and they are not the problem. Your car should be able to sit and idle without fouling the plugs as well. Anyone else have any ideas?

 

Ok, how about this.

1) Can bad timing foul plugs? My timing was waay off (too far advanced.

2) How can I check the ignition system? I think its weak but how do I prove it?

3) Would a bad ground weaken the ignition system? I found the ground strap from the engine to the firewall was severed. I replaced it but not until after the plugs fouled.

 

It's a 1987 HEI setup with the remote coil. Cap, rotor, and distributer and pretty new, but the coil is old and I suspect of being weak.

 

Ok you have admitted that the car runs rich that can cause the fuel fouling and the problem can be made worse by extended period of idling. That is my problem in the colder weather as my car is carbed and does not run long enough to kick the choke off between work and home so it runs rich all the time thus causing my problem. What is causing yours to run rich could very well be a weak coil not giving enough spark to cause a complet burn of the fuel. There is a way to check the remote coils on the GM vehicles I know because I have done it but it was like 4 years ago and I do not remember the specifics of it. I do know that you will need a dvom and the specs for the resistance on the coil between certain places. If that turns out not to be the problem. I don`t know what it might be but it sound like fixing the ground strap may be a definate step in the right direction as a loose ground can cause all kind of electrical demons.