Mysterious engine problem
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Supreme Member
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,353
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From: Austin
Car: 82 Z-28
Engine: 383 TPI
Transmission: 700R4
Mysterious engine problem
Replaced the plugs (AC43ts) and now I have issues. As soon as I fired it up after the plug change, it started running real rough. Verified firing order (even though I only pulled one wire at a time during plug change). Checked spark from #8 plug wire and it was strong. Pulled cap and rotor, they look fine. Checked for vacuum leaks, couldn't find any. Dribbled water on header tubes.
On #2 and #8 the water takes ~10 secs to evaporate. #4 and #6 boil the water instantly.
On the road it feels like one or more cyls will intermittently try to fire.
BLMs went from 128 at idle to 112. Wb o2 went from 14.4 to 15.25.. IAC counts went from 5 to 55.
(ECM o2 sensor measures drivers side only. Wb 02 reads both banks)
I disconnected the IAC at abt 1000 rpm.
Pulled inj plugs one-at-a-time. No change in rpms when #8 and #2 were pulled. Swapped spark plugs around, no change. Swapped plug wires around, no change.
Swapped fuel inj plugs between 8 and 6, and 2 and 4. No change, #2 and #8 cyls still dead.
Checked compression on #8 and it was good.
Removed plenum and runners. Lifted fuel rail up. Made harness so I could fire multiple injs at the same time. Compared quantity of fuel thru injs between cyls 6 (good cyl) and 8. They were exactly the same.
Any suggestions?? I'm Stumped
On #2 and #8 the water takes ~10 secs to evaporate. #4 and #6 boil the water instantly.
On the road it feels like one or more cyls will intermittently try to fire.
BLMs went from 128 at idle to 112. Wb o2 went from 14.4 to 15.25.. IAC counts went from 5 to 55.
(ECM o2 sensor measures drivers side only. Wb 02 reads both banks)
I disconnected the IAC at abt 1000 rpm.
Pulled inj plugs one-at-a-time. No change in rpms when #8 and #2 were pulled. Swapped spark plugs around, no change. Swapped plug wires around, no change.
Swapped fuel inj plugs between 8 and 6, and 2 and 4. No change, #2 and #8 cyls still dead.
Checked compression on #8 and it was good.
Removed plenum and runners. Lifted fuel rail up. Made harness so I could fire multiple injs at the same time. Compared quantity of fuel thru injs between cyls 6 (good cyl) and 8. They were exactly the same.
Any suggestions?? I'm Stumped
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From: Dallas, TX area
Car: 91 Formula WS6 (Black, T-Tops)
Engine: 383 MiniRam (529 HP, 519 TQ - DD2K)
Transmission: Built '97 T56, Pro 5.0, CF-DF
Axle/Gears: 4.11 posi Ford 9"
You can also check the resistance of the plugs and see if one stands out as being way different than the rest.
I've found bad plugs straight out of the box that way.
I've found bad plugs straight out of the box that way.
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
From: ohio
Car: 1989 Iroc-z
Engine: 5.7 TPI w/ZZ3 H.O. camshaft and alot of other enigine mods.
Transmission: 700r4
check and make sure your plugs have the right heat range, one or more plugs are too low the plug will go bad, and cause a miss or rough idle
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Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 302
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From: Houston / The Woodlands, TX
Car: 82 ElCamino, looking for a 3rd gen
Engine: 305 TPI(427SB in progress) 730 $8D
Transmission: THM350 (Getting a 4L80E soon)
Axle/Gears: 10 Bolt w/ 2.43 gears :(
Did you install R43TS plugs or 43TS plugs? What does it do if you put the old plugs back in those cylinders. It sounds like you have double checked anything you touched while changing the plugs.
Never mind, read you findings
in the DIY PROM section.
Never mind, read you findings
in the DIY PROM section. Last edited by eric305TPI; Aug 27, 2005 at 12:37 AM.
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