Having issues after plug change??
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Elder User
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Having issues after plug change??
I just completed a successful second spark plug change, using Motorcraft SP515 plugs just like last time. After reconnecting battery and starting engine, it ran poorly throughout a short road test. Felt like it was skipping. Checked under the hood and found that the #2 fuel injector was disconnected, so I reconnected the injector. I took another short road trip and it still ran poorly as if skipping. So, this time I disconnected the battery for several minutes while removing the #2 plug thinking I may possibly have fouled the plug by the injector not being connected. I also checked all of the other injector and coil connections. Reconnected battery and took another short trip. It still runs poorly. No codes yet. Any ideas? 
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Elder User
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Have removed, inspected and reinstalled 4 of the plugs. No issues noted. Doubled checked all connections. Cleaned MAF connector contacts (had dielectric grease). Baffled. Could I have somehow damaged the one injector by not havng it plugged up initially?
Fleet Owner
Joined: Mar 2012
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From: Near Cal. Avenue
1a. Disconnect battery for 15 minutes. 1. Run the relearn sequence. 2. Check the condition of the fuel pump module. 3. Check your codes and Flash Frames. 4. switch injectors or cops to isolate a malf one. 5. Look for damage you did to vacuum hoses or intake tube/clamps. Make sure you installed Maf properly. 6. Check for intake manifold problems/leaks.
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Elder User
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Pap Tiger,
1. Did battery multiple times. How do you run relearn sequence? thought was just a matter of disconnecting battery.
2. Worked fine prior to plug change. How do I check?
3. No codes. Flash frames?
4. Replaced COPs last weekend and all was working well. After problem today, removed all COPs and plugs, inspected, and reinstalled. could still be an issue, but....
5. Looked for any vacuum hose or electrical connections that may have become disconnected but found none. Still a possibility. Did not remove MAF, just disconnected, cleaned, reconneced 3 times during rechecks.
6. Don't see anything obvious or hear any leaks.
Maybe I will revisit after a good night's sleep. Kind of whipped now after working on it all day. Then there was the issue with my tractor that still will not crank after replacing battery. Not my day apparently.
1. Did battery multiple times. How do you run relearn sequence? thought was just a matter of disconnecting battery.
2. Worked fine prior to plug change. How do I check?
3. No codes. Flash frames?
4. Replaced COPs last weekend and all was working well. After problem today, removed all COPs and plugs, inspected, and reinstalled. could still be an issue, but....
5. Looked for any vacuum hose or electrical connections that may have become disconnected but found none. Still a possibility. Did not remove MAF, just disconnected, cleaned, reconneced 3 times during rechecks.
6. Don't see anything obvious or hear any leaks.
Maybe I will revisit after a good night's sleep. Kind of whipped now after working on it all day. Then there was the issue with my tractor that still will not crank after replacing battery. Not my day apparently.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 26,188
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From: Near Cal. Avenue
Relearn is a mater of warming up the motor letting it idle, putting it in gear and letting it idle, turning off all the accessories and letting it idle, turning on all the accessories and letting it idle, turning on the AC and letting it idle, and driving it around a bunch. Be patient while the puter runs all its tests and learns. At first it is doing ????? and just running its set program. Any time you do work and disconnect the battery it has to be done. It may smooth out after all the I/M test have run. Patience. If you had a good code reader you could enjoy this time watching the Freeze Frames and Graphing the PID's. If you have never removed and cleaned your MAF with Electrical cleaner only, now would be a good time. All of it usually takes several duty cycles to complete. Tractor may simply have bad neutral or seat switch. Sometimes its a mower deck switch. If you hook a volt meter up and have someone hit the start switch a drop in voltage without cranking indicates a starter or battery cable problem. Move the volt meter leads around to find the bad cable/starter. No voltage drop indicates its open/malfing.
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Elder User
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Did not have relearn issues after changing cops. Anyway, starting to suspect one or more bad new plugs. On tractor, yes I think it is a safety switch issue. Probably would have rested if not so consumed with the truck. Maybe tomorrow will be more productive.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 26,188
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From: Near Cal. Avenue
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"Obsessed"
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From: On The Edge of the Cliff
It probably won't code right away until it learns more, I had a similar problem right after I did my plugs turned out I got a bad plug...
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Postmaster
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If you dropped #2 plug, go ahead and replace it. Platinum plugs will not take the abuse that a copper core conventional plug will. That's why all the Mustang racers that run a blower or turbo use conventional plugs.
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Elder User
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Problem found!! The ceramic insulator on the #1 plug had a couple of cracks in it. This is not where I expected to find the plug I dropped, but it must be. I did not see it when I removed it yesterday as I was focusing on potential problems with the cylinder end of the plug and was not recalling at the time that I had dropped one. Feel stupid now, and pissed for all of the time wasted, but it was a lesson well learned for furture mechanc work. Thanks for your suggestions.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 26,188
Likes: 4,151
From: Near Cal. Avenue
None of us expect to find a damaged insulator. Sometimes it is inside on the electrode. Many like to use the Copper plugs due to toughness. Good find. A couple of runs to heat it up and your off again. Many use the rubber hose to instal spark plugs until their snug. I have always used a high quality spark plug socket but they wear out and have to be replaced. Until next time. Pick up a good code reader LOL. You will like it.
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All good except for the tractor. Know this is not the place, Papa Tiger, but will say I verified the two safety switches are functioning properly. Not exactly sure how to diagnose whether the starter is getting juice, but it does not seem too. Thinking iginition switch or starter relay, just not sure how to verify. Will check with tractor forum to see what I can find.
"Obsessed"
Joined: Mar 2004
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From: On The Edge of the Cliff
Sorry I'm a little slow here but I'm glad you got it fixed....
Just for future use I figured out which plug of mine it was when it coded for that cylinder then I moved it to another cylinder and it recoded...
Just for future use I figured out which plug of mine it was when it coded for that cylinder then I moved it to another cylinder and it recoded...