Running horrible after headers install
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jan 2002
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From: GANS
Try looking at your plugs&wires at nite. I have a similar problem with my grand am, and I found that the #1 plug was arcing over onto the exhaust manifold. Make sure you rev it up, as mine didn't arc at an idle, but did when you revd it up.
Elder User
Joined: Mar 2000
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Like I said in my original reply , it has to be a plug or plug wire problem - plug wire routing , wire problem, or like mentioned above a broken plug. I don't think a vacuum leak would cause a major problem with the way your truck is running. Some yes but not like the way you're describing.
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Elder User
Joined: Mar 2003
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From: Medford, OR
Well, I went out and misted the wires and ran it in the dark. Sure enough, the front plug on the passenger side was sparking away. It looks like the spark is coming from between the plug boot and plug maybe? It appears as sort of a ring of flash around the base of the plug. Does that make sense? What would cause that and what is the fix? Thanks.
Elder User
Joined: Mar 2000
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Or the metal connector seperated from the wire. Pull the wire and inpect it. Swap the wires out on the dizzy with another wire and see if the problem is still there. You might have seperated the connector when you removed your plug wires.
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Elder User
Joined: Mar 2003
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From: Medford, OR
Well I pulled the plug out and it was cracked. I put one of the old plugs in and it stopped sparking, but it still runs just as roughly. The old plug isn't in great shape, but it was working fine when it was pulled out. I will go get a new plug in the morning, but I am not confident that is the only problem.
New User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 12
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From: Colorado
Wake This really sounds like you crossed a couple of wires..... Running rough and then worse when you give it gas somes like like crossed wires on the money. If you dont have a book to check the firing order you should realy think about getting one. I cant remember how many times I scewed up putting wires back on....Good Luck
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Jan 2002
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From: GANS
Don't feel bad. I ran 2 sets of bosch in my 300-6 without a problem, got 30k miles out of them. Same thing happend to my pontiac, after 15k miles, one cracked.
btw, did you spray the other bank to see if one of those where cracked?
Btw, on my 351W, the guy who changed the front accidently bent the electrode on one of the front plugs by accident, shorting it out. Boy did it run bad.
btw, did you spray the other bank to see if one of those where cracked?
Btw, on my 351W, the guy who changed the front accidently bent the electrode on one of the front plugs by accident, shorting it out. Boy did it run bad.
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Elder User
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 687
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From: Medford, OR
VICTORY! Turns out when I was checking wires and found that cracked plug last night, I left the wires crossed when I was checking them! Now the thing runs like a champ with more power than ever! Thank you guys very much for all your help. I would be totally lost without it. Now to just get rid of this exhaust leak
