tune up
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Senior User
Joined: Dec 2006
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From: central ohio
tune up
today i changed the plugs, plug wires, cap and rotor and now it runs like crap. at idle it will run just fine but, as soon as i give it some gas or start moving the truck it vibrates and runs like crap. i know that all the plugs are in tight and all the wires are on tight. and the check engine is coming on but it is only flashing not on continuously. it is also a 89 351 could i have just knocked a vaccum hose off or something else. i also know that i didn't cross-thread any plugs cause they all started by hand and i only had to use the rachet to get them tight.
thanks in advance for any and all replys
thanks in advance for any and all replys
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Senior User
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 172
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From: central ohio
thanks
i had my aunts boyfriend drive it tonight and he thought the same thing. although i don't know how i would have done it because i went 1 wire at a time, BUT i have been known to do some stupid things in my life. just ask my mom and my boss.
i had my aunts boyfriend drive it tonight and he thought the same thing. although i don't know how i would have done it because i went 1 wire at a time, BUT i have been known to do some stupid things in my life. just ask my mom and my boss.
Post Fiend
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 11,289
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From: Lakewood, Ohio
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Senior User
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From: central ohio
not yet last night and this morning it is below 10 degrees and with the wind chill it feels about -15 so going outside is going to take a little effort, and layers of clothes.
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Senior User
Joined: Dec 2006
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From: central ohio
what is weird about it is i first just changed the plugs, no wires or anything just the plugs and it did it. so after that i thought the wires were wore out so i went ahead and changed everything else. and it is still doing it. could someone who changed the plugs before cross-threaded one or they just didn't tell me something about it
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Joined: Nov 2005
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A plug that crossthreaded and didn't seat would make a lot of noise at idle. You would probably notice it right away. Another thing that comes to mind is maybe the gap is way off. Took one out of buddys car that he must have dropped before he put it in. There was no gap at all. Didn't run well.
A broken or missing vacumn line would normally give an erratic or high idle.
Still seems like the most likely candidate is wires switched, or timing off one hole. Could be something really rare like an internal crack in distributor cap, but it would not idle well at all.
If the problem started before you changed the wires, maybe you broke a wire changing the plugs, and then mis-wired it when you changed the wires?
I'm just grasping at straws.
Glad I finally have a heated garage. Ain't real big but it can be real warm.
Good luck. Frank
A broken or missing vacumn line would normally give an erratic or high idle.
Still seems like the most likely candidate is wires switched, or timing off one hole. Could be something really rare like an internal crack in distributor cap, but it would not idle well at all.
If the problem started before you changed the wires, maybe you broke a wire changing the plugs, and then mis-wired it when you changed the wires?
I'm just grasping at straws.
Glad I finally have a heated garage. Ain't real big but it can be real warm.
Good luck. Frank
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Senior User
Joined: Dec 2006
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From: central ohio
i went out and started it and the number1 cylinder has air running out around the plug. so either i or a previous owner cross-threaded it. i don't believe it was me because i could screw the plug in by hand to a certain spot and then i had to use the rachet. i sould see how that cylinder could get crossed like that because it is right beside the egr stuff. since i am pretty sure what the problem is what is a realistic fix for this?
thanks
thanks
Post Fiend
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 11,289
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From: Lakewood, Ohio
take plug out and get a spark plug thread cleaner from an auto parts store.
get a new plug also if you doubt the threads on the one you took out.
starting them by hand is not a 100% answer to not crossthreading.
get a new plug also if you doubt the threads on the one you took out.
starting them by hand is not a 100% answer to not crossthreading.