Firing Order messed up - now what pls help

[ronald777]

'02 Explorer XLT: I changed plugs last week and car was running fine. I just changed the wires and reversed driver side cyl 5 & 6 and drove the car around the neighborhood. It rode rough and smelled like catalytic converter smell. water coming out of tailpipe also. finally figured out i had 5 and 6 cyl wires reversed -- now switched it back to the correct way and it starts, idles fine but won't really drive - stalls. Please help...! thanks.

After about an hour of sitting, I can start it, idles fine - actually drives around the neighborhood good but when i head out to main road it seems like it's loading up and won't go above 2k rpm. then i have to limp home (lucky to make it back...)

love this forum, btw...

Been reading on the net as much as I can. What are the chances since I caused a misfire I ruined the CAT...? "...during a misfire, some fuel escapes the actual combustion in the engine and gets to the exhaust, and this definitely has the potential to damage the catalytic converters quickly..." ???? I s/ mention there's also a rattling noise too. I guess that c/b bad CAT sign also...??

Ok, i removed the front two O2 sensors (1 on each side before the front to CAT's) and it rev's freely, no marble rattling sounds but of course very loud. So now i'm looking at replacing CAT's... Dumb, costly mistake...

 

[JoshMcMadMac]

Did you gap the plugs properly, and are you certain everything is seated properly? Are there any codes?

 

[ronald777]

Update resolution new catalytic converter

'02 Explorer XLT 4.0: Installed new direct-fit Walker bolt on CAT and I dare say the car is running very nice. I was upset about screwing up the firing order - creating a miss-fire and flooding gas to the CAT's which caused them to clog quickly. (However, I am pleased to have new CAT's in a 10 year old 177K car.) They were probably due to be replaced anyway. It's my wife's car and she was complaining just recently that gas mileage was falling off. So I'm anxious to see if the new CAT's (and they should) improve the fuel economy.

FWIW, the CAT replacement was pretty tough in the garage on my back on the concrete floor. Had to drop the cross member. Lots of time on my back and straining neck. BTW, PB blaster is your friend for all these bolts...

Can't wait to see how much the recycling center gives me for the old CAT's. Parts guy told me a friend of his got $180 for old Lexus CAT(s). Apparently they prefer the OEM versions.

 

[JoshMcMadMac]

'02 Explorer XLT 4.0: Installed new direct-fit Walker bolt on CAT and I dare say the car is running very nice. I was upset about screwing up the firing order - creating a miss-fire and flooding gas to the CAT's which caused them to clog quickly. (However, I am pleased to have new CAT's in a 10 year old 177K car.) They were probably due to be replaced anyway. It's my wife's car and she was complaining just recently that gas mileage was falling off. So I'm anxious to see if the new CAT's (and they should) improve the fuel economy.

FWIW, the CAT replacement was pretty tough in the garage on my back on the concrete floor. Had to drop the cross member. Lots of time on my back and straining neck. BTW, PB blaster is your friend for all these bolts...

Can't wait to see how much the recycling center gives me for the old CAT's. Parts guy told me a friend of his got $180 for old Lexus CAT(s). Apparently they prefer the OEM versions.

If fuel economy is suffering, also consider replacing the O2 sensors...at least the pre-cat ones.