Help a noob, please!!! (I searched)

[Fathawk]

2004 4.0 six K vin flex. 80K miles (bought it with 73K)

Rough idle when in gear. Started after letting wifey drive on a trip pulling the bikes (1200 lbs), she left it in over drive for about 40 highway miles. Rough idle only when in gear. First thing I did was pull the plugs and wires.

Cylinders 123 are running rich, plugs are black, 3 and 2 had gotten so hot that when I pulled the boots on the wires, the guts got left on the plug..they were completely melted.

456 appear to be lean. Plugs are white and grey and look burnt. Gaps on all plugs were WIDE, I'm sure they were the plugs from the time the truck was manufactured.

Long story short, the rough idle improved a little, but if I press the accelerator and let the truck wind down it runs REALLY rough. Throttle response and acceleration has been improved by the new plugs and wires. But the rough idle is still there.

Any ideas....IACV? THE BIG QUESTION

Also, how important is it to use the factory plug wire seperators?? They were a ***** to get undone and the little loom running behind the alternator and in front of the block. I routed them the only way I could and that loom was impossible. I'll be damned if I'm gonna drop an alternator to change wires.

Should I do something with that? As long as they aren't hitting something hot they should be fine right??


Much thanks to any GURUS with a response, I really appreciate it. Especially since my local stealership wanted 80 bucks, just to pull the codes. I wonder if I can clear them myself.

 

[jlsparky7]

Most auto parts stores will codes for free. That will give you and us a basis to work from. Here are some things to check.
Clean MAF
Clean IAC
Clean Throttle body
Check for vacuum leaks
Hows the air filter?
Last oil change?
Bad tank of fuel possibly?
fuel filter change?

Lots of how to's in the link in my signature.

 

[Fathawk]

Thanks for the reply I'll look into those things. Autozone is the only place around me that will pull codes and they are a 30 minute drive.

Last time I went the clerk refused to pull the codes because it was raining out.

Nice form, by the way. Is that Grattan or Mid-Ohio?

 

[jlsparky7]

Thanks for the reply I'll look into those things. Autozone is the only place around me that will pull codes and they are a 30 minute drive.

Last time I went the clerk refused to pull the codes because it was raining out.

Nice form, by the way. Is that Grattan or Mid-Ohio?

Would probably be worth it to drive and get the codes pulled or order a code puller on ebay or harbor freight. They are around 30-50$.

Thanks for the compliment. I believe that is turn 6 at mid ohio, might be turn 7. The first turn after the back straight. Love that straight, I was hitting 160-170mph towards the end of each session.