Noticed a problem after spark plug change.

[J3roseidon]

Hey all! I was hoping I could get some help here. I just got through changing the spark plug wires in my 1999 Sport 4.0 SOHC. Now everything was fine until I pull out of my garage and two black puddles. One where directly over where the exhaust was, and a second where the muffler was. The idle isn't rough but acceleration is a tad bit jerky around 2000rpm. Any ideas as to what I'm dealing with here? I can't figure it out for the life of me

Small update, the black puddles actually look more like soot, and now my X is idling horribly...... I'm scared!!!

 

[jremington59]

You said you changed the wires. What about the plugs? Go back through and remove and replace the wires on the plugs. It's quite easy not to get them on tight. Also, if you didn't change the plugs did you have to fight the wires to get them off?

 

[SoNic67]

Contrary of what is perpetuated by some auto shops, wires seldom need replacement.
The spark plugs are a different issue, they do wear out.
Owner manuals actually say to replace the spark plugs after a certain mileage (usually 80k miles), but not to replace the wires (just to check them for obvious defects).

 

[J3roseidon]

Changed out the wires and plugs, MAYBE they aren't tight enough, I'll have to give that another look. As I keep testing it throughout the morning, things seem to be improving but I'll give them a quick tighten and see if that does anything.

Btw my old wires and plugs were all practically melded together as well. EVERYTHING had to come out. Like I said though, everything seems to progress but it couldn't hurt to double check.

 

[66427]

Two ideas;

Did you gap the plugs correctly? Didn't break any electrodes?

Pull the plugs again and check that the porcelain is not cracked, quite possible during shipping or installation.

 

[J3roseidon]

Two ideas;

Did you gap the plugs correctly? Didn't break any electrodes?

Pull the plugs again and check that the porcelain is not cracked, quite possible during shipping or installation.

That's what I had figured before at first but everything is 100% fine! I just don't get it...

 

[Turdle]

Not all that uncommon these days to get a bad new plug out of the box.

Remove them, and look at the tips closely. If one of them does not look like the others, replace it.

Double, and even triple check the firing order on the driver side. It is so easy to get mixed up , we all have done it.

 

[drdoom]

Make sure you didn't knock an O2 sensor wire loose...its pretty tight quarters in there.

 

[swshawaii]

Double, and even triple check the firing order on the driver side. It is so easy to get mixed up , we all have done it.

Ditto, specifically spark plug wires #5 and #6. GL

 

[jremington59]

Not all that uncommon these days to get a bad new plug out of the box.

Remove them, and look at the tips closely. If one of them does not look like the others, replace it.

Double, and even triple check the firing order on the driver side. It is so easy to get mixed up , we all have done it.

Yes we have. I'll keep the story to myself as it still hurts to tell it, lol.

 

[J3roseidon]

Ditto, specifically spark plug wires #5 and #6. GL

Oh me oh my. I think I might be overworrying but to connect the plugs in proper firing order am I doing it 1 then 4 then 2 then 5 then 3 then 6? If so I should probably kick myself as hard as possible in the junk...

Everything else is spot on though and I didn't mix everything up thankfully.

 

[swshawaii]

Disregard firing order. Just make sure the engine wire numbers on the left of the diagram, match the coil on the right.

 

[J3roseidon]

I decided to take everything out and put it back in, same as before, and everything works fine now. I'll never understand these kinds of things haha. Thanks everyone for your help and stuff. This is why this forum rules

 

[66427]

Glad for yah.