MartianBob
Registered User
My car started running like crap, getting worse over a three week period. It was dogging at low rpms under very light throttle. Felt like a TPS or MAF problem. Then degraded into classic sc misfire symptoms: stumbling/bucking under load and heavy throttle at all rpms.
I swapped out a bunch of spare sensors to no avail (we all have them by now right?). I had replaced the plugs/wires about 2 months ago, so I though they were good (they had been good for the first month).
I started the car up in the dark 2 nights ago. Two of the wires looked like X-mas lights. I tried swapping in some of my old wires and no-go.
So I bought another motorcraft set yesterday. Swapped out the two bad wires, and the new ones were arcing too. Wtf?
After numerous wire swapping permutations, I pulled one of the plugs on a bad wire. The plug looked Great! Under bright light and close examination the plug still looked Great. No crackes, etc. that I can see.
I swapped in old plugs on the two pesky wires, and all wire arcing and misfire was solved.
I don't know what is wrong with these plugs or exactly how they turn a good wire to crap But... They did. Of course the wire did recover.
I could have saved myself some serious time and frustration by looking at her in total darkness sooner.
Oh yea, I've performed my share of plug/wire swaps on these cars; and I'm damn gentle and carefull - no swivels or extensions in my technique. I don't even think bad thoughts about them for fear of retaliation.
Good luck, I hope this helps someone out there.
Cheers
Bob
I swapped out a bunch of spare sensors to no avail (we all have them by now right?). I had replaced the plugs/wires about 2 months ago, so I though they were good (they had been good for the first month).
I started the car up in the dark 2 nights ago. Two of the wires looked like X-mas lights. I tried swapping in some of my old wires and no-go.
So I bought another motorcraft set yesterday. Swapped out the two bad wires, and the new ones were arcing too. Wtf?
After numerous wire swapping permutations, I pulled one of the plugs on a bad wire. The plug looked Great! Under bright light and close examination the plug still looked Great. No crackes, etc. that I can see.
I swapped in old plugs on the two pesky wires, and all wire arcing and misfire was solved.
I don't know what is wrong with these plugs or exactly how they turn a good wire to crap But... They did. Of course the wire did recover.
I could have saved myself some serious time and frustration by looking at her in total darkness sooner.
Oh yea, I've performed my share of plug/wire swaps on these cars; and I'm damn gentle and carefull - no swivels or extensions in my technique. I don't even think bad thoughts about them for fear of retaliation.
Good luck, I hope this helps someone out there.
Cheers
Bob