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Can a fouled plug kill a coil-on-plug?

  • Thread starter Thread starter LaserRed01GT
  • Start date Start date Oct 13, 2006

LaserRed01GT

Banned
Oct 3, 2006
739
3
0
Clearwater, FL
Oct 13, 2006
#1
  • Oct 13, 2006
  • #1
About a week ago I had a nitrous backfire that blew apart my intake manifold. Just before that, I had just replace the COP's and put in new NGK TR6's.

After I pulled the busted intake manifold off, I pulled all the plugs and 4 of 8 were fouled. I put on a brand new IM and again replaced the plugs and everything seemed fine until today when it started to "miss" again. Weird thing is that it will run perfect one minute then run bad another. When it runs bad I smell something getting hot....maybe a lean cylinder? I will not be able to get it scanned until tomorrow so I just wanted to do some brainstorming for now.

There were no MAF related codes when I got it back together, but I am still not 100% sure the MAF didn't get damaged in the N20 backfire.

1. Do these cars have the abilty to go into speed density mode with the MAF unplugged? Unplugging the MAF does not change anything when it is running bad.

2. Also do you think the N20 backfire could have damaged on or more injectors?

3. Is it common for a fouled plug to kill a COP?
 

triggz

Founding Member
May 15, 2002
1,218
0
37
Gadsden, AL
Oct 13, 2006
#2
  • Oct 13, 2006
  • #2
No, the car usually wont run for long with the MAF unplugged. The N2O backfire could have *easily* destroyed the MAF. Its a very delicate sensor. Try borrowing one from another car and see what happens.

Other things if its a missfire:
Pull your plugs and make sure the cylinders are staying clean. My car starting doing the same thing after an oil change because I had accidentally spilled some oil on the valve cover and it dripped down into the sparkplug hole.

You can usually tell which bank is misfiring my listening to the exhaust for whichever side makes a tinny popping noise, then start unplugging the COPs until you find one that being unplugged doesnt make any difference
 

jstreet0204

Active Member
Jun 26, 2003
939
0
36
Winston Salem, NC
Oct 13, 2006
#3
  • Oct 13, 2006
  • #3
The car will run for a long time with the maf unplugged. It just won't run great. It is designed to go into limp mode if the maf is unplugged of fails. And if you are cheking each cylinder unplug the unjector, not the coil, to keep from fuel washing the rings and contaminating your oil.
 

LaserRed01GT

Banned
Oct 3, 2006
739
3
0
Clearwater, FL
Oct 14, 2006
#4
  • Oct 14, 2006
  • #4
Is it common for a injector to get hurt duting a N20 backfire? Is it common for a fouled plug to kill a coil-on-plug?
 

jstreet0204

Active Member
Jun 26, 2003
939
0
36
Winston Salem, NC
Oct 14, 2006
#5
  • Oct 14, 2006
  • #5
LaserRed01GT said:
Is it common for a injector to get hurt duting a N20 backfire? Is it common for a fouled plug to kill a coil-on-plug?
Click to expand...

I have never heard of either happening, but I guess if the backfire was bad enough, flying debrid could cause some damage. Check the plugs again, if you have some that are fouled again, you may have a fe injectors sticking.
 

LaserRed01GT

Banned
Oct 3, 2006
739
3
0
Clearwater, FL
Oct 14, 2006
#6
  • Oct 14, 2006
  • #6
All 8 plugs were black again and smelled pretty heavily of fuel. It was just a matter of time before they were all 100% fouled.

So now I suspect either the MAF sensor or maybe some bad COP's.

I suspect it's the MAF though since all 8 plugs seem to be getting fouled. I will get it swapped with another known good MAF sensor and see what happens.

Thanks so far for the responses guys.
 

LaserRed01GT

Banned
Oct 3, 2006
739
3
0
Clearwater, FL
Oct 14, 2006
#7
  • Oct 14, 2006
  • #7
BTW, what years are the stock MAF sensors cross compatible?
 

jstreet0204

Active Member
Jun 26, 2003
939
0
36
Winston Salem, NC
Oct 14, 2006
#8
  • Oct 14, 2006
  • #8
LaserRed01GT said:
All 8 plugs were black again and smelled pretty heavily of fuel. It was just a matter of time before they were all 100% fouled.

So now I suspect either the MAF sensor or maybe some bad COP's.

I suspect it's the MAF though since all 8 plugs seem to be getting fouled. I will get it swapped with another known good MAF sensor and see what happens.

Thanks so far for the responses guys.
Click to expand...

Id say if it was all eight then it is probably the MAF. If you can't find a decent price on one let me know. I still have my stock one around here somewhere that I'll sell cheap.
 

LaserRed01GT

Banned
Oct 3, 2006
739
3
0
Clearwater, FL
Oct 14, 2006
#9
  • Oct 14, 2006
  • #9
jstreet0204 said:
Id say if it was all eight then it is probably the MAF. If you can't find a decent price on one let me know. I still have my stock one around here somewhere that I'll sell cheap.
Click to expand...

Ok, I appreciate the offer.

Are the 96-04 MAF sensor's 100% compatible?
 
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