Fouled plug?

[cobra2798]

So my car is feeling sluggish, like its running on 7 cylinders, sounds like it also. Im wondering if I fouled a plug. My question is instead of pulling every plug to check could I just pull the plug wire with the car running and if nothing changes when I pull the wire would that indicate a fouled plug or will I do harm to the engine doing this? Thanks

 

[02nightmaregt]

I don't see why that wouldn't work? Have you done any recent work to the car? Also how many miles are on the plugs?

 

[cobra2798]

I don't see why that wouldn't work? Have you done any recent work to the car? Also how many miles are on the plugs?

Well my clutch went last week and I tried to drive the car to the shop but didnt make it. Im thinking that I may have fouled a plug pushing the car to hard to get it in the shop. We got it started again and thats when it felt like it was on 7cylinders, before the new clutch was installed. Car has 72k on it. The plugs on these cars are hard to get at so I want to try to keep the work to a minimum.

 

[02nightmaregt]

I mean how hard did you push it? I doubt you blew a plug just trying to get it to the shop. Maybe the o2's are going on it

 

[cobra2798]

What are the symptoms of a bad o2 sensor? If I pull them how do I tell if they are bad?

 

[poindexternasty]

My 02 GT vert did the same thing, stumbling and hesistating. I cleaned the MAF, changed the fuel filter, plugs, wires, cleaned the air filter. None of that worked.... but what I DID do that worked was replace the upstream o2 sensors. They are $31/ea and you need 2 of them.... rockauto DOT com is a really cheap place to find parts. Cheaper than the dealer.

Swap your O2 sensors.... at 70k mi, its about time to anyway.

 

[02nightmaregt]

I don't think you can just pull the sensors and be able to tell if they are fouled. I would almost bet thats whats wrong though

 

[cobra2798]

So i pulled all the plug wires with the car running. Every wire I pulled on the passengers side had the car wanting to die, every wire I pulled on the drivers side had no affect at all. Is this normal Should I get the plugs changed, its running real rough and seem to have lost a good amount of power.