HELP! My car is running horrible!

[CManT1914]

I just recently changed my spark plugs and wires on my 94 GT with some Autolites. I did not check the gap because I was in a hurry, and did not have the tool with me. (I live 30 minutes away from the nearest town.) Now, anytime I romp on the gas, my engine just craps out. It doesn't accelerate good at all anymore. Yesterday I was driving in the rain, floored it in first gear, and the tires didn't even break loose. It is HORRIBLE. Two of my friends and I can not figure out if it might be anything else besides the gap. Would the gap in the spark plugs make that big of a difference? I'm a newbie so thanks for your input.

 

[Jerry Leaming]

Yes the gap of the plug could and does affect performance. If it ran better before the plug/wire change than recheck everything including gap. Also are the wires in the correct firing order? ----13726548----You also might have a bad wire or one not on all the way.

 

[94GTLaserRC]

Dude, You cant just "throw" plugs in there with the wrong gap. It's like putting the WRONG plugs in there. You should have waited till you had a gapper. And timewise, it only takes 10 seconds each.

BTW...WELCOME TO THE STANGNET 94/95 FORUM!
RC

 

[95GTvert[bv12]]

Welcome to the forum.... most places like autozone, nappa, and kragen will gap the plugs for you....also make sure the plug wires are all the way one i had a problem with that also try advancing you time to compensate for the miss gap....if i remember right my plugs were alittl smaller gap so if you kick the time up alittle be it should help till you can get the tool to gap it. But unless there is almost no gap at all you car should run that bad, so check the plug wire you realy need to push them on.

 

[stang_gt_1994]

Always gap your plugs, if you don't its like not even changing them.

 

[94GTLaserRC]

Always gap your plugs, if you don't its like not even changing them.

Dude, You cant just "throw" plugs in there with the wrong gap. It's like putting the WRONG plugs in there.

Couldnt have said it better myself!
RC

 

[stang_gt_1994]

I tried to say something diffrent but it kinda ended up like your RC.

 

[CManT1914]

It's a little better...

I was thinking about it and started wondering if the fuel injectors were dirty. Since it ran good at low rpm's but not high rpm's, so I put in some fuel injector cleaner, and it's running noticeably better. Also, my battery went completely dead this morning, so I replaced it too. I don't know if that would effect anything or not, but maybe? I also picked up a spark plug gap checker, and am going to check them tonight or tomorrow night. I'll post more info when I figure something out. Thanks again.

 

[CManT1914]

It's still running crappy

I just spent $80 to have the fuel filter replaced and the injectors cleaned. It didn't do anything! It's still doing the same thing as it was, 2nd gear is horrible! When I get into the higher RPM's like 2500 to 3000 and above, it just shudders and barely accelerates. I still haven't checked the gap on the spark plugs, but somehow I don't think they would make it run THIS bad. One of my friends said it might be an electrical problem, and if it is, then I am screwed. What else could it be?!

 

[94GTLaserRC]

Do you have AODE or 5 speed?
RC

 

[hawaiian]

by any chance did u drop a plug before it went into the hole? deffinately check the gap even if u didnt.
also be sure of your firing order on the wires. and push them all the way on till they click.

 

[sldghmr]

Ok here's my .02 worth:
-Check gap on plugs
If it's still running bad and wires are in order, then,
-Say hello to Mr. Pickup in the distributor.
I had the same problem and changed my plugs, wires, and coil twice before changing the pickup. would get up to 3K then just seem to hang there. changed the pickup and it was all there again......

 

[Green 94 5.0]

check the firing order on the plug wires. i can almost gaurantee you have 2 of the wires crossed. i accidently made that mistake with the #1 and #2 cylinders. the car had no power at all. it would pop in the intake as well.

 

[CManT1914]

5 Spd

Do you have AODE or 5 speed?
RC

I have a 5 spd, you think I might need to change the transmission and differential oil?

 

[Killercanary]

Quit wasting your time chasing problems until you fix the plug gap. Don't even think about the injectors, oil etc until YOU CHECK YOUR PLUG GAP!!! Your wasting your time and money until you know for sure that your gap is at or around .050-.054" unless there are different heads on the car. Are there? If so you may have the wrong plugs as some heads need longer plugs to reach the combustion chamber. AFTER you check the plug gap, then that's when you clean the injectors, etc. Do a quick double check on the wires as you change the plugs and inspect them for cuts, etc and make sure you have the right wire going from the right part of the distibuto to the correct plug.

 

[CManT1914]

Yea Baby Yea!

I am such an idiot! I pulled the plugs out today, and checked all the gaps, they were at like 40/1000, something like that. So I set them all to .54 and bam! the car runs like a spotted ape! (That's a good thing) I fell in love with the car all over again. Thanks for all the advice.

P.S. Do you think I need to change the oil in the transmission? I don't know when the last time it was done, since I just got the car. It has 83,000 miles on it.

 

[94GTLaserRC]

I am such an idiot! I pulled the plugs out today, and checked all the gaps, they were at like 40/1000, something like that. So I set them all to .54 and bam! the car runs like a spotted ape! (That's a good thing) I fell in love with the car all over again. Thanks for all the advice.

P.S. Do you think I need to change the oil in the transmission? I don't know when the last time it was done, since I just got the car. It has 83,000 miles on it.

The "oil" in the transmission?

Yeah, probably a good idea.
Whenever you get a used car with some miles on it, you should change all fluids unless you have proof that it was already done recently.
RC