New Plug and Wire Issues
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 51
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From: Tucson AZ
New Plug and Wire Issues
I bought a set of rapidfire plugs and taylor 8mm wires the other day because the some of the wires on the drivers side are cracked and arching ('92 6-speed). This morning I started on the passenger side..... HOLY GOD I was not prepared for what a PITA it is. And the passenger side is supposed to be the easy side!!! Nothing went right for me, 3 of the old plugs snapped off, the wire holders were almost melted shut, and one of the looms that attaches to the spark plug ripped in half while i was trying to pull it off causing an hour of trying to feebly tug it off with the tips of my fingers.
Anyway, I finally finished the passenger side, and here is where I have a few questions/issues. How bad is it to run the car when the drivers side has old plugs and old 7mm wires and the passenger side has new plugs and new 8mm wires? Because, whereas I had a prettty steady idle before, the first few times I tried turning it on/driving it, the engine would search, rev up and down intermittently. Its back to being fairly steady, but a little more shaky than before I started.
Then there is another strange issue. My ac has never blown cold air since I bought the car..... well as soon as i turn it on, and try the ac, it blew air cold as ice for a minute or so, and then the car started to stall out. Now if I attempt to turn the cars ac on it blows cold, but immediately begins to stall on me until I turn it off, at which point it rises right up to perfect idle.
What the hell did I do wrong?? Anyone have any insight here? Could it be because I'm only halfway done? I thought that new plugs and wires would HELP, not HURT my old girl......
Anyway, I finally finished the passenger side, and here is where I have a few questions/issues. How bad is it to run the car when the drivers side has old plugs and old 7mm wires and the passenger side has new plugs and new 8mm wires? Because, whereas I had a prettty steady idle before, the first few times I tried turning it on/driving it, the engine would search, rev up and down intermittently. Its back to being fairly steady, but a little more shaky than before I started.
Then there is another strange issue. My ac has never blown cold air since I bought the car..... well as soon as i turn it on, and try the ac, it blew air cold as ice for a minute or so, and then the car started to stall out. Now if I attempt to turn the cars ac on it blows cold, but immediately begins to stall on me until I turn it off, at which point it rises right up to perfect idle.
What the hell did I do wrong?? Anyone have any insight here? Could it be because I'm only halfway done? I thought that new plugs and wires would HELP, not HURT my old girl......
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 6,522
Likes: 1,310
From: Windermere FL
I would just finish the job. Probably the wires on the driver side need to be replaced and are causing your roughness. Finish the job and see where you stand.
For the AC, the ECM should command IAS should kick up the idle slightly when AC is on. Usually if the IAC is dirty or bad, you will have idle problems with or without AC. It may pay to just do a clean and reset of the IAC. Pretty simple, and cost free, so start with that. Search the forum and you will find instructions. But only do that after you finish your wires. Never, ever start one job and another right on top. Otherwise, you will not know what really fixed it.
But perhaps the idle issue is related to you AC not blowing cold. Perhaps the compressor is going and putting an excessive load on the engine. Just guessing.
For the AC, the ECM should command IAS should kick up the idle slightly when AC is on. Usually if the IAC is dirty or bad, you will have idle problems with or without AC. It may pay to just do a clean and reset of the IAC. Pretty simple, and cost free, so start with that. Search the forum and you will find instructions. But only do that after you finish your wires. Never, ever start one job and another right on top. Otherwise, you will not know what really fixed it.
But perhaps the idle issue is related to you AC not blowing cold. Perhaps the compressor is going and putting an excessive load on the engine. Just guessing.
