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Plenum Pulled...need help

Old Jul 5, 2005 | 02:45 PM
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Default Plenum Pulled...need help

I just pulled the plenum to change plug wires and got an unpleasant surprise. The secondary above plug wire 1 is full of antifreeze. Has anyone else experienced this? I'm not sure what to do now.
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Old Jul 5, 2005 | 03:00 PM
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OK, I believe it may be that antifreezed seeped down into the secondary when I removed the plenum. I'm wondering if I should pull the plug before trying to start the car as antifreeze could be in the cylinder.
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Old Jul 5, 2005 | 03:11 PM
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Originally Posted by ZR!
OK, I believe it may be that antifreezed seeped down into the secondary when I removed the plenum. I'm wondering if I should pull the plug before trying to start the car as antifreeze could be in the cylinder.
Most likely the cause. I would soak up all I could with a towel and button everything back up. If you are afraid there is a lot of fluid in there you could pull the plug before starting the car - it won't hurt anything. I would pull number 2 as well - if you got fluid in one side chances are good it got in the other too.

After it turns over a couple of time you can put the plugs back in and then get the oil hot to cook off the water - and you may consider changing your oil.
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Old Jul 5, 2005 | 03:12 PM
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A couple of options:

Pull the injector housing (to get a clear shot) and roll up some paper towels and swab it down in the port. Or use a very small vacuum attachment that can neck down and suck it out.

Or

Pull the plug hit and let the motor run without that cylinder firing. Make sure you cover it with a towel to keep stuff from spattering everywhere. Then install the spark plug and and run it again and watch a small smoke show.

Sounds like you did not get enough coolant out of the system, if any.
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Old Jul 5, 2005 | 03:26 PM
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http://www.pnwzr1.net/Registry_Project.htm
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Old Jul 5, 2005 | 03:36 PM
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Originally Posted by ZR!
OK, I believe it may be that antifreezed seeped down into the secondary when I removed the plenum. I'm wondering if I should pull the plug before trying to start the car as antifreeze could be in the cylinder.
Been there, done that, got the T-shirt. I didn't drain enough out before removing my plenum and the No. 1 cylinder filled up with coolant.

I sucked it out of the cylinder using a medical syringe with a length of thin hose attached that I poked into the spark plug hole. After I got most of it out, I spun the engine over with a towel over the spark plug hole to clear out the rest.

No damage one.
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Old Jul 6, 2005 | 01:05 AM
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I want to thank all who replied to my post and helped me out. I did get the wires changed and the plenum back on just a bit ago. I sucked the antifreeze out of the secondarys with a small vacuum pump, installed the plenum,then pulled plugs 1,3,2,4 and also pulled the fuel injector fuse and then cranked it over awhile to shoot out the antifreeze. Thanks for the towel suggestion, that would have been a mess!! Then when I started the car I did have a smoke show, it was short but sweet!! At least it is close to 4th of July. Pulling the plenum was not too bad of a job, the worst part is all the bending over, it was hard on my back.

One thing that happened when I started the car is the Service Ride Control light came on for awhile and then went off. That had never happened before.

The car seems to be running a bit smoother but still is not where it should be. I probably should have checked the fuel injectors while I was under there. I'm going to drive it awhile and tackle that later. Thanks again for the expertise.

Jeff
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Old Jul 6, 2005 | 01:40 AM
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Originally Posted by ZR!
One thing that happened when I started the car is the Service Ride Control light came on for awhile and then went off. That had never happened before.

Jeff

If you cycle the key 3X without moving the vehicle, you'll get the Service Ride Control light - once you move it, it will go away.
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Old Jul 6, 2005 | 01:43 AM
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You mentioned using a small vacuum pump to suck out the water. Next time do the same to suck the antifreeze out of the coolant fittings. Thats what i do when I pull the plenum. You know you got the water out enough then. You can also save it and put it back in when you are done. Good to hear it all went well.

Greg
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Old Jul 6, 2005 | 02:07 AM
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I learned the hard way when I first cleared out the heads on my ZR1. Because it was flipped in an accident, oil leaked into the heads, so I did what everyone else would have done. Only difference is that my friend accidentaly turned the key over before we could get towels over the spark plug holes...

Did you know the LT5 can shoot oil out of it's heads about 25ft high and about 40ft long?
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Old Jul 6, 2005 | 02:21 AM
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Originally Posted by ZR!
Thanks for the towel suggestion, that would have been a mess!!
You're welcome.


The car seems to be running a bit smoother but still is not where it should be. I probably should have checked the fuel injectors while I was under there. I'm going to drive it awhile and tackle that later. Thanks again for the expertise.
Sounds like you have a misfire if you are saying it is not running smooth.
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Old Jul 6, 2005 | 08:01 AM
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Originally Posted by ZR1forFun
Been there, done that, got the T-shirt. I didn't drain enough out before removing my plenum and the No. 1 cylinder filled up with coolant.

I sucked it out of the cylinder using a medical syringe with a length of thin hose attached that I poked into the spark plug hole. After I got most of it out, I spun the engine over with a towel over the spark plug hole to clear out the rest.

No damage one.

Thanks to you being present it encouraged me to pull mine ,plenum that is
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Old Jul 6, 2005 | 11:05 AM
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Originally Posted by LoTu5
Thanks to you being present it encouraged me to pull mine ,plenum that is
No problems Cliffie, glad I could be of help. Hope your heads arrive soon.
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Old Jul 6, 2005 | 12:05 PM
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Originally Posted by ZR1forFun
No problems Cliffie, glad I could be of help. Hope your heads arrive soon.
Its close,Very close!!,all the seats are in and all there is to do now is a bit of smoothing out and final assembly then they should be shipped.
Ime calm and got it all under control
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