Mis-firing cylinder

[toddu]

Would a misfiring cylinder create an odd exhaust note?

I changed my valve covers, and notice 1 - part of the heat exchange was a bit loose (would this create an exhaust leak??), and 2 - the spark plug wires, the part that seals around the valve cover was not in good shape. And, putting the wires back on I had trouble with a few seating correctly. I'm wondering if I didn't get one. Car seems louder, and here and there idles a bit rough.

[AFJuvat]

1. Yes, that will create an exhaust leak. If bad enough, it can sound like a loose valve.

2. The covers are there to keep debris from failling in the spark plug hole. As long as your wires are seated, it should not make a difference.

How old are your wires?

AFJ

[toddu]

Tough to say. I thought I had a receipt from the PO showing new wires, but perhaps it was just new plugs, cap and rotor (those look newer). The wires are the braided ones with the ground wires, so maybe original.

I'm thinking I didn't seat on correctly. I went back and checked them out, and I'm not getting a "click" on #2, even though it feels like it's snug. I looked in the end of the boot and it's looking pretty dry in there. I'm thinking some dielectric grease (inside the boot??) will make it easier to seat (I think I remember having a very hard time pulling that one off too).

I'm thinking new wires are in order soon.

Todd

[Eagledriver]

The boots may keep debris out but thier purpse is to keep air in. The prevent cooling are from leaking out the spark plug holes. In addition they keep the spark plug lead from moving around.

If you are not getting a click when you pull that lead off then you may not have a good connection. Look inside the end of the connector and you should see a clip that goes into the copper piece and locks the connector onto the end of the plug.

-Andy

[toddu]

I fiddled with the wires for a very brief moment yesterday, and I'm thinking a couple are not seating correctly. One was VERY tough to get off. I hope some of it is not still on the plug (boot didn't rip or anything). I'm going to check that when I get home tonight (darn work is always getting in the way of "playing" with the car!!). I also bought some dielectric grease today. I'm hoping that will ease putting the wires back on a couple of the pesky ones.

I guess I'll get some new wires soon. I don't imagine the disks themselves can be replaced?

[toddu]

It's alive!!!!

It's amazing how much better it runs when all six are a' blaze!!

So, I got home, pulled the boots back off the plugs and examined the ends. Nothing amiss in there, but they all looked a little "dry". I applied a thin film of dielectric grease with a q-tip and CAREFULLY put each boot pack on the plug. There is a definite, clearly audible, echoing click when the stock wires go back on. Also, if I remember correctly, the plugs must sit at a slight angle, tops a bit forward.

Fired it up, and the difference in the exhaust was clear. Before it sounded like a big hole was in it, now it purrrs like a kitten (big kitten).

Funny thing is once I got it all back together from the valve adjust, I thought - well it sounds funny (kind of a sputtering), but does seem to rev a little more freely. And that was probably on a couple cylinders firing intermittently.

I appreciate the feedback. I only hope I'll be as useful to others some day. Now just my pesky jumpy tach issue and I'll be completely happy.

Cheers,
Todd

[Wayne 962]

You can also check each wire with a timing light - that will show you problems if there are any...

-Wayne