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Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 164
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Car ran on 5 cylinders and then stopped
I've changed my spark plugs recently and apparently, I've not put one of the plug caps back on one of the plugs as it should have been done and while driving on the highway, the cap popped off and the car ran on 5 cylinders. I was not able to stop for a while because there was no parking or whatever. I thought that I could reach one driving like this but suddenly, the engine stopped and did not want to start again.
Any idea what could have happened? |
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08-01-2011, 05:09 AM
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The plug wire from the coil to the cap also fell off?
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08-01-2011, 05:23 AM
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Posts: 164
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No, only the wire from cylinder 3.
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08-01-2011, 10:25 AM
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I forgot to mention that I've now plugged all the caps back and that the car still not want to start.
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08-01-2011, 10:56 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Alberta Canada
Posts: 181
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Did you check to see if you had spark before replacing the plug wire onto the plug? Have you confirmed that the coil wire is actually indeed seated in the coil and distributor cap? This would tell you that if you have spark then it is either an air or fuel issue. If you have no spark then it is an ignition/electrical problem.
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Gary Kozun 83 911SC Cabriolet |
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08-02-2011, 06:25 AM
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I've unplugged the coil wire from the distributor cap and their is a spark when I put the end near the car's earth but if I do the same with one of the spark wires with a spare plug in it (after reconnecting the coil wire of course), there is no spark on the plug. I've trid with another wire and cap and plug just to be sure but the result is the same.
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08-02-2011, 08:39 AM
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I'm suspecting the coil does not deliver enough power anymore.
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08-02-2011, 08:40 AM
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French Import
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The fact that you have spark at the center wire of the distributor but not on any of the spark plug wires make me think there is something going on with the distributor
Have you removed the distributor cap to see what was happening inside? Does the rotor look OK and seated properly? Do you see any damage on the inside of the distributor cap and is seated seated and secured properly? HTH.
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Gilles & Kathy Happiness is not having a Porsche in the garage... Happiness is having a Porsche on the road!  86 Porsche 911 Cabriolet, 2011 BMW 1200RT, 03 Saab 93 Cabriolet, 06 MB E350 Estate |
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08-02-2011, 09:20 AM
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76 911S Targa
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Idaho
Posts: 1,150
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You grounded the plug when you tested for spark, right? The plug must be firmly in electrical contact with the motor or the frame to do this test. If you have spark from the coil then you should have spark from the plugs unless your distributor has a fault. You may have a broken component there, perhaps a broken rotor?
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08-02-2011, 09:23 AM
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Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Valencia Pa.
Posts: 8,859
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Sure sounds like some sort of rotor meltdown to me. Are you running MSD?
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No left turn un stoned |
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08-02-2011, 10:17 AM
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I've found the problem, it's the coil. I replaced it with an old one that was laying around and now I've sparks on the plugs and the engine started. Tricky thing cause the coil produced a spark but not a strong enough one.
When this story with the plug happened, I had just installed a MSD 6AL and now I'm wondering what caused my Bosch coil (less than a year old) to go south. Is it the MSD or is it that the car ran on 5 cylinders? Anyway, I've ordered a coil from MSD now. |
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08-03-2011, 12:35 AM
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Car with no name
