benh

Ok, here is what happen. Two weeks ago, I went and got an Oil change at one of family machanic shop. The car before run perfect, start up in a second, no complain, no issue. I did a recall about engine losing power and the dealer told me, the car run great. I don't recall them mention anything about changing out the leading spark plug but i will double check when i get home today.

After the oil change, the car began to run not like normal, so I start to read up in this forum. The car is at 32k miles by the way. "Everytime" I start her up, it took at least 10 to 15 second for her to start up, after she warm up, she ran ok; pass 7k rpm, she started shake alot. There was one time I recall the engine light flashed for couple of second, then when off and have not yet comeback again. After all the reading, i decided to change out two trailing spark plug. Bought the plugs, take it to the machanic (not dealer thank gods or else i would be able to see the issue with my own eyes.), he lifted her up and like usual, i get underneath to check her out for any sign of scratchs or pumps!

What I see with my own two eyes is the spark plug wire which plug into the spark plug on the second rotor hanging while the leading spark plug is bare naked! I asked them machanic and he said that its ok. My question to all who read this is: Is it ok? after he plug the wire back in, I still don't notice any changes especially the start up, she still take 10 to 15 second to start up. Should i change out the leading plugs? which i myself feel that i should. What about the wire, should i change them out as well?

Thanks for reading through and your advice first.

dannobre

iTrader: (3)

All 4 should be plugged in Better find another mechanic.............

benh

He told me that somehow, the wire pop out. The last time he work on my car, he only change oil, so I assume that he shouldn't be no where near the spark wires. This is why I want to ask anyone who know about car if you can tell me that is it possible for the spark plug wire to pop out by itself?

Nopstnz

No that is not ok. Take it to the dealer and have them throw it on a lift and point it out to them.

By the way, the way you type/talk reminds me of the dog whisperer. Haha, just finished watching that. Good luck!

dannobre

iTrader: (3)

It shouldn't pop off if it is put on correctly. If it isn't snapped on properly...it won't be held on by anything but the rubber boot.....then it will fall off easily

benh

Fortunately, I only work on computer not dogs!!! Therefor I don't have to deal with weird owners.

benh

Dannobre, I understand that. What bother me the most is try to fingure out whose could have done it. Could it be the dealer when I took my car in for the recall - if is them, then why it took a while for the wire to pop out and not right away. Why when I took her in for an oil change, we didn't see anything come loose.

Should I suspect my machanic? but why should he delibrately pull it loose. I did pay for his service!!!


I just want to find out if it possible for the wire to come loose by itself. If not, the only answer to my question is my machanic is messing with my car then it time for me to find new machanic.

RX-GR8

funny one of my plug wires mysteriously came off one time too. i didn't notice any loss of power but there was a tapping sound coming from the engine compartment. the plug was arching and the mech pushed the boot back on. in your case it may have been inadvertantly pulled off. i never found out an explanation why mine came off and i doubt you ever will.

Red_X8

You said he put the plug back on and your car is still running weird? I think he might have crossed the wires so the plugs are firing in the wrong order. I also had a spark plug wire come loose, the car started ok and idled ok, it just ran really sluggish. If he reconnected the wire it should have returned everything to normal.

RX-GR8

good point red but if he crossed the wires 2 would have had to have been disconnected.

Red_X8

Well if the one was disconnected it is possible that the other one was plugged into the wrong plug to begin with, and his mechanic simply put the loose one on the disconnected plug, if that all makes sense.

dannobre

iTrader: (3)

I would think that it just wasn't pushed on properly.....

It will work it's way off slowly....so it could have been a while....most likely when thay changed your plugs

I would check your coil on that plug......it wouldn't like not having a route to get rid of all that energy...it is probably fried...and the plug is more than likely badly fouled from not firing

benh

Dannobre,

After changing out the trailing, i decided to replace the leading too. The machanic replace the leading spark plug yet the car still run somehow just doesn't seem right to me. I probably will replace the coil. How can you tell if the coil is still good or not?

benh

About the leading spark plug, i went to the dealer and they told me they only have the hot plug leading n3y9. I am in California, anyone know if it is ok to use these plugs?

dannobre

iTrader: (3)

Test them with a multimeter.......

The warm plugs might be OK around town....but you wouldn't want to push it too hard

benh

Dannobre,

Thanks for all your input. My shift point is at 6k rpm and often beep it when it got a chance!!! I hardly use 6th gear, only on long cruise.

Nubo

At 32K miles you might as well replace all of your plugs anyway. And double-check that the plug wires are attached to the correct plugs -- they are color coded. I wouldn't worry about trying to figure out who caused the wire to come off, if anyone, because there is no way to really prove it. I wouldn't keep going back there though, based on their "it's ok to have a plug wire dangling" answer.