Chameleon Posted August 11, 2019 Share Posted August 11, 2019 So. . . As some of you know, my Vette has been semi-broken for a few months now. It would putt around okay if I drove like a grandma, but giving it any pressure at all would result in: Misfiring cylinder 4 Codes for service active handling Codes for service traction control There was surging and hesitating and a general feeling of the power not getting to the wheels. . . Advice from Two Fangs was to test switching the coil packs, wires, plugs between 2 and 4 (thank you, Parker)! Anyway, this has gone on for so long because my usual repair guys are both out of commission, I don't trust any dealers or shops, and although mentally I can do mechanical work, I am physically unable to do most of it anymore. Can't even loosen a spark plug these days, but I'm generally too stubborn to ask for help. I gotta get over that. . . Enter my sweetie (thank you Randy!) who stepped in, grabbed his tools and got to work. At this moment, I am surprised my Vette ran at all! The electrodes are burned completely off the plugs, resulting in a gap of .070 and the wires were never good quality to begin with. I am kicking myself that I didn't just change all the plugs and wires when I got the car two years ago. I never paid attention to what was in there, lesson learned! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SixAddict Posted August 11, 2019 Share Posted August 11, 2019 Glad to hear, that should get you back in business. (Those plugs look horrible, yikes) At 75k I changed plugs and went with Taylor wires, of course I wasn't experiencing the issues you named. Now go go out there and burn some tires off.... All for testing purposes of course. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheCMSH Posted August 11, 2019 Share Posted August 11, 2019 Just curious, what brand plugs were in it? Use spec AC Delco and GMPP red wires going back in, only way to go Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOXXOH Posted August 11, 2019 Share Posted August 11, 2019 I had 7 of 8 with the iridium tips missing and still managed to run 10.80's. It looks like your wires were the bigger problem. Glad you got it resolved. Probably time to check the AFR too, since that could be the root cause. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chameleon Posted August 11, 2019 Author Share Posted August 11, 2019 18 minutes ago, TheCMSH said: Just curious, what brand plugs were in it? Use spec AC Delco and GMPP red wires going back in, only way to go The plugs that came out were NGK. New plugs are AC Delco. New wires are: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chameleon Posted August 11, 2019 Author Share Posted August 11, 2019 4 minutes ago, HOXXOH said: I had 7 of 8 with the iridium tips missing and still managed to run 10.80's. It looks like your wires were the bigger problem. Glad you got it resolved. Probably time to check the AFR too, since that could be the root cause. Interesting to hear that about your plugs. . . The car is running like a scalded rabbit now, actually the best its ever run since I've owned it. Freeway ramp, WOT = +22 MPH at the top of the ramp compared to previous WOT performance on the same ramp (before the misfire problems started). . . Obviously it's been screwed up for some time and finally just got bad enough that I heard its pleas for help! I don't know how to check my AFR? Is this something I can see with my ODBII or is a Tech2 or other diagnostic tool needed? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnU Posted August 12, 2019 Share Posted August 12, 2019 Years ago I had a rough running issue. I stopped at a tuneup shop for a "scope". Turns out one of my Bosch Platinum plugs had one strand of the embedded electrode slide loose and make contact with the ground electrode. I cannot remember what plug I'm using now 🤔 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
y2krtaf Posted August 12, 2019 Share Posted August 12, 2019 Ugh! Glad you got it sorted for sure. Those Oriely’s wires are utter garbage! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOXXOH Posted August 12, 2019 Share Posted August 12, 2019 16 hours ago, Chameleon said: Interesting to hear that about your plugs. . . The car is running like a scalded rabbit now, actually the best its ever run since I've owned it. Freeway ramp, WOT = +22 MPH at the top of the ramp compared to previous WOT performance on the same ramp (before the misfire problems started). . . Obviously it's been screwed up for some time and finally just got bad enough that I heard its pleas for help! I don't know how to check my AFR? Is this something I can see with my ODBII or is a Tech2 or other diagnostic tool needed? The NGK plugs have been noted to cause problems in LS engines, but the abuse of the plug wires that appears to have been by pulling them off by the wire alone, demonstrates how the previous owner treated it. Assuming the PO had the car tuned, it might have been running lean to burn up plugs like you see. Drive it for a week or two and then pull a plug. If it's white as snow, you're too lean. A light tan is good, but blackish is too rich. Generally, most owners only find out the WOT AFR when getting a dyno tune. Those who are more involved in racing, hook up a wide band permanently in their exhaust and tie it into their computer for tuning purposes. I hadn't checked or changed my tune for several months before RR Bob and I went to CA to run at Sacramento and Sonoma. I struggled while trying to get a strong launch, but the back half was worse with most passes 2-4 mph off the pace. Once I checked/corrected the AFR and changed the plugs, I ran better in Phoenix at 1200 DA than in Sac at negative 500. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chameleon Posted August 12, 2019 Author Share Posted August 12, 2019 It never occurred to me that someone would pull plug wires off by the wire. That makes sense though, what an idiot! My car is currently stock except for short tube headers and Borla mufflers. I can't imagine a tune would have been done. Everything I have experienced so far with this car has indicated either a lack of knowledge or a lack of funds (or both) in previous owners. Thanks for the advice on the AFR and the plugs, I'll take a look in a couple of weeks... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grape Ape Posted August 12, 2019 Share Posted August 12, 2019 Glad it's figured out. Happy motoring, again. It will be even more funner to play with the go faster pedal now, like having a new car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chameleon Posted August 12, 2019 Author Share Posted August 12, 2019 5 hours ago, mrhusker said: Glad it's figured out. Happy motoring, again. It will be even more funner to play with the go faster pedal now, like having a new car. Thanks Mark! It IS like having a new car! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Desertdawg Posted August 13, 2019 Share Posted August 13, 2019 I’m having misfire issues too. (Been eating to many beans) Glad to hear it’s fixed now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aenigma Posted August 14, 2019 Share Posted August 14, 2019 Very happy it’s running. We finally have a Vette cruise Saturday. You’d have had to take the motorcycle or one of your boyfriend’s cars 😃😃 (clarifying you only have one boyfriend with several cars, not that you have several boyfriends with one car each) 😂😂😂😂 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chameleon Posted August 14, 2019 Author Share Posted August 14, 2019 12 minutes ago, aenigma said: Very happy it’s running. We finally have a Vette cruise Saturday. You’d have had to take the motorcycle or one of your boyfriend’s cars 😃😃 (clarifying you only have one boyfriend with several cars, not that you have several boyfriends with one car each) 😂😂😂😂 See you Saturday! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NativeAz Posted August 14, 2019 Share Posted August 14, 2019 Nice that you found the problem and a relatively easy and fairly inexpensive fix. "The car is running like a scalded rabbit now ..." Hmmm, now need to watch for good deals on tires.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chameleon Posted August 15, 2019 Author Share Posted August 15, 2019 4 hours ago, NativeAz said: Nice that you found the problem and a relatively easy and fairly inexpensive fix. "The car is running like a scalded rabbit now ..." Hmmm, now need to watch for good deals on tires.. Still paying for the last set of tires! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now