03 Lancer run rough after new plugs

doclawson · Jul 25, 2009, 09:25 AM

new to Evo.net. So good day to all. Hope someone can be of assist.
Installed new NGK plugs (proper gap) yesterday and car running really rough. Was fine untill I installed new plugs. Installed new wires, still no help. Have went over it again double checking proper install. I know I must be missing something simple but can't put my finger on it. Reinstalled all my old stuff and it run a little better but far from acceptable. It is a 2L "03" Lancer Oz. Could this by any chance be a fuse or computer prob?

senate6268 · Jul 25, 2009, 09:33 AM

First off, welcome to the forums!

How many miles are on your engine? The coil packs are more prone to failure once the miles start adding up. Did you put any dielectric grease in the boots before re-installing the coil packs? If you want, you can reset your ECU by removing your negative terminal on your battery for 25min. After you hook it back up and start the engine the ECU will relearn the settings it needs for your engine. This might be a good place to start. Once you start it back up, don't touch it and let it idle for 20min. Then for the next 100 miles or so it will learn it's settings for cruise and WOT.

imalancerman · Jul 25, 2009, 11:11 AM

Also check for cracked plugs. I installed new plugs on my grandparents mercury and accidentally cracked one while installing and didnt even know. We replaced so much crap before we figured it out. Just a suggestion.

doclawson · Jul 25, 2009, 01:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by senate6268

First off, welcome to the forums!

How many miles are on your engine? The coil packs are more prone to failure once the miles start adding up. Did you put any dielectric grease in the boots before re-installing the coil packs? If you want, you can reset your ECU by removing your negative terminal on your battery for 25min. After you hook it back up and start the engine the ECU will relearn the settings it needs for your engine. This might be a good place to start. Once you start it back up, don't touch it and let it idle for 20min. Then for the next 100 miles or so it will learn it's settings for cruise and WOT.

125480 miles. The parts dealer gave me the wrong plugs first go around and that's when my troulbe started. I've replaced plugs,wires and coil. Still no change. Have been told that installing wrong plugs could have made it jump timing or blown a piston, #3 is not firing

senate6268 · Jul 25, 2009, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doclawson

125480 miles. The parts dealer gave me the wrong plugs first go around and that's when my troulbe started. I've replaced plugs,wires and coil. Still no change. Have been told that installing wrong plugs could have made it jump timing or blown a piston, #3 is not firing

Did you replace both coils or just one of them? Wrong plugs would've caused the ECU to make adjustments to get back stable, but should correct itself with the right plugs eventually. If you swap the coils see if the #1 cylinder fires or not. That would indicate a bad coil.

doclawson · Jul 25, 2009, 07:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by senate6268

Did you replace both coils or just one of them? Wrong plugs would've caused the ECU to make adjustments to get back stable, but should correct itself with the right plugs eventually. If you swap the coils see if the #1 cylinder fires or not. That would indicate a bad coil.

swap new coil still #3 not firing. Removed positive post for 30 min but car will not idle.

03lances · Jul 25, 2009, 11:10 PM

Have you checked your compression on #3? That would be the next step I would take, if its not firing either no compression, no spark or no fuel. Check compression. Pull the plug and connect it to the plug cable and hold it against the head and have someone turn it over to check the actual spark plug for spark, swap injectors (if you can without hurting it not sure) from the #3 from another and see if #3 still doesnt fire to see if for some reason the injector is clogged or toast.

doclawson · Jul 26, 2009, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 03lances

Have you checked your compression on #3? That would be the next step I would take, if its not firing either no compression, no spark or no fuel. Check compression. Pull the plug and connect it to the plug cable and hold it against the head and have someone turn it over to check the actual spark plug for spark, swap injectors (if you can without hurting it not sure) from the #3 from another and see if #3 still doesnt fire to see if for some reason the injector is clogged or toast.

Tested #3 plug it is not firing, swapped out wiring and retested still no spark. Also disconnect battery post waited about 30 min. reconnected and tried to idle, but no success there either. I had absolutely no prob until I installed the wrong plugs, could this have caused my problem. I just can't imagine how it could have went from good to bad in a few moments.
senate thanks for all your help, you've been great!

03lances · Jul 26, 2009, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doclawson

Tested #3 plug it is not firing, swapped out wiring and retested still no spark. Also disconnect battery post waited about 30 min. reconnected and tried to idle, but no success there either. I had absolutely no prob until I installed the wrong plugs, could this have caused my problem. I just can't imagine how it could have went from good to bad in a few moments.
senate thanks for all your help, you've been great!

Ok if you havent already I would take another coil pack and connect it to the #3 harness then connect the spark plug and hold against the head again to retest. If it works its for sure the coil pack if it still does not check with another spark plug again if it works its the coil pack if it doesnt then time to start checking the wiring (and if this is what you meant by swapping wiring then disregard)

hope that helps

senate6268 · Jul 26, 2009, 09:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doclawson

swap new coil still #3 not firing. Removed positive post for 30 min but car will not idle.

It's the negative terminal that needs to be disconnected, not the positive. I would also use dielectric grease on the wire ends hooking up to the coil packs to make sure you have a good connection.

doclawson · Jul 27, 2009, 06:21 AM

sorry my bad, it was the neg I removed. Know where I can find a wiring diagram?

senate6268 · Jul 27, 2009, 06:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doclawson

sorry my bad, it was the neg I removed. Know where I can find a wiring diagram?

Which diagram do you need? There are dozens in the factory service manual.

doclawson · Jul 27, 2009, 07:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by senate6268

Which diagram do you need? There are dozens in the factory service manual.

which ever one sends fire to #3
as u can probably tell I'm NO mechanic

senate6268 · Jul 27, 2009, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doclawson

which ever one sends fire to #3
as u can probably tell I'm NO mechanic

I need to know if you have a manual or auto trans to know which diagram to put up for the wiring, but here's two diagrams that should help you out diagnosing the coils, if one of them is bad:

03lances · Jul 28, 2009, 02:51 PM

Any luck on troubleshooting?