Changed spark plugs in 2004 GTX 4-tec Wake edition and now idling rough

[Walls89]

Hi all, I changed my plugs in my 2004 GTX, and immediately thereafter It started running very rough and stalling.

I know it's possible that one or more of the new plugs could be faulty.

My question is, what is the best way to check to see if any are faulty? Is it possible that one of the rubber cap connectors is bad? I mean, it started and idled well before I changed the plugs. I was very careful not to break anything when I removed the caps from the spark plugs. And also, I did remove the screws from the new plugs and made sure the rubber connectors clicked securely down on the tips of the new plugs. The dealer I bought the plugs from said they were pre-gapped so I did NO gapping.

One thing I did not do is disconnect the battery before I changed the plugs, but this shouldnt matter should it?

Any advice on best way to check each spark plug would be greatly appreciated!!

 

[Coastiejoe]

Hi all, I changed my plugs in my 2004 GTX, and immediately thereafter It started running very rough and stalling.

I know it's possible that one or more of the new plugs could be faulty.

My question is, what is the best way to check to see if any are faulty? Is it possible that one of the rubber cap connectors is bad? I mean, it started and idled well before I changed the plugs. I was very careful not to break anything when I removed the caps from the spark plugs. And also, I did remove the screws from the new plugs and made sure the rubber connectors clicked securely down on the tips of the new plugs. The dealer I bought the plugs from said they were pre-gapped so I did NO gapping.

One thing I did not do is disconnect the battery before I changed the plugs, but this shouldnt matter should it?

Any advice on best way to check each spark plug would be greatly appreciated!!

Could be a plug and or wire end as those are the only things you touched..

What I would do is, put in the other plugs and see if it smooths out. If so, you know it is one of the new plugs. Then, replace just ONE of the plugs with a new on. If still smooth, that is also a good plug. If ruff, there is the bad plug.

Now, if you put in the old plugs and it runs ruff, you need ot look at the wires as you may have damaged them.

As long as you have a set of known good plugs, you will be able to isolate this out.

 

[Walls89]

Awesome...will do that tonight!! I do still have 3 new plugs! Will follow up with you to let you know what i find!

Thanks!!

 

[Coastiejoe]

Awesome...will do that tonight!! I do still have 3 new plugs! Will follow up with you to let you know what i find!

Thanks!!

To determine the issue, I would use the OLD plugs. If you install the three new plugs and it still idles rough, you really won't know what the issue is...

 

[Walls89]

I threw them away. Ughhh

 

[Coastiejoe]

I threw them away. Ughhh

Lesson learned,,,

I NEVER throw whatever I just took off away until one of two things.. I know everything is perfect or I am keeping them as a back up. On my Searay I would tune both engines and keep all parts through the year. SO each tuneup I would have the set from two changes ago and throw them away and keep the ones I just took off for the season.

 

[Walls89]

Yeah but they are spark plugs. I bought 6. Put 3 in my RXP. It fired right up meaner than ever. Put the other 3 in the gtx There are 3 new ones in the container under the seat. Maybe they are gapped like the ones I pulled out. Hoping!

 

[Coastiejoe]

Yeah but they are spark plugs. I bought 6. Put 3 in my RXP. It fired right up meaner than ever. Put the other 3 in the gtx There are 3 new ones in the container under the seat. Maybe they are gapped like the ones I pulled out. Hoping!

I hear ya, and agree, But,,, they are only as good as the weakest link in the chain. Plus, it is very easy to crack the porcelain causing poor performance.. As a general rule, you install them and they are good. But,,, when they are not, it is nice to be able to isolate the issue out with "known good" items...