Why is my car running rough after my spark plug an wire change?

OKAYBOUQUET

MEMBER
2007 CHEVROLET TAHOE
107,000 MILES

Engine light is on and the traction control service message is on and engine runs rough after I changed wires and spark plugs today. There is a chance I cracked the ceramic when installing one of the plugs, however it is too hot right now to try and pull the plug and check. Also the metal housing that has a spring on the end that the plug wire connector goes through. Is that necessary to have.

5 Replies

SATURNTECH9

MECHANIC
30,870 POSTS

Yes the terminal end on the spark plug wire is a must for a good connection. Other wise the spark has to jump from the wire core to the terminal. Also a cracked plug is going to cause a problem. What are the exact code numbers you have?

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Sunday, August 19th, 2012 AT 6:04 AM

GASCAP

MEMBER
9 POSTS

I would recommend first check for correct spark plug gap, then make sure that you didn't disconnect a vacuum line by accident

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Wednesday, September 5th, 2012 AT 7:52 AM

RIVERMIKERAT

MECHANIC
6,110 POSTS

Okaybouquet, did you get this figured out? Did you replace the plug leads incorrectly, or was it the broken plug?

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Friday, September 7th, 2012 AT 5:43 PM

GASCAP

MEMBER
9 POSTS

Well okboquet. An numer of things I need answers to so we can solve your issue first did you buy the correct spark plugs, most newer GM vehicles use irridium plugs whitch come pre gapped from the mfg. So if you tried to gap them they might be damaged, second did you disconnect the neg terminal from the battery, if you did did you wait a few minutes for your PCM to relearn its parameters? If you did not it will cause the engine to run rough for a couple of complete engine cycles, Could be what the other readers have described, a cracked plug would cause this, so would mis connected spark plug leads but i'm not sure that would be it because the wires on todays v-8 engines are interchangeable, please describe "running rough" only at idle or all the time?Is it surging, the it would be a vacume line sorry okboquet i've most likley made matters worse. Just trying to help im not nearly as skilled as some on here that can answer car problems. With very little to go by, but hey atleast you trying good luck

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Monday, October 22nd, 2012 AT 6:55 AM

RIVERMIKERAT