Sputtering GS

My girlfriend has a 97 gs and its been running rough like sputtering when you let it idle.. the check engine light is also flashing most of the time and it feels like it is maybe missing a cylinder..

any ideas of what to check first?

Spark plugs

:1:

do gs's and gsx's have the same spark plugs?

Yes.

Yes.

Seriously? I didn't think they did, or atleast there are certain models of each plug that worked better for one or the other. I guess I never really payed attention because I threw the NGK Iridiums in right away and didn't think twice about what the stock plugs were.

It ended up being water in one of the spark plug holes so i took care of that and let it dry good and it runs perfect now..

does anyone know the order the plug wires go on a 97 gsx? To which cylinder

4123 from the coil 4321 on the motor both passenger to drivers side

how did water get in there? does she have a "cold air intake"? (water sucker)

how did water get in there? does she have a "cold air intake"? (water sucker)

Could have washed the engine bay and got water past the plug wires?

BTW, my CAI hasn't sucked up any water in over a year of ownership. :)

i just washed mine last night and it has the same problem. i used that "GUNK" degreaser, then hosed the whole engine bay. There were still suds in that little 12x6 space where the plugs go into the motor, and i really washed it down, it was overflowing with water. today on the way to work it was running really lean, really crappy, really slow. ill check the plugs and wires and see if maybe they are wet, plus this gives me an excuse to put new 7es plugs in :-)

ps-if there was a little bit of water in the spark plug sleeve/hole/whatever, and then it dripped into the cylinder, that wouldnt be enough to hydro-lock the motor or anything right? also, if the car was off when i sprayed it down, could i have accidently sprayed too much water on the air filter, enough to mess it up like it is?

thanks

ok i just replaced the spark plugs, there was water in the far driver side spark plug hole (just a few drops). started the car up, and it still runs the same way. what else could be wrong?

Try replacing the plug wires if new plugs didn't change anything. Those two are usually the most common after washing the engine bay. Just a piece of information for next time though, try not to soak the coil/plugs/wires with water and then letting them sit. If you get them wet, blow them dry with some air, same for the plug holes.

what would a new coil and/or CAS cost? where could i go to get these?

what would a new coil and/or CAS cost? where could i go to get these?

A "new" coil would be expensive. We are talking $100+. If you got a decent used one off Ebay or something, probably like $30-35.

i was thinkin like $600+. $100 or so doesnt seem too bad.

oh and by the way, i drove my dad's car to work today, then when i got home i opened the hood and just looked at the engine trying to see what might be wrong. nothing, so i punched my upper IC pipe in frustration and ended up hitting a bolt too. scraped my knuckle pretty bad. didnt really do anything with the engine, but i got in to start it up, and it started, idled, drove, boosted, and idled some more LIKE A CHAMP. its like the problem was never ever there.:banghead: im gonna let it sit for the rest of today and tomorrow morning and then try it again and see if there is any difference, seeing as how letting it sit seems to work.

scuze me while i go get a bandaide.