Lumina Running REALLY Rough

[smarti01]

My 96 Lumina 3.1 was missing on occasion so I replaced the plugs, wires, air filter, oil and oil filter. The car ran terrible after the changes... I realized that I had switched the #1 and #5 plug wires. Fixed the plug wires and the car ran OK but the Service Engine Soon light was on and the oil light went on when the car was idling.

Next I disconnected the battery to clear the Service Engine Soon light, added STP oil treatment and a bottle of fuel injector cleaner... the car ran great, for about 2 miles.

Now it runs REALLY REALLY bad, hard to start, missing, will not stay running. So after the 2 mile walk home I'm not sure what to do. The car only had about a 1/2 tank of gas when I added the injector cleaner and I didn't make it to the gas station to fill it up the rest of the way.

Could that be causing the problem? Would it be running rich and the engine can't handle it, or did I realy mess something up?

[SlamminMOfo]

For starters, what plugs and wires did you replace them with??

[smarti01]

O.E. Fit OMNISpark Hi Temp Double Silicone Ignition Wire set and Autolite Double Platinum plugs.

I just started it again... about 2 hours since last start... it still runs the same as when I left it. Cooling down didn't make a difference.

[SlamminMOfo]

Just for the hell of it, pull the distibutor cap and rotor and check for wear.

[smarti01]

No distributor.

[broughy84]

This vehicle has coil packs. I would almost bet that you have one or more fried coil packs...Take them off your car and take them to autozone they will test them for you. This is not a very cheap part (about 50-60) but it is a must. And I have seen coil packs go bad from misrouted plug wires.

[smarti01]

Thanks. I'm going to check the coil packs tomorrow, but I think I found the problem. A wire connected to the coil pack module fell against the exhaust manifold and fried right through. It had to melt through the plastic heat shield and the wire insulation before it died... that explains why I went 3 miles before it died. I'll let you know what I find out.

[smarti01]

I fixed the melted wires and it didn't make a bit of difference. I'll check on those coil packs next since the shorted wire may have fried them. Any other suggestions out there?

[SlamminMOfo]

When is the last time the Fuel Filter was changed?

[newfie1411]

You should also check the plug wires. I had the same problem after I chenged my wires and it turned out one of the wires ventured too close to the rad fan and it got sliced. It was enough to throw the performance big time. Just run your hand over each wire.

[smarti01]

Turns out the oil pump died. Now the fun really starts. Thank you for all the help everyone.