What tha?!?! Needs help with 87 camry-wierd problem!

PunkAlex · #1 06-02-2004, 12:40 PM

Ok so i was cruisin with one of my buds, and i noticed that my car was studdering at stops and sounded real rough, so i pulled into a gas station, and it was really rough on idle. I popped the hood, and on cyl #3 the fuckin spark plug wire thing that goes into the cyl head cover had popped out of place and was 3 inches out of the hole! I was like WHAT DA FUCK?!?! so i popped it in place and made sure it actually popped, and went on drivin. WEll i went out to walmart and on the way back, it was runnin rough again. I stopped in a church parkinglot, and BLAM same thing on cyl #3! I was drivin a little rough but i dont know it has never just "popped" out of place before! What is my problem???

Brian R. · #2 06-02-2004, 01:34 PM

No clue, but if they are old, I would buy new spark plug wires. That is the most likely solution without actually seeing what is going on. I am assuming there is nothing in the spark plug hole except the spark plug. Also, make sure the longest wire is attached to the furthest sparkplug from the distributor, the shortest wire is attached to the closest plug to the distributor, etc.

AndyM1978 · #3 06-02-2004, 02:18 PM

Could be a loose sparkplug that is allowing gasses to escape, which could force the plug wire off. The part of the plug wire that attaches to the plug is designed to provide an airtight seal inside the hole it slides down. When I pull my plug wires off, I get this noticable suction noise along with some resistance until it "pops" all the way out. I've never heard of anyone having this problem, but I'm sure it would be possible.

PunkAlex · #4 06-02-2004, 04:02 PM

yeah i changed plugs bout 150 miles ago, but i doubt that its leakin gasses cause it runs fine after i put the wire back in its place. I woudl go torque down the plugs some more, but i do NOT wanna break one off in there

Toyrolla · #5 06-02-2004, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PunkAlex

yeah i changed plugs bout 150 miles ago, but i doubt that its leakin gasses cause it runs fine after i put the wire back in its place. I woudl go torque down the plugs some more, but i do NOT wanna break one off in there

No need to torque down the plugs if they are already fastened.

The problem appears to be more about the wire than the plug itself.

As Brian suggested, check the wires. You stated that you changed the plugs, but you didn't state anything about changing the wires. Maybe you have a defective wire that is not giving you a good fit over the plug.

Get yourself another wire set and change them one at a time, making sure you have the right wire connecting as per the firing order and making sure you use the right length on every connection.

Good luck...

don24mac · #6 06-02-2004, 05:57 PM

Check the plugs. Either the plug isn't tightened, or it may have a cracked insulator allowing gasses from compression to escape, blowing off the plug wire. Did you use good Toyota recommended plugs when you changed them 150 miles ago?

PunkAlex · #7 06-02-2004, 07:04 PM

dude, i woudla gotten new wires, but you gotta buy a new distributer cap too (at least thats how the autozone sells em)....im pretty sure thats what it is though, bad wires. ill get some soon and see if that helps me

Daniel M. Dreifus · #8 06-03-2004, 09:19 AM

[quote=PunkAlex]dude, i woudla gotten new wires, but you gotta buy a new distributer cap too (at least thats how the autozone sells em)

Buy your wires from Toyota - quality is _much_ better.

PunkAlex · #9 06-03-2004, 03:05 PM

a lil update. A worked on my car a bit today. there is no air tight seal with the wire and its much easier to pop out than any of the others. at about 1/8th throttle i can feel it skipping every 3 or 4 seconds. its obviously ignition, sso what all shoudl i replace? wires and distr. cap?

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