*&!#*&!ing Spark Plugs

[lucaswhunter]

Well - I bit the bullett and decided to change the plugs in my wifes 01 3.4l this weekend.... front ones were a breeze.. back ones... not so much.... I took the dog bones off and rocked the engine forward, and still couldnt get them changed... I put new wires on the front, and one in the back. NOW - the car is missing.... any ideas beofre i spend $200 bucks to have someone look at it?

[BNaylor]

Was the missing there before the spark plug and wire changeout?

What brand spark plugs and wires did you use?

Based on my experience with the 3.4L it is best to stay with OEM AC Delco spark plugs and AC Delco Premium Silicone 7mm plug wires.

[lucaswhunter]

No miss before I changed them. I went cheap and used NGK's... I use them in my Isuzu, but im finding out they are not good in a GM

[BNaylor]

Originally Posted by lucaswhunter

No miss before I changed them. I went cheap and used NGK's... I use them in my Isuzu, but im finding out they are not good in a GM

Interesting. NGKs are good spark plugs but the 3.4 and 3800 engines can act quirky with them. If I had a Japanese car I would definitely use them. Works great in my Honda MX bike too.

I installed AC Delco 41-101 Iridiums in our Alero 3.4L and they work fine. Also, I had the 41-101 Iridiums in our '01 Impala LS but we sold it last year.

Good luck and I am quite sure you will figure it out.

[billyo69]

I changed the plugs in a v8 350 once and had a skip.I couldnt figure it out so off to the dealer.I turned out that one of the plugs had a crack in the porcelin.I must of cracked it while installing them.Start pulling the wires off one at a time until you figure which one is missing then check that plug carefully..Each time you pull a wire it will skip worse until you pull the bad one and you will notice no difference.And that will be the one.Let me know how it works. Also you may have a wire on incorrectly(not sitting on the plug right)

[BNaylor]

Originally Posted by billyo69

I changed the plugs in a v8 350 once and had a skip.I couldnt figure it out so off to the dealer.I turned out that one of the plugs had a crack in the porcelin.I must of cracked it while installing them.Start pulling the wires off one at a time until you figure which one is missing then check that plug carefully..Each time you pull a wire it will skip worse until you pull the bad one and you will notice no difference.And that will be the one.Let me know how it works. Also you may have a wire on incorrectly(not sitting on the plug right)

Good point Billyo69. A few months ago I put in 6 new AC Delco Rapidfire 14 Platinums in my wife's '99 Regal LS (Series II 3800). After a few weeks the SES light started blinking indicating a misfire condition. Pulled all the plugs since there was no missing before. Plus I installed brand new AC Delco Premium Silicone 7mm wires. Of the 6 brand new spark plugs 3 had hairline cracks in the ceramic part where it says AC Delco. They appeared to be manufacturing defects and not due to my error or dropping them.

I took them back to Autozone under the 2 year guarantee on the plugs. Switched over to AC Delco Iridiums 41-101 and no problems since. Incidently, the 41-101s are made by NGK for AC Delco.

[billyo69]

Ya thats what i had a hairline crack.I figured i did it while putting them in.I feel better now knowing it was probly a defect and not my fault.

[57chevyragtop]

This is what i would do, I am assuming of course you used NGK iridium which is fine. I would first retrace wires to front and back to be sure of no crossover. 2nd. I don't know which wire to the back plugs you replaced but I do know when removing OEM on No 1 it has a tendency to pull apart. I talked to a gm tech about this and was told a plug wire puller should be used especially on the wires to the back side because of the heat build up is higher. for info firing order on coil pack L to R is 123456 front bank plugs from left to right are 246 back is 135. ACDelco is what I used 41-101.