Sputtering GS

[rock0134]

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?

[l_eclipse_l]

Spark plugs

[gthompson97]

[rock0134]

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

[gthompson97]

Yes.

[l_eclipse_l]

Originally Posted by gthompson97

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.

[rock0134]

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

[blk_srt]

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

[Black97GST]

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

[l_eclipse_l]

Originally Posted by Black97GST

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.

[eclipsed at 3am]

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

[eclipsed at 3am]

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?

[gthompson97]

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.

[eclipsed at 3am]

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

[l_eclipse_l]

Originally Posted by eclipsed at 3am

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.