Adjusted v clearance, now stutter on throttle

[MooseNelson]

Hi there,

1992 eagle summit hatch 1.5 (Mitsubishi)

OK, I've had a horrid problem with cold idle (won't maintain), but adjusted my valved clearance the other night, and wow, LIKE A NEW ENGINE

==> Hard to believe, but the clearance was not enough! So the valves weren't even closing until the head was hot enough (expanded)

Anyway, Here's what happened:

In my glee, I decided to buy some new plugs, gapped them and installed, however now when I push heavy on the throttle, the engine stutters, coughs, like the timing is off or something

besides checking the timing, i forgot to plug in the last wire (drove it out of the garage on 3 cylinders (felt like before), don't think this did any damage...

I do know that one of the wires is frayed down to about 4 strands on one of the wires coming from the computer to the distributor cap, I've had this taped up since I bought the car, but perhaps under heavu load, it needs this extra voltage?

Everything was fine until I put the new plugs in...opcorn:

[curtis73]

Did you buy stock replacements or fancy unobtainium zickle alloy 20-prong fancy plugs?

Its possible that the new plugs have revealed a weak set of plug wires. Wires that have excess resistance can act like you describe.

[MooseNelson]

Yeah I think we have a short or not enough amperage coming through one of the plugs,

The plugs are "champion" plugs which were suggested by the comp at pep boys, little step up from the Autolite plugs I used before

All wires, rotor and cap are reasonably new (6 months)

There is a frayed wire going into the distributor, most likely I need to take care of that.

Adjust Valve clearance now and get:

-your vacuum back
-your MPG back
-A Quiet motor back

total job: 1 hour

[MooseNelson]

Hi there:

Well it seems that the problem IS related to voltage and SPARK

I removed the plugs from the cap and found that two of the them had been pulled out of their slots a bit and been ARCING, alot of sulphur in there and one terminal was a been BURNED off

(wonder if the wires are completely shot)

after fixing the cap wire connection situation is better, less stutter under high throttle pressure, but still, just not quite THERE

I think this problem might had been there before I just didn't notice it because of all the blowby caused by leaking valves...

No chance this could have anything to do with vacuum advance timing?

[Moppie]

Originally Posted by MooseNelson

No chance this could have anything to do with vacuum advance timing?

No, but both are symptoms of an old car

Just replace all the leads, tidy up that funky wire and I'm sure you will find it runs a lot better.