'02 Vulcan spark plugs

[Willyum]

Replaced the Motorcraft plugs w/Autolite AP104's. Engine started just long enough to spin and stop dead. Would not re-start. Put the old plugs back in and it returned to running fine.
Are the Motorcraft plugs the only brand that will work or is there a way to train the car to use the Autolites?

[shorod]

Your switch to the Autolites should not have been an issue. Do you maybe have one a few Autolite plugs that are cracked/bad? With the Motorcraft plugs in and the engine running fine, shut off the engine, pick a plug that's easy to get to, then swap the Motorcraft with your Autolites, one at a time, to see if one or more cause the engine to idle roughly. If you get through all 6 and none seem to be a problem, then maybe you left a connection loose when you first swapped the plugs, but caught it after putting the Motorcrafts back in causing it to seem like the plugs were the only variable. You wouldn't be the first person to have done that.

-Rod

[mechhound]

That's a mighty strange one. I would say either you got ahold of some totally non functional spark plugs or you inadvertently unplugged and replugged something.


Edited to say Rod's post came up while I was typing and thinking. (I'm slow on both counts)

[Willyum]

I think the suggestion that I swap the old Motorcrafts out one at a time until I find the fault is a good one. Will post back with results.

[Willyum]

I would think that if it is just one bad plug, that cylinder would misfire. With all the Autolite plugs in, it just plain won't start.

[shorod]

Agreed, which is why I suggested you go through all of them to see if "one or more cause the engine to idle roughly." You don't want to stop as soon as you find one that makes a difference.

-Rod