Why is it the simple jobs go horribly wrong?

[BBROWN1664]

:'(

I had put off changing the plugs on the Mrs car until today as they were a bit tight to get out (rusted!)
Having got them out and the new ones in I stated the car eventually and it is running like shite. Check engine light is on too.

Fec. Should have paid Ford to do it in the first place I think.

[FuZzBoM]

Does the car have a duratec engine? If so they have a cast iron head and they can crack..... Terrible design, i was so glad when my sister sold her Ford Ka.

[BBROWN1664]

No it's the Zetec lump in this one. Cover is missing though which is how I think the water got in the plug wells. Not losing any water or burning oil and now has a horrible misfire since changing plugs. Tried the leads and even reverted back to original plugs and leads but problem is stil there with the check light on. Not a happy person!

[caretaker]

a very quick way to check for shorting is to fire it up in the dark. any arcing is easier to spot. the problem suggests that something was disturbed after changing the plugs. if the plug caps screw into the leads (do they still make them like that?) snip a bit off and screw them in again. i assume you havent mixed the leads up..  check the simplest things first.

[BBROWN1664]

One on one off Caretaker for the leads. I have made that mistake before :pokefun

The old and new leads are having the same problem as are the old and new plugs now. My brother is meant to be coming round with an OBD reader in the morning so may have something to go on then.
Taking one lead off at a time affects the tick over more for each cylinder so am assuming now that it is not ignition related and looking at other things but cant work out what as didn't touch anything else.
No apparent air leaks or loose connections. Stumped.

[GrahamB]

Jesus that sucks. I would have said you dropped a plug but just read all your other post. Got me stumped.  :\

[phillywilly]

take the "check engine " bulb out , put the old plugs back in ,take it to ford to change the plugs then when they have done it and u get home put the bulb back in and tell em the light come on ,on the way home and its their fault  :eek

[BBROWN1664]

Been there and done that too Graham. Got the right tools and no closed gaps. :-(

[GrahamB]

Yeah sorry chap, didn't read all your posts properly until just now. Edited my 1st reply.  :o

[FuZzBoM]

Might sound daft but check earth points. I take them off, give them a clean and copper slip them up.
My mrs has an audi A2 that had a weird misfire and was logged by the ecu due to that.
Something to do with taking the earth from the chassis and not the engine to help elimiate noise..

OBD will probaby show a fault code for a missfire. depending on the ecu it may tell you what cylinder at least.

Anyway hope you get it sorted soon.

[Streetbudgie]

Every job I've started lately has gone horribly wrong, we had a fault on the cooker which turned into a new water main and therefore a new front drive.  :wall

[BBROWN1664]

Sorry it is a Duratec engine. Just got my brothers OBD reader plugged in and it is showing a misfire. No sh1t!
Showing as on #1 cylinder so off to get a new coil pack tomorrow and see if that fixes it.

[Lawrence]

Is it possible to swap the coils round?  If so try that and see if the misfire moves with the coil.

[FuZzBoM]

I agree with Lawrence, swap if possible. you could find its just a dodgy contact.
Having said that a new set of plugs could have pushed a tired coil pack over the edge and killed it. i have had a coil die before on a crapy old Metro due to new plugs and leads so it does happen.

[BBROWN1664]

Nice try Lawrence and fuzzbom but that isn't an option on this one.

[MadDogMcQ]

It's almost ALWAYS the inline coil. They have extremely fragile ceramics in them and it's incredibly easy to damage them when removing and refitting. Simple fix though 

[BBROWN1664]

I have got a new coil this morning (one coil does all 4 leads) so will try that at lunchtime.

Fortunately my eldest does not need his car for school so the mrs has used that today.

[BBROWN1664]

New coil pack fitted and its all ok now.

[FuZzBoM]

yeah thought it wold be.. glad you got it sorted. better than going to those damn dealers!!!

[locksmith]

There you go Bob, panicking over nothing at all :lol

Wouldn't know where to look for fecking spark plugs on the car nowdays !