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Re: Can spark plugs die instantly? (archive)
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Posted by Angus on December 08, 2000 at 23:17:42:

In Reply to: Can spark plugs die instantly? posted by MPike on December 08, 2000 at 22:20:31:


I drove my M3 to work, everything was fine. I drove my M3 to lunch, everything was fine. Started it up to go home, and I hear a strange sputtering sound. I thought maybe it just needs to warm up. When I accelerated there was a strange vibration. I roll the window down and something doesn't sound right. My exhaust is sputtering. I arrive at the house, open the hood and put my hand on the top of the spark plug wires of #1-#3 and they are the same, #4 feels different, more vibration in #4 than in #1-#3. I removed the cap and rotor, rotor looked bad. I replaced the rotor, no difference. I removed spark plug #1 and it didn't look so bad. I have a one piece strut brace so I have to remove it to examine #4 spark plug. Any suggestions as to why #4 feels so rough?

Thanks,
Mark

wow thats a new one ,diagnosing and engine problem by feeling the vibration in the plug wire's ,hmmmmmmm . just a word of warning if there is a problem with your plugs/plug wires and you stick your hand on them they will give you a hell of a kick (up to 35Kv (thats 35,000 volts my friend) enough to stop the human heart). be very carefull poking around them ( they dont put the warning sticker's on there for fun).
you may have a fouled plug ,these cars do that quite easily if started several time's and not allowed to warm completely up(the plugs need to get hot to self clean).as for the wires vibrating differently ,the only reason i could ever think of is if the spark plug was loose ,but these wire assemblies fit so tight in the plug holes i dont think you would notice that.also if you have the stock plug wire's/loom you might want to take the loom apart and look inside as the wires often go bad inside from chaffing/rubbing against each other and the plastic loom, and will arc to each other causing theses same symptoms.but please dont attempt this with the engine running!
hope this helps.


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