My beloved 94 is ill

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Sinnersdinner

New member
This is my first post, but I have to tell you that the Mark VIII community was a priceless resource when I purchased this car. It's 59K miles young, and this morning it didn't want to get out of bed, and subsequently, it didn't. I'm suspecting one of two possibilties:
I filled the car with a fresh tank before returning from work - maybe drove it 3 miles from the gas station to my driveway. Can it be "bad gas"? I also got a car wash, and upon entering the wash bay, they have these spray contraptions mounted to clean the underside - could I have residual moisture settle down into my spark plug area?
When I turned the ignition this morning, it was sputtering and dying. The electrical was fine, and I had both check engine and oil lights (probably/maybe a default when you stall?) I figured rather than push it, it would be best to wait until I had a minute to fool with it. So before I go to the mechanic who will invariably rip me because I'm a girl, what does the audience think?
 
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steve

With "LOD" Since 1997
Could be a few things. Just some questions about the gas first.

Have you gotten gas there before? What brand of gas did you get and what octane?

Do you get the check engine light when the car is running?
 
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Viol8or

New member
Had a tune-up recently? How do you know the electrical was fine?

Can't imagine that the under carriage spray would be strong enough to effect the spark plugs, since their covered. The only time I've had sputtering and dying was related to the idle air control valve. I would guess that a wet O2 sensor connection might also cause such a problem.

Maybe with further drying, the problem will be resolved. Good luck.
 
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magic_marker

New member
Make sure to check the connections between the spark plug wires and your ignition coils (the two 'boxes' the spark plug wires go to in the front of your engine, under the plastic beauty cover).

You should have a thin layer of dielectric grease smeared on the spark plug boot ends (just on the rubber inside, and *not* on the metal contact!) to ensure a watertight seal. Also, helps to hold them in place.

That's about all I can offer. :)
 
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dsinclair

New member
I don't think you meant to hold them in place with your hands - unless you want to try that for her ;-)

I would suggest you just open the hood and look around. Is it soaked with water from the wash?
 
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Sinnersdinner

New member
You guys are the best!!! I think it might have been some errant moisture interupting the O2 sensor. I let it sit, and cranked it up yesterday - runs like a champ. I did put some gas dryer in just to be safe. I have already been through the joy of alternators last year, so I have that experience under my belt. You guys also helped me hammer the dealer service dept when they flushed my cooling system and some service slacker decided to refill it through the overflow, leaving a ton of air in the system and causing major havoc with my thermostat. They actually tried to con me into paying for thermostat replacement, but I knew what they had done and went straight to the GM - registering a formal complaint. (Big whoo) When I bought this car - every manufacturing quirk I researched through the Mark 8 community was totally correct for my car year, i.e., the yellow driver side mirror, the wrinkled rear window gasket, the vibration of the two piece drive shaft at about 80 MPH, and the weird floating shift sensation betwixt 3rd and 4th. I bought this car because of the engine.. it's the same as I had in my awesome Cobra, but with a better ride and more car. I just love it!
 
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