Next day, realized the problem, and got the wires right. Car was running alright.
Made a drive for about 30 miles and car worked great. Then started misfiring, after engine was hot.
I don't think head gasket got blown when wires were wrong.
Just drove it a little to Walmart, etc. Car was not running consistently. Would run perfect, then I would start it again and would misfire badly.
For example, I took the car for a short drive to one local store. It was running great - and idling fine for this little shopping trip. I was amazed how solid the engine sounded. Before going in the store, I sat there for 1 or 2 minutes and gassed it gently, a few times, to make sure engine was not misfiring at all. Went in the store and was very happy! BUT. When I came out of store, and restarted it, it was misfiring badly, and could barely get it home. That is when I decided to disconnect the battery and reset the whole computer back to factory settings. I think for the past 11 years, the computer had never been reset back to factory settings.
Decided the computer was very confused.
Took the battery cable off for about an hour. Computer reset.
Made 2 short trips of about.2 miles each, and was misfiring badly.
Also, at this point, when I would try to start it, would start very sluggish, like timing was not right.
But. I wanted to take it for longer drive to let computer learn. Drove the car 30 miles on the Interstate highway to give the computer a chance to "learn." This drive was fine! Got the car home and engine was running perfect! Even better than it did before I changed the plugs.
BUT. Next time I started the car (a few days later and engine was cold), car immediately was misfiring.
But the problem with sluggish cranking speed was gone; it started easily and quickly.
Before I originally changed the plugs, car had always ran perfectly! I hate myself for getting the plug wires mixed up, but would be happy again, if I can solve this funky problem.
It seems to me that the computer is not remembering the Perfect Settings from when I took the initial "relearn" test drive. What are your thoughts?
Thanks a lot. Bob
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Saturday, October 31st, 2015 AT 1:43 AM