1992 Buick Century Rough Idle After Tune-Up

BUICK CENTURY
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JOYV256
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My neighbor changed my plugs and wires for me, 1992 Buick Century with 145,000 miles on it. He did one at a time and gapped them right, I watched him do this. The car now is hard to start, idles very rough, there's a loud banging noise that I can't see where its coming from and car stalls when I try to drive it.
Jan 2, 2007 at 6:45 AM
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SERVICE WRITER
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was the problem present beofre the work?
Jan 2, 2007 at 6:53 AM
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JOYV256
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No the car ran smooth, idle was good, couldn't even hear it run. Just wanted to get a tune up and this happened.
Jan 3, 2007 at 2:23 AM
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XOWEY
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it sure sounds like the wires are on wrong.................. :? is it a 4 or 6 cylender?
Jan 3, 2007 at 6:22 AM
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SERVICE WRITER
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It is so easy to cross a couple wires. I'll second that thought. IT is hard to imagine anything else based on before and after.
Jan 3, 2007 at 9:20 AM
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JOYV256
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It is a 6 cyl. If one or more wires did get crossed how will I know what order they do go in? If it is the wires then its the 3 front small one those are the ones I didn't stand and watch him do. How would I find out the firing order ( someone told me that's what it is) but I don't know what that is, is that the wired order?
Jan 4, 2007 at 4:01 AM

Suggested Repair

Recheck the spark plug wire routing. Because the car ran smoothly before the tune-up, one or more wires are likely crossed. Confirm the six-cylinder firing order and connect each wire from the correct distributor terminal to the matching cylinder, especially the three front plugs that were not watched.

Conversation Summary

The owner of a 1992 Buick Century six-cylinder had the plugs and wires replaced. The car previously ran smoothly, but it is now hard to start, idles roughly, makes a loud banging noise, and stalls when driven. Experts say the plug wires were likely crossed and recommend verifying the firing order and wire placement.

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