dew, humidity, puddles

[scott c]

My car runs like crap at low rpm's after all the above. Misses, farts, sputters, and seems like its running on 3 cyl. I assume its electrical and it goes away, after it dries up, but does anyone know exactly what it may be. I thought at first maybe water in the spark plug wells? Car has 106K and is bone stock. Original owner did first 60k but I don’t believe anything else has been changed. Could it be O2 sensors? Thanks in advance wink

 

[93MTXSHO]

Just by the description, it sounds like mine right after I got it. If the engine was cold and it was raining, or if it had dewed it would miss and carry on. I am really thinking that you have bad plug wires. Most of the time people consider a tune-up just plugs, not wires. I would assume that since you have 106K and it's a 92 your wires are probably no good, especially since mine would also clear out after the engine got warm and the wires would dry off. I replaced them and haven't had a problem since. I think the cheapest place to get them is www.fordpartsnetwork.com or www.fordpartsonline.com I'm sure that sdpatt and the rest of the guys would insist on only using the Ford wires.

 

[sdpatt]

You are so right. The lowest cost source for the Motorcraft wires is still FordPartsNetwork.com at $83.99.

 

[scott c]

Plug wires and plugs are relatively new, not Ford but high quality from Summit. Probably less than 30K on the both. As of this morning all is good and it started Sun after hitting large puddle. This morning here was extremely humid and dewy with no ill effects, except my excessive oil leak and lots of smoke due to it Thanks for the input

 

[rangerj]

Scott,

Is some of that "excessive oil leak" leaking into the spark plug wells? rangerj

 

[scott c]

Very doubtful, I believe it’s the valve cover gasket near the firewall and its just running down the backside onto the exhaust. Also, when I hit the puddle the "Check engine" light came on briefly???

 

[snowwind1990]

Are your motor mounts in good condition?
I think I read this exact same description of sputtering once at LOW RPMs and that was the problem...shakes the electrical connections bad at low rpms.
If not, second best guess...oil in plug wells or wrong plugs period....the wires are -----., what kind of plugs do you have...Motorcraft last longer and have no misfire, others last a while and do what you describe, as well as, gas consumption goes up...is that happening too?
Ma Ma M

 

[scott c]

Car was running absolutely great prior to puddle and like I said the comps are relatively new and the plug wells in the front looked good. Can water and moisture get in the coil pack? I’m sure that’s original equipment.

 

[snowwind1990]

Naw, the coil pack is a long lifer....
You checked the front wells, but it is the back ones that are notorious for loading up with oil...have you ever tried doing the compression test...the KOER,(engine running) that will tell you a lot..throw some codes your way...you may try the KOEO(engine off) too. Go to www.dalidesign.com and see what's up.
You could have lose wires since they are not OEM, that is failure one in alternatives, they don't fit snug.
Ma Ma M