BAWC Forums

Anyway. I was checking the spark plugs and found this:





That was in the 2nd spot back from the front.

Same plug next to one (first one in engine from front) that I bought at the same time:



What causes that? Anything I can pick up at Auto Zone while I am there getting a new plug?

Also, the cap was caked in dirt on the inside, and one wire was broken (one leading to the first plug).

Why is no one ever on when I need them?

Well I changed the wires, cap, and plugs, but now the engine seems to want to stutter more on the exhaust side of thing. At idle it is still really choppy and causing my rpm to move up and down just a bit (I am talking the needle is moving less than 1/2 a centimeter total. It does not seem to miss fire now though as bad.

This all started happening on Sunday, and that is the day that I realized I was missing a second hanger on the XJ. The exhaust has had a really choppy tone for the last 1000 miles or so too.

While under the XJ, I noticed the muffler has its fair share of rust holes. It is hard to tell if the cat is bad with the whole exhaust system rattling ever time I hit the cat. I also checked my downpipe. Right after where it connects to the manifold there is a huge f'in dent that looks like it has been there awhile. There is a lot of dirt and rust like substance built up on the dent. It is almost cutting the pipe diameter in 1/2.

I can't tell if the manifold is cracked or not, but it looks to be in ok condition from what I can see.

For $450, should I just replace the whole exhaust including the manifold or not?

Just found out the dent is a factory thing.

What should I do next? How do I check my cat besides banging on it?

I would do a compression test on the engine with a plug that looks like that (especially if those 2 plugs were replaced at the same time). That usually happens when you are burning something you shouldn't be burning (like coolant).

[quote=""Hans_GZP""]I would do a compression test on the engine with a plug that looks like that (especially if those 2 plugs were replaced at the same time). That usually happens when you are burning something you shouldn't be burning (like coolant).[/quote]

ok.


When I fired her up this morning she did ok, until I got on the road. Then it got really bad for about a minute or so. Alot of hesitation and backfiring. Then all of a sudden it launched forward and did great for the rest of the trip to work. I will see what it does after work.

http://www.geocities.com/siliconvalley/2072/carcomp.htm

Is that right for a compression test? Anything else I sould know?

http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=357475

What do you guys think about what is all said on this thread. It sounds like they are having the same exact problems that I am.

That's how you do it. You can just unplug the coil if you don't want to go about grounding that wire. Sometimes you can even run a jumper wire from the starter to the battery so you don't have to jump in the car.

I was planning on picking up a volt meter and testing the things listed in the jeep thread, and I will do a compression test as well.

The other things that could be bad would be the coil, fuel pressure, fuel filter, and 02 sensor?

I think they pretty covered everything pretty well in that thread.

How do I test the MAP, IAC, and TPS? Is there a way to check the O2 sensor without taking it out?

I am going to also check the fuel pressure tonight.

I found this online.

Priority Action Part Type Cause
1 Inspect Fuel Filter Clogged or dirty fuel filter

2 Inspect Wireset Damaged, worn, or deteriorating spark plug or coil wire(s).

3 Inspect Spark Plug Fouled, damaged or broken spark plug(s).

4 Inspect Fuel System Pressure Incorrect fuel pressure being delivered to carburetor or fuel injection system.

5 Inspect Fuel Pump Improperly functioning fuel pump or circuits.

6 Inspect Timing Specification Incorrectly adjusted engine timing.

7 Inspect Throttle Position Sensor Faulty throttle position sensor or throttle position sensor circuit.

8 Inspect Fuel Tank Contaminated fuel from rusted or deteriorated fuel tank.

9 Inspect Air Cleaner Temperature Sensor Damaged or faulty air cleaner temperature sensor or air cleaner temperature sensor circuit.

10 Inspect Accelerator Pump Diaphragm Damaged or faulty fuel injection accelerator pump diaphragm.

11 Inspect Mass Air Flow Sensor Improperly connected or faulty mass air flow sensor.

12 Inspect Oxygen Sensor Damaged or faulty oxygen sensor or circuit.

13 Inspect Fuel Injector Plugged, dirty or poorly connected fuel injector.

I already did numbers 2 and 3. I am going to do number 7 tonight.

Well I am going to take it to autozone if it is still messing up after work. According to their website they test alot of things for free, so I will see what all they can do for me.

http://www.autozone.com/in_our_stores/free_testing.htm

What all should I get tested?

Here is a clip of the exhaust. I never mad it to Autozone today. It did not hesitate on my way home, so I did not bring it. I will see how it does tomorrow.

Forgot to mention that I am also smelling a really weird burning like smell from near the cat and inside the XJ.

I will try and get some video while driving it tomorrow.

sounds like a nasty exhaust leak to me... probably smelling that burning shit because of it. Exhaust leaks will make you lose a lot of low end torque and make it feel like a dog in the low rpms.