PLEASE HELP CAR RUNS LIKE CRAP!!

[alteredvideo]

i just bought a car that had a small running problemWhen at idle it is very very rough...it sometimes stallsI did some tests and figured this out so far.I found that at idle if I take the #4 plug wire off it doesnt change the idle.but when it revs it makes a ticking sound in the #4 and while revving if i take out the #4 plug wire it does effect the smoothness and the ticking stops. (ticking almost like a crackle or poping)

I tried replaceing the wires..no goodi replaced the o2 sensor..no good but could be frayed wire..I replaced the dist cap and button..no goodi replaced the ignition control module..used and not positive its a good one...but no change.

Its pissing me off and I cant even drive the car like this cuase it runs like crap and has NO power and sounds terrible.

Please give me some susgestions asap.THANK YOU

[navysnail]

i assume you also replaced the spark plugs themselvs.

it could be an injector leak, pull out the #4 plug after running and see if it is wet with fuel. also, check the exhaust and see if you notice any smoke or if it smells rich.

[danielmid]

Sounds like a shorted plug to me. Also suggest fuel system service. How many miles are on the car?

[alteredvideo]

well i switched two injectors today #4 with #1 and no difference.

It still crackles when reving from the #4 cyclinder and runs rough as in the motor shakes at idle and struggles to idle without stalling.

I tried the plugs.wires.dist cap.dist button.igniton control module..injector switch..

WTF!!!

Someone please help it has no power and i cannot drive it.

[PMan_S13]

You already found the problem. #4 is not firing. The car would run considerably worse once you disconnect the wire. The fact that it doesn;t means it wasn't firing to begin with.

Make sure when you plug in the wire that you here a -snap!-.. otherwise it isn;t really connected. It's possible the wire pulled up inside the sleeve so even though it is in the hole, it still isn't touching.

That's one of my biggest grips about KA24DE's.. I have yet to see a set of spark plug wires that are made nicely, regardless of how danr expensive they get.

[s13sr20chris]

did you use oem plug wires? the crackle sounds like an arcing plug wire.

[alteredvideo]

I know the plug wire is making contact...

When at IDLE the car shakes and #4 doesnt fire.

When revving #4 gets spark and makes a popping inside the cyclinder....becuase while revving I will PULL OUT the plug wire and the popping stops and the engine runs like on 3 cylinders.

[danielmid]

This is troubling, try getting a spray bottle with water in it and misting the spark plug wire while it's running, you will see arcs if it's shorting out.

Oh, and is the check engine light on?

[alteredvideo]

no check engine and as i mentioned i replaced the plug wires. so no change.

[s13sr20chris]

if the spark is rpm dependent then it sounds like a dist problem. i have seen a few distributors get oil on the rotor plate and have a misfire on one cylinder at a specific rpm. try taking it apart and cleaning.

[alteredvideo]

well i replaed the dist cap and the rotor thing inside that spins.

Other than that i am going to do an compression test today.

[s13sr20chris]

remove cap and rotor, remove plate under rotor, clean plate with little holes in it, rotate engine, clean again. you clean it with brake parts cleaner. let sit for 15min to dry out. that has solved more than a few 2000rpm stumbles for me.

[alteredvideo]

i noticed something yesterday too.

When revving and pulling the #4 plug wire it gives me small shocks while holding it.I tried swtiching the plug wire and with the #3 wire it does the same shocking and doenst do it on #3 cylider with the #4 plug wire.

Why would it shock me???

Again i switched the plug wires and so it shouldnt be a cut plug becuase while #4 plug wire was on #3 it did NOT shock me.

[s13sr20chris]

shock is the ign voltage taking path of least resistance.two things...1)little shock means something is wrong. if you got a full healthy shock it would make you jump back.2)everything in secondary sys is new.

it just seems like it would have to be in the secondary ign sys. makes me wonder if the dist has dirty rotor plate or something. try dissasembling and cleaning your dist.