So I was driving home from work...

[corbin]

...and my 240's (97) engine started to get all funny on me.

The first weird thing was sitting in traffic and having slightly erratic idle. Normally it stays at 700 but it was going from 700 to 1100 erratically. As soon as traffic started moving my check engine light started blinking and I had less power. I drove for about 5 minutes since there wasn't a nearby exit and the engine just started getting rougher and rougher... it wouldn't rev much and the car was shaking a bit.

I figured I needed to stop until something explodes so I get to an exit and open the hood. Luckily there was a nice guy nearby who came to help me.

He noticed that the spark plug wire closest to the firewall was pushed completely out of the valve cover and the bottom of the black part that goes into the valve cover had some oil on it. Guess that explains the misfire, eh? He put it back in, I started the car and there was no more roughness, weird idle, or anything... but the check engine light was still on and the car seems sluggish. Is it in limp mode or something now? How can I fix whatever this CEL is alerting?

Thanks Nico...

PS - Weather today was around 100F. I have only had the car for a week... so far I've replaced the fuel filter and wired a kill switch into the fuel pump relay close to the ECU plug.

[mynamesmarrrk]

Go to autozone and get the code read. Possibly knock sensor got set off (happened to me) but that doesnt explain the sluggish-ness. You could also take all your plugs out and clean them..or replace them.

[corbin]

Plugs and wires were replaced by previous owner... since there was oil in the spark plug area I'm going to replace valve cover gaskets + plug gaskets tomorrow.

Thanks for the tip on Autozone... I'll do that, too.

[badbob2121]

sounds to me like you just are loosing spark due to that wire... pull ur plug/coilpack out and make sure your getting spark on all 4 before you go buy anything...

[nissans13240sx]

Im sure the code is just misfire code. The light will reset itself eventually if the code is no longer current. I would clean your plugs since there is oil all over them and replace your valve cover gasket.

[corbin]

OMG I love forums... so I went to AAP, they read the code, it was misfire, and now there is no CEL. Also, it was just my imagination about there being no power... I floored it on the way home and it seems just as healthy as ever. I was babying it earlier so I couldn't really tell.

I bought gaskets and tomorrow I plan on cleaning plugs and replacing gaskets. I couldn't find torque specs for spark plugs... does anybody know what they are?

[USsil80]

my 240 did this same thing some spark plug popping out... oil was getting in between the gasket and hole spark plug is in... just make sure you replace the circle gaskets there and you will be fine... as far as tq for spark plugs... it is GNT....

[MS-13_240SX_91]

my s13 did the same thing.. it was revving like as if i have a 2 step installd. not revving higher that 2300 rpm. and a lil smoke coming out from the exhaust. then i ask my uncle to scan my car. the problem was my Mass Air Flowmeter Sensor. i clean the sensors with brakeclean. it did run good but after couple of days it did the same thing. i change my MAF sensor and now its running great again. you might want to check your MAF sensor too.

[corbin]

Well I changed the gaskets today and it turned out that Felpro's were already in there, so the previous owner already changed them. I still went through with the install though and somehow the car runs a lot better. The valves don't make the same ticking sound they used to make.

[kouki munster]

my s13 did the same thing.. it was revving like as if i have a 2 step installd. not revving higher that 2300 rpm. and a lil smoke coming out from the exhaust. then i ask my uncle to scan my car. the problem was my Mass Air Flowmeter Sensor. i clean the sensors with brakeclean. it did run good but after couple of days it did the same thing. i change my MAF sensor and now its running great again. you might want to check your MAF sensor too.

You used brake cleaner on your maf? If it wasn't bad to begin with(which it most likely was) it sure as hell was after you raped it with brake cleaner.

[MS-13_240SX_91]

hahaha! yes sir. what am i thinking huh.. well i just tried it. maybe thats why my MAF didn't work anymore aftr couple of days. maybe if i used a maf cleaner it didn't break earlier.

well i need help though. i am looking for a headers 4-2-1 or 4-1 what is the difference between the two? and which is better? thank you in advanced