hi ive just changed the ht leads and the spark plugs and when i start the car i can feel a shuddering through the steering and the engine and exhaust is moving quite a bitand sounds prity sluggish, i thought that the leads were in the wrong order but a friend checked them and he said they were ok,its only happend when i changed the leads can someone please help
Were the plugs and leads changed because the car seemed sluggish? Symptoms sound like the car is not firing on one or more cylinders. Sometimes the rubber shrouds round the plugs stops you pushing them fully home, you can usually feel the contact seating on the plug. A lot of accessory shops sell a cheap ignition tester, comprising a yellow plastic body, a neon bulb, and it goes on the plug, the plug lead goes on the tester. If the bulb flashes when you crank, it can be left in place if the engine starts, it's flash indicates HT to the plug. The plug may not fire if it's faulty, or bridged with a carbon deposit, but you know that it should fire. Always assuming that enough fuel is getting to the engine. Many mobile call out mechanics use these, and for about
3UKPDS in most accessory shops a good investment. Best to test in dim light as the flash isn't very bright. Could still be the leads in the wrong order, you need the firing sequence for the car, and then work out if it's right from the distributor cap, some have the plug numbers molded into the plastic.MotorsForum website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.