Spark plug lead is loose, car is sounding funny (see pic)

Hello all, Today i took my car to a mechanic to replace the engine mounts (Toyota Cressida 91). After picking up the car, i start noticing rough idle. I suspected the spark plugs based on previous experience. I checked the spark plug leads and i noticed that one is loose (please see the pic

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But when i try topress on it hard it doesn't click right in. Is this a direct result of what i am experiencing:

1- rough idle 2- sound from exhaust is not consistent.. its like cutting off 3- petrol (or gas for americans) smell is strong

Thanks for your input

Reply to
xsamarix
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Reply to
William R. Watt

Usually these connectors are made out of a cylinder of sheet metal with a lengthwise slit. If the connector is loose and thus not making contact with the distributor cap, you can use a screwdriver to enlarge the cylinder a bit. Just a little will do.

If the spark-plug end is loose, you can perform the opposite maneuver, gently, with pliers or even by pinching with your fingers.

As others have noted, the boot slides over the wire and the contact area, so it is okay to carefully move it with respect to the wire so that everything hooks up solidly. As you noted, the thing is supposed to click-in, not just sit there.

Be gentle as you do this, because two other things are possible -- yanking the actual conductor part of the wire off the contact (easily observed by looking into the boot) and breaking the conductor internally (not visually obvious and sometimes the cause of a devilishly hard to diagnose misfire).

Speaking of diagnosing misfires, one useful trick is to see if you get similar symptoms when the electricity is entirely removed from the offending cylinder by disconnecting the plug wire at the distributor cap. (Do not remove or replace it with the engine running or you will get a rude electrical shock! )

Cheers,

--Joe

Reply to
Ad absurdum per aspera

I believe that the spark plug wire is an integral part of the distributor cap and is not designed to be removed from the cap, only from the spark plug. If that is the case, you need a new cap and wire set. You can confirm this if you take a look at a replacement set.

It is the other way around. The symptoms are the result of the disconnected lead, which is causing a misfire. The rough idle and inconsistent exhaust sounds are because power is not being developed from the cylinder that is not firing and the petrol odor is because it is not being burned in the engine and just being sent out the exhaust unburned.

Reply to
Ray O

It could also be that the wire is damaged beyond repair. Carbon cored wires often degrade, especially if they have been mishandled, causing missing, etc.

If all else fails, consider replacing the wire.

Reply to
<HLS

Would appear the spark plug wires and distributor cap are available separately for this model. All I find is the 6 cylinder.

Dont even know if they made a 4 cyl in the Tercel that year. Son had a Tercel 4 cyl which, I believe, had the integral cap and wires.

Reply to
<HLS

Separate ignition wires and distributor cap would be a good thing for you so you so you don't have to replace the entire assembly.

The 1991 Cressida only came with a 3 liter in-line six cylinder in the U.S.

The Tercel has had only an in-line 4 cylinder in the U.S.

Reply to
Ray O

The 7M-GE engine has seperate wires and cap. The OP posted a link to a picture of it in the first message.

Toyota MDT in MO

Reply to
Comboverfish

Thanks for the clarification. The OP is in luck!

Reply to
Ray O

OT, Top posted response: Nice to see you again, MDT. Where ya been?

Reply to
SupraGenius

Here and there... though perhaps you are confusing me for "MDT" that posts in alt.autos.toyota?

Toyota MDT in MO

Reply to
Comboverfish

In review, I realize how goofy my first post may have 'read'. Yes, I know the Cressida was only available in the 6 cylinder model in the USA for that year, and that the cap and wires are separate.

I was personally aware that some of the 4 cylinders had the integral cap and wires you mentioned, but as far as I could ascertain that configuration did not apply to the Cressida.

Maybe this explanation makes a little more sense than my post did. Sorry.

Reply to
<HLS

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