Spark Plug Wire Damaged?, Car cranks but won't start - UPDATE: Kid gave me wrong plugs!& Options

[Celicav]

So, this evening I decided to inspect a couple of my spark plugs, to make sure they looked okay. Everything was fine. I have done this before and so was very careful taking the plugs out and putting them back in. However, even though I was sure to pull the wires by the boot, and not by the wire itself, I think I may have damaged or broken one to the point that I can't start the dang car.

WELL, it did start the first time, but did not sound good, and once I hit the accelerator, it stumbled and quit. Then, I looked at the plugs again to make sure I had not done anything wrong, then put them back in. Then, the car would not start at all! My neighbor and I concluded that I may have damaged one of the wires, even though I remember being careful.

Could this happen, even if the insulation is all intact? These are the original wires, b/c they have "1995" right on them. Thanks.

This post has been edited by Celicav: Jun 25, 2007 - 11:15 PM

[Remy]

So, this evening I decided to inspect a couple of my spark plugs, to make sure they looked okay. Everything was fine. I have done this before and so was very careful taking the plugs out and putting them back in. However, even though I was sure to pull the wires by the boot, and not by the wire itself, I think I may have damaged or broken one to the point that I can't start the dang car.

WELL, it did start the first time, but did not sound good, and once I hit the accelerator, it stumbled and quit. Then, I looked at the plugs again to make sure I had not done anything wrong, then put them back in. Then, the car would not start at all! My neighbor and I concluded that I may have damaged one of the wires, even though I remember being careful.

Could this happen, even if the insulation is all intact? These are the original wires, b/c they have "1995" right on them. Thanks.

That might be your problem....?

[6strngs]

So, this evening I decided to inspect a couple of my spark plugs, to make sure they looked okay. Everything was fine. I have done this before and so was very careful taking the plugs out and putting them back in. However, even though I was sure to pull the wires by the boot, and not by the wire itself, I think I may have damaged or broken one to the point that I can't start the dang car.

WELL, it did start the first time, but did not sound good, and once I hit the accelerator, it stumbled and quit. Then, I looked at the plugs again to make sure I had not done anything wrong, then put them back in. Then, the car would not start at all! My neighbor and I concluded that I may have damaged one of the wires, even though I remember being careful.

Could this happen, even if the insulation is all intact? These are the original wires, b/c they have "1995" right on them. Thanks.

That might be your problem....?

Seriously! new wires aren't that expensive. you should replace them as often as spark plugs!

[SveNRG]

Get some new wires and rotor dizzy cap while you're at it. Not expensive.

[Supersprynt]

If your car was running fine before you unplugged the wires, its hard to damage a wire just pulling it off the boot. Their age can increase this chance. I would make sure you placed the plug wires in the correct order.

[Celicav]

Thanks guys. Well I got some new OEM plug wires and replaced them all this evening. They went in perfect and in correct order, but STILL she cranked but car did not start. THEN I replaced all the plugs with Bosch Platinum 2s, and the car fired up but still was not running correctly. Basically, the car stumbles and quits when I accelerate from a stop. BUT when I got it going it seemed fine. SO I gave up and ran it down to Toyota to look at tomorrow. It's my daily driver so I could not wait. I barely made it b/c I had to stop at two stop lights and the car quit both times.

I feel like such an IDIOT! I'm 30 yrs old and can't even check my spark plugs without fouling may car up!

OKAY OKAY I don't feel so bad now, but do for my car and hope no damage. MORON kid at Advanced Auto gave me the wrong damn spark plugs! The Bosch # i needed was 4303 and he gave me 4304!!! Now I gotta call Toyota first thing in the morning and tell them the screw up and look more like an idiot. I'm sure the gap is different in the 4304s.

This post has been edited by Celicav: Jun 25, 2007 - 11:18 PM