Explorer stutters and fails =/

Syringer

Lifer
Aug 2, 2001
19,333
3
71
So the other day I was driving along and noticed that while idling my car was vibrating like crazy. I get home, pop the hood and sure enough the engine is jumping around like a madman.

It appears to be misfiring (going through a sort of 1-2-3-*cough*-5-6 sequence) so I take a timing gun to it and test out each of the six cables. Two of them appear to be problematic, so I replace the spark plugs for two of them with no luck.

Now when I start the car it struggles to start up, as if there's no gas in there or as if it's a carburetor needing a little gas. If I try to drive any amount it dies.

Any suggestions?

Edit: Just changed all 6 spark plugs, 98% sure I did it correctly (have done it a few times before) Video here: http://www.tienvannguyen.com/VIDEO_00004.mp4

my poor car =/
 

Toastedlightly

Diamond Member
Aug 7, 2004
7,214
6
81
Does that engine use coil packs or a central distributor w/ main coil? If two of the plugs are misfiring, check and see if htey connect to the same coil pack (if applicable). That could be the issue.
 

Syringer

Lifer
Aug 2, 2001
19,333
3
71
I did a test with a voltmeter for the cables, and they returned back between 6-10 ohm. The engine won't stay on long enough for the check engine light to be on.

And I'm pretty sure it's on a central distributor if I understand the question correctly.
 

Syringer

Lifer
Aug 2, 2001
19,333
3
71
Ugh, being the careless car owner that I am, I just checked the water levels--empty. Dry to the boonne.

That's, not good.
 

Syringer

Lifer
Aug 2, 2001
19,333
3
71
Another update, it's leaking coolant and oil, looks like a bad gasket. Towed to mechanic, should be a relatively simple, relatively inexpensive fix. I was afraid my whole engine was gone :)
 

Cdubneeddeal

Diamond Member
Oct 22, 2003
7,473
3
81
Where's it leaking coolant and oil? Do a compression test? If you have the extra flow, compression gauges are around $40.
 

OrganizedChaos

Diamond Member
Apr 21, 2002
4,524
0
0
is that the OHV or SOHC v6? be warned, the heads on the OHV engines don't take kindly to being overheated.
 

Syringer

Lifer
Aug 2, 2001
19,333
3
71
It's a SOHC.

But mothafvcking hell, just got a quote. They're going to have to do some rebuilding. Total cost = $2500 :(