So I replaced the plugs and wires in my truck today and when I got in the truck to check and make sure I did everything right, it started to shake like a mother father. I put it in reverse and it stalled. I started it back up again and it ran, I went down the road and back up and it ran fine it just sounded funny. Almost like it was misfiring, oh and the CEL is on. I meant to go get the code checked but it's getting late. Again, the only thing that I did to the truck are plugs and wires. I also bolted on an exhaust tip but I doubt that had any effect because I took it back off and it still did it. Other than that I haven't done anything. I actually first noticed the shaking after I tried to remove spark plug #4 (which was the first one I attempted) and it didn't come out. I put the wire back on and started it and it started to shake. Then, I took the plug out the rest of the way and noticed it was rusted to hell so I replaced all of the plugs and wires. Now it's all back together and I can't figure out why it's running like crap. I would have to bet on me doing something wrong with the plugs and/or wires.

 

Wirelessly posted (Blackberry 8530)

When you say it was rusted to crap, do you mean the entire bottom (like the part which is exposed to the combustion chamber)?

 

Yeah, the threads and the tip were all rusted. The truck only has 55k miles but it is also 9 years old.

 

Wirelessly posted (Blackberry 8530)

That's not good. You've got a seal problem somewhere. The timing of the problem may be a simple coincidence, but if you have rust on the tip of the plug, there is rust elsewhere in there. How did the rest of the plugs look?

 

All of the plugs look exactly the same. I would be willing to take a picture and post it in this thread if you think it will help...

 

Ok, so these are the plugs I pulled out.

These are the new plugs.

Here are the wounds I received from changing the plugs.

Finally, here was my problem after reading the CEL code and re-removing the plug.

 

That's just external rust. Shouldn't affect the way it runs. However, if the cracked one was like that while it was running, that will definitely be a problem.

 

Those plugs dont look exactly the same, I see different numbers on them.

Rusted threads dont concern me much the electrodes look fine, I would use a hi temp copper colored anti-seize on them though.

 

did you get the passenger side from the bottom? its actually easier than the drivers side...

 

Yeah I rechecked the gap in all of the new plugs. They were a little off which makes me think that they were not the exact ones I should have gotten but it's all back together and runs great now. I took the new wires off and put the old ones back on and it is running like a champ. I just decided to get rid of the old plugs, after 50k miles I figured it was time anyways. I actually just got the passenger side plugs from the top by reaching my hand in there while sitting on top of the engine, that's why I had those nasty cuts. I realized later that they are easily accessable from the bottom. Oh well, live and learn. Thanks guys, oh and by the way the problem was that cracked spark plug along with the new wires not firing correctly. Now that the old wires are back on and in the correct spots on the distributor cap, it is running great again. It even starts quicker and everything. Thanks for you help though guys. =)