Spark Plugs Gapping Changed + Car Swings Side to Side on Highway! Options

[tomazws]

Special thanks to LewFX who helpped me solve the problem with the RPM fluctuating and back firing and such..


Q1.)
Anyway, when I swapped my spark plugs, I found out that my old plug's gapping are all messed up?

How did it happen? Last time I check'em plugs, they were OK! I'm clueless on how the gapping could go up 0.04, 0.05 inch inside that little **** hole?!?!?

Is there something wrong inside my engine?




Q2.)
On the freeway going like 75~80ish, instead of bouncing up and down, car would swing side to side... Is this normal? Something is loose? My wheel falling off?



Please help!

[XS4lv1Truch0x]

check out ur tires if they got enuff and equal air and what not.

and maybe ur tires need 2 be balanced? just a thought.

[LewFX]

dude, if you need someone to look at your car, come down here and ill help you out!
did you touch your suspension at all?
check all the wheel bearings asap.

[Yellow94GT]

Special thanks to LewFX who helpped me solve the problem with the RPM fluctuating and back firing and such..


Q1.)
Anyway, when I swapped my spark plugs, I found out that my old plug's gapping are all messed up?

How did it happen? Last time I check'em plugs, they were OK! I'm clueless on how the gapping could go up 0.04, 0.05 inch inside that little **** hole?!?!?

Is there something wrong inside my engine?




Q2.)
On the freeway going like 75~80ish, instead of bouncing up and down, car would swing side to side... Is this normal? Something is loose? My wheel falling off?



Please help!

Question #1:
All spark plugs will have eventually have electrode wear. This wear is slow and this process is repeated continuously during the complete service life of the spark plug. The spark plug manuafacturer will give recomended service intervals.

I am assuming you have no electrical malfuctioning and the plugs have been properly gapped so that there is a uniform gap and equal wear between the electrodes. If you are experiencing uneven wear on the electrode then you may have bent the top portion of the plug at too sharp of an angle.

Question #2:

I think you may driving on worn tires and possibly roads with a crown or slight indendation traffic grooves.
As you tires wear the camber changes. This isn't too noticable at low speeds. As the speed increases the twitchy feeling increases. This is especially true on roads which are not completely flat. Road irregularities become very very apparent with tire camber wear.

Tire camber wear image


This is an extreme case photo to make the point.


It's very likely that one side of your tire has worn faster than the other.

I am also assuming you have no worn suspension parts, leaking or broken struts and using tires which have even and proper tire pressure.

Check for uneven tire wear.



Yellow94GT

This post has been edited by Yellow94GT: Sep 30, 2006 - 7:31 PM

[LewFX]

lets do a tire rotation...let me hook you up!

[Starcraftjunkie]

kick the rims from the side at the front and back (or if the car is jacked up, check for if the wheel/rim wiggle/has play).
I think up and down play means the wheel bearing, and side to side play is bushings/suspension arms. Anyone want to back me on that?

[bindertch]

Where are you driving that you get the side to side motion? I get that on the 94 going east in both my car and my truck. The freeway is badly in need of resurfacing. If not I could meet up with you to help you out.

[LewFX]

get front alignment and take it from there

[tomazws]

Yea, I will do alignment and see if anything helps =)

[spunky393]

i drove home from KC today, 5 hour drive. And the beginning of the trip, i noticed the side to side motion. So i went to the first gas station i saw and straight to the air pump. My rear left tire was at 13 pounds, they're suppose to be at 32-33. After airing it up, smooth ride home.