On May 2, 5:00 pm, "Cousin It" <Poo...@asd.com> wrote:
> Letting the car run too long with a wire pulled to check for spark killed
> your coil. You can do a very brief test that way, but the coil heats up
> rapidly and dies. Look at you dead coil and you will probably see a burn
> spot on the outer casing.
>
> If you have a code 17, the speedo is screwed up, and your sports shift light
> is blinking, you definitely have a bad VSS. Replace the VSS first and then
> move on to the obvious like plugs, wires, cap and rotor.
>
> <lance_do...@autogas.com> wrote in message
>
> news:1178134073.872221.232780@e65g2000hsc.googlegr oups.com...
>
>
>
> >I have read a lot of info online, but still have questions. Hope
> > someone can help - please.
> > Background: One year ago lost the Timing belt while driving and messed
> > up 12 of the 18 valve. Car only had 58k miles (wife's grandma's car)
> > so decided to fork over $1900 for repair. After the repair it ran
> > great, better than new, I mean surprisingly smooth and fast. That was
> > a year ago.
>
> > Present - Yesterday driving to work it ran fine. However at lunch it
> > would run rough if the accelerator was depressed until the engine came
> > to speed then would run at constant RPM just fine. Acceleration was
> > very rough. I pulled a spark plug cable and after about 10 seconds
> > things got worse. It died and would not start, not even try to
> > start. No spark that I could see. I replaced the Ignitor (ignition
> > control module?), didn't help. Then I replaced the Coil; it then
> > would start (yeah!) however it ran exactly as before it died - rough
> > acceleration. I shorted the engine code diagnostic jumper on the side
> > footwell for passenger, turned on key and read the Check Engine light
> > flash: 1 long then 7 shorts. This would be 17, correct. This appears
> > to be a faulty Vehicle Speed Sensor, which would account for the
> > erratic Speedometer. But why is it running rough and why did the coil
> > fix the no start condition?
>
> > What I think: I think the no start condition was completely seperate
> > than the rough acceleration issue. Maybe when I pulled the spark plug
> > wire while the engine was running, I caused the coil (which is
> > probably original, 16 years old), to fail. What do you think?
>
> > But... what is the rough idle cause by. Bad fuel? If it was an
> > oxygen sensor, wouldn't that throw a code?
>
> > Sorry so long. Sincerely appreciate any help.- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

Well, I found the problem and temporarily fixed it with electrical
tape. While changing plugs, I realized the hard plastic case of the
plug wire that goes into the head had a crack and a couple of holes
that looked burned. Appears the wire was arc'ing into the head
instead of getting spark to the plug. Wrapped electrical tape around
it a few times and the car runs great. Obviously will have to replace
the plug wires. The Vehicle Speed Sensor is going to have to wait for
now. It doesn't throw a code often. Speedo works most of the time.
Thanks so much for the good advice.