spark plug reading

[WASHroad]

#1,2 cylinders look good, coco brown, #3,4 cylinders look black??? rough and no idle

[Txakura]

excess fuel or weak spark? check cap and rotor for condition, inspect plug wires for deterioration, change plugs

 

cocoa brown sounds too dark, light tan is better, maybe all 4 are old

Edited April 25, 2010 by Txakura
tan

[TomRhere]

Yeah, a Light Tan, non-glossy look is what you want.

 

Is the Black a dull Black or a shiney looking Black?

 

Dull Black = rich condition.

Shiney Black = oil burning.

 

Ditto on the, make sure all of the ignition stuff is in good/new condition. Plugs, cap+rotor, wires.

 

Also, insure that plug wires are in proper rotation on cap and cylinders.

[WASHroad]

About to throw the engine out.. budget car 350. now spending over 150.

Had a broken timing belt which got replaced, and yes the timing marks are

correct on the cams. Anyway, this is my first Soobie, and I need to figure what I to do with it. Pulled a compression test and it went from 80 122, 130, 138. It backfires and won't idle. It is either going back on G/L as a parts car or maybe pick up a use block at the bone yard. Thanks for the input.

[Txakura]

well wait a minute, don't crap can it yet, one weak hole isnt worth throwing it away

 

it really sounds like you might have a wire switched if the timing belts are on, double check the cylinder number against the plug wires and direction of rotation

 

I think you're frustrated, let the board help and maybe it can be salvaged, what is the car, more details

[WASHroad]

Been posting on the running issues, but here is the car info.

88 GL wagon 4x4, 146K, 5 spd, D/R, straight body, fairly clean.