spark plug wires help

braggent · 06-16-2006, 11:33 AM

i changed my wires on my truck 1996 chevy 1500 305 engine. i did not think that the way you wire in the plugs made a difference but i started to get a check engine light. well i pulled the code and it was P0303 which is a misfire on cylinder #3. well i pull the plug out and it was fouled the plugs are brand new and so is the cap and rotor. all acdelco oem. i cleaned the plug off and cleared the code and the CEL came back on. so next i swap the plug with the #1 cylinder and cleared the code again and back the CEL came on again. the truck is runing rough at idle or on a the road also. at idle about 900 rpms the engine runs bad before 900 and after it is fine. well next i swaped my wires #1 and #3 and the truck ran fine and i drove it around and no CEL. the only thing i notice is that the truck felt funny on take off but after that it was fine. i am think may because it has sat so long the more i drove it the better it ran. well next i change back the wires and sure enough the code came back on. i check the wires with a multimeter and #1 was 27.1 and #3 was 27.7. i dont know why this is but i was inform that wires need to be replaces exactly as they were first installed because of a magented field. the have to be in a criss cross pattern, not parrell to each other. well if any knows the exact wire route for my truck ( not firing order) please let me know.,

mrjohnwayne · 06-16-2006, 03:57 PM

never heard of criss crossing the wires. as long as the wire is on the right plug shouldnt matter how they are run.

mudseeker · 06-16-2006, 04:31 PM

i agree, i think you got your wires crossed somewhere down the line. did you pull them all at once or one at a time?

1995C3500 · 06-16-2006, 07:30 PM

this is advice for others, either do the left or right side first, and do it one at a time and have the new cap by the old one and swap plug for plug from old to new for the one side first, then pull off the old cap and put the new one one. after that do the others side of the engine one wire at a time(along with spark plug) i did it this way and no problem at all, or if you wanna go pricey go buy a manual with diagrams

chevyguy · 06-16-2006, 10:10 PM

I think you have a wire that isnt seated properly or you have a faulty cap. It had to be something you did during the tune up. Check there and double check your firing order 18436572.

billiards · 06-17-2006, 06:44 AM

recheck the cap...firing order....and route the wires in same direct position as orig. path.

06-16-2006, 03:57 PM	#2
mrjohnwayne Moderator Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 3,114	never heard of criss crossing the wires. as long as the wire is on the right plug shouldnt matter how they are run. __________________ John Wayne 2000 F-350 7.3L Powerstroke 4x4

06-16-2006, 10:10 PM	#5
chevyguy Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: ALABAMA Posts: 3,160	I think you have a wire that isnt seated properly or you have a faulty cap. It had to be something you did during the tune up. Check there and double check your firing order 18436572. __________________ When i die, i dont want to walk gracefully thu the pearly gates and turn in a unused body. i want to go sliding thru sideways and turn in a body that has been completely used up.

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06-16-2006, 11:33 AM	#1
braggent Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 2	spark plug wires help i changed my wires on my truck 1996 chevy 1500 305 engine. i did not think that the way you wire in the plugs made a difference but i started to get a check engine light. well i pulled the code and it was P0303 which is a misfire on cylinder #3. well i pull the plug out and it was fouled the plugs are brand new and so is the cap and rotor. all acdelco oem. i cleaned the plug off and cleared the code and the CEL came back on. so next i swap the plug with the #1 cylinder and cleared the code again and back the CEL came on again. the truck is runing rough at idle or on a the road also. at idle about 900 rpms the engine runs bad before 900 and after it is fine. well next i swaped my wires #1 and #3 and the truck ran fine and i drove it around and no CEL. the only thing i notice is that the truck felt funny on take off but after that it was fine. i am think may because it has sat so long the more i drove it the better it ran. well next i change back the wires and sure enough the code came back on. i check the wires with a multimeter and #1 was 27.1 and #3 was 27.7. i dont know why this is but i was inform that wires need to be replaces exactly as they were first installed because of a magented field. the have to be in a criss cross pattern, not parrell to each other. well if any knows the exact wire route for my truck ( not firing order) please let me know.,

06-16-2006, 04:31 PM	#3
mudseeker mod-o-tator Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: michigan Posts: 4,059	i agree, i think you got your wires crossed somewhere down the line. did you pull them all at once or one at a time? __________________ member map add yourself

06-16-2006, 07:30 PM	#4
1995C3500 Full Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Cincinnati Posts: 39	this is advice for others, either do the left or right side first, and do it one at a time and have the new cap by the old one and swap plug for plug from old to new for the one side first, then pull off the old cap and put the new one one. after that do the others side of the engine one wire at a time(along with spark plug) i did it this way and no problem at all, or if you wanna go pricey go buy a manual with diagrams

06-17-2006, 06:44 AM	#6
billiards Full Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: rochester minnesota Posts: 11	recheck the cap...firing order....and route the wires in same direct position as orig. path.