mikes4runner said:
Which plug were you changing out that fell? They make little telescoping magnetic antenna to get things like that. Got mine at autozone for like $2
the bastard rear passenger one (#5?). where it's at, i dont know if i could get one of those magnets in there. i've got a few. thought about trying it, but still didnt wanna mess stuff up.
oh well, i ended up spending $8 on another pair of plugs cuz they didnt sell them individually. i was going to post a pic of the last plug (#2), which had far more carbon deposits and maybe some oil, too, but i forgot it at my folks' place. and it did turn over quite a bit better after i put that last one in! but still no cigar.
Originally posted by mikes4runner
What was the gap when you checked the old ones?
I got like 0.040
should be 0.031 ins.
You did gap the new ones right? mine had to be.
i have the wire-type gauge, and .035 barely fit, so i believe they stayed pretty good.
i got the bosch platinums, which say on the package that they dont need to be gapped, so i didnt bother.
Originally posted by mikes4runner
Keep us updated about your Maf and throttle.
yeah, i'm going to go ahead and get the MAF i found. i think the throttle should be ok as-is.
also found out another code is being put up on diagnostics... code 14... ignition system. dont really know how to properly work the ohmmeter for things like that, but i took it to the auto parts store to see if they knew. yeah, they knew more than i did, but still didnt know much. current was going through, but not nearly enough. however, who knows if they had it hooked up right, either? and i dont know if it's the coil or the igniter, either, so it looks like i'm stuck getting both. new cost on those 3 things (MAF included) is about $500. found some used ignition modules for as little as $50, but also found some on ebay for less than that. i think ebay is probly the best route to go, seeing as the cheaper modules from salvage lots are a ways away and would need shipping costs added. either way, i have to wait a week or so to get it in the mail. might as well go the cheaper route.
whole thing may end up costing me under $100 for parts (to fix the problem), but i already spent close to $40 for plugs and $15 for a distributor cap. wires are going to have to come soon, probably, an oil change, and front brakes/rotor resurfacing are soon required!
spendy!
Originally posted by mikes4runner
You don't need to depressure the fuel filter. Did you read my write up? Just follow that and you will be fine. If you need pic's I still should have them.
i read your writeup... printed it out, too, to have it with me when i did it. on my last car, you couldnt get the filter off without depressurizing the system first. there would always be so much pressure keeping the filter in so you couldnt turn the nuts. according to doing these before, the problems i'm having seem like it's still got pressure in the system that needs to be relieved before the nuts are able to be turned.
i dunno. i should probably have someone do that for me so i dont wreck anything... and have to pay for it myself. i already rubbed off some of the corners of the nuts.
once again, thanks to everyone who is trying to help me!