Good evening all. My mechanic said he changed plugs, really!!! I have been back and fourth, with rough idle. Have cleaned the carb ( took off) per Holleys request. Even talked to Tim @ TA Performance. Checking all hoses, did see worn PCV hose. Changing all vacuum hoses, tommorrow. I don't thick a light has been taken to it (Timing light). Just need some helpfhelpful advice. He changed the cap and rotor ( Point system) I put new wires, nothing else. Thank you!!
What else did the mechanic contribute to this? Did he just do the labor on the plugs and send you along after getting paid? I'm confused here...
He actually put the timing cover , water pump back on. The car set almost a year, before he did that. It only has 130,000 miles on motor. Was running perfect last year, before water pump went. The only thing was a exhaust leak, on the #8 cylinder.
Stock. It all started from sitting from April of last year, to April of this year. I checked the plugs last night, I felt they hadn't been changed, look like the ones that were there, when I brought it last year. 1972' Buick Lesabre 350-4 130, 000miles. My mechanic went through it, changed gaskets, added guages. That was February of last year. He told me the car was in good shape, just drive her,which she was. In April of last year, the water pump went. So, it was down until April of this year. He said he put new plugs in, and assembled every thing back. Water pump, timing cover, distributor, new fuel pump. It has been running rough every since. I know the points and condenser , wasn't replaced. It's just not idleing right. Not running hot, oil is clean and good etc. No Smokeing!!! Nothing!! Won't keep good idle. Start up, have to keep accelerate down, spits at carb with grey smoke. Cleaned Carb, check plugs. Replacing all vacuum hoses. Don't know what else to do. Owner told me he had the carb, rebuilt.
Thanks for the clarification I'm guessing you also picked up on my annoyance of parts replacers NOT solving basic problems. If it ran good before, it should again! Likely the timing is off (and/or dwell). Sounds like the timing is retarded and please nit pick everything until you find it. Even though the compression test is a logical one, I wouldn't have done that either unless it was overheated...was it? Keep at it, you'll figure it out.
The fact that it sat from April to April with today's gas in the tank would point me right to the Carb for the sourse of your issue! What think is a small detail of the story and not mension it in your first post is a big thing in this case!
The gas will make the car run like crap when old. What I was looking for was a pic of the plug looking down thru the top looking at the "J" strap on the plug You know, the part you gap. It helps tell how hot it is running and the jetting.
That is bad gas. E10 will go bad after 3 months. What happens is the ethanol absorbs water, and at some point, it separates from the gasoline. What is left will not burn right, and it will foul the plugs just like that. Had it happen to me twice, so I know what it looks like. The solution is to drain or siphon the tank dry, then put good gas in. I would change the plugs again, or you may be able to clean them. The plugs can easily look like that in a very short time, so I would not assume your mechanic did not change the plugs.
Thanks Larry, just left the parts store.Will the siphon get all the fluid out? Do I need to add an additive, once I get the gas out?
