Put some NGK Iridium IX plugs in the '99 max and I checked the gaps before I installed them they were all consistent but as my wire gap checker only went to 0.40 and they were slightly larger so I figured they were good.

Now I get a good hesitation @ 1,000 rpm and another smaller one at about 1,200 and it is really pissing me off! It isn't intermittent and is totally consistent, so anytime the revs are that low it's there.

Before, as long as my car was moving I'd never have anything but a smooth delivery at ANY revs and now this... I'm half tempted to dig my old plugs out of the trash! The idle is also jumping around sightly and I've stalled it 3 times in 2 days. That just never happens!!

Rechecked all the connectors to the coil packs, no CEL not sure what to do next... Anyone else had this?

Thanks

****UPDATE*****

After re-gapping the plugs it seemed better that day but the hestitation swiftly returned. It was annoying, but as I don't have other people in my car that often I just dealt with it...

Fast forward to a couple of weeks ago and it seemed to be getting noticably worse, and I got pissed off enough to head over to autozone for 6 new copper NGK's at a $1.99 a pop.

Swapped them out and the engine INSTANTLY was back to purring like a kitten - the hestitating is GONE and she's back to her former smooth as silk self!

Just wanted to give everyone a heads up on my experience.

 

Possibly lower the gap? What were your other spark plugs gaped at?

 

Isn't the specified gap size 0.039 -0.043. You mentioned that your gaps were slightly larger than the max 0.40 on your gauge (possibly larger than the max of 0.43), i'd say pull em all out and make em 0.40

 

weird, i also have those plugs and also get this low-end hesitation.


But my blame was on my exhaust though, I have a pinhole leak on one of the welds in near the muffler, don't know if thats what causing it.




brb gapping plugs

 

Hmmm thanks for the info guys! Shady any progress your end??

I'll probably pull the plugs and re-gap them today anyway and see what happens

 

i gapped mine at .037.....

No real difference in power, didn't notice any hesitation though. I think it might be the weather...or my exhaust...lol my WS y pipe is such a little ***** when it comes to sealing to the manifolds.

 

I didn't think you were supposed to gap thin electrode spark plugs? IIRC the manufacturer says not to gap them because you can easily damage the electrode. They should be properly gaped from the manufacturer.

 

Yeah, if you have no idea what you are doing it isn't hard to mess them up. Naturally being an automotive retard I had no idea either. Which is why I turned to my good friend youtube as there are a bunch of other more knowledgeable individuals who are nice enough to impart their smarts on a whole variety of subjects.

But as we all know there can be some loons out there too so I'd start with the "Official" NGK video on how to alter the gap as it shows how to do it without buggering them up.

Shady thanks for the update mate, I'll get on that this afternoon. BTW except for the tint our cars are identical!

 

Still, you shouldn't need to alter the gap since they are set at the manufacturer. If you're running forced induction that's a different story since you could be blowing out the spark under boost if they're gapped too wide. If you're NA then unless you gapped them way too open you shouldn't be experiencing a spark problem...unless you damaged them in your attempt to gap them. Also, sometimes when you pull the coils to do plugs you can create a loose connection on either the coil-plug or coil-harness attachment points. I would double check the coils to make sure they're seated properly and then make sure the harnesses are secure.

good luck...

 

Meh, I gap'd mine carefully and with a wire-gap tool for these "sensitive" electrodes. The manufacture advises NOT to only because there's so many morons out their to be liable for.

 

But spark plug gap for NA applications isn't that important as you might think. In the old days tuners would open up gap distance to increase power if running a hotter ignition coil. Gap really only becomes an issue if the spark is blowing out since it pretty much just needs to spark to do it's job.

 

Well, regardless Shady was having the same issue with the same plugs, he reduced the gap and lo and behold it is now (for now at least) gone.

I have already checked the coils and the connectors and they all look fine. I'll report back once I get done.

 

No no no. I'm not closing the book on this issue, i apologize if i came across this way. I said that i haven't noticed any hesitation but that could also be because of weather.

The hesitation was earlier in the day, which was hot in SoCal, and the drive after I gap'd them was at night, colder.

Too many variables.

 

Just got done gapping the plugs to 0.40 and took her for a test drive and it appears to have rectified the problem.

I'll update the thread again in a couple of days after I have driven the car some more.

Thanks to everyone for your help as usual, you guys are awesome!

 

if you dont get a cel your problem is definitly your gap remember these are thousands of an inch we re talking about

 

Bump so people can actually read the update!

 

just out of curiosity do you run premium? im pretty sure i know the answer but i gotta ask

 

Yes Sir, it's never had anything other than 91 octane.

Damn, I never thought any color was better than sterling mist yet I keep drooling over your car!! Love it.

 

I have done plugs many times. I NEVER get a set that is properly gapped. I always have to gap them. I only buy NGK plats.

 

Thats weird because Ive NEVER gapped a plug in my life. Just take them out the box and all is well. At least now I know why my moms car is hesitating the way it is now.

 

thanks dude i am also a member of jdm chicago and i get hated on by everybody so it nice to here a compliment every once in a while

this is the reason i get hated on "its only a maxima"