The old Spark Plug question...

[Clayton]

Okay, I have finally got fed up enough with the poor performance to battle the demons of changing the spark plugs in my 99 Firebird.

I read all the reviews on different plugs from old posts, and I have decided I am probably best to go OEM with AC Delco since I have no mods on my engine. Here is the question. AC Delco makes different types of plugs. I know the standard type that came in my car. I have also seen a type called Rapid Fire plugs (which I am under the impression are platinum?), and also an Iridium type. I read so many contradictory posts on this topic, even the "experts" are starting to confuse me. Any advise would be great. In addition, the whole plug wire thing is confusing too. Advise there would help too.

[ August 08, 2004, 12:14 PM: Message edited by: Clayton ]

[Fredless]

I'm very happy with my AC Delco Irdiums...although no performance improvement over the stock plugs.

[Speed Freak]

Clayton, What type of problem are you having?
Their are a few other problems that can seem like a plug problem.tell us your simptoms and im shure we all can give you a few things to check on.

[Clayton]

Speed Freak - Typically I would be more concerned, but this time I beleive I know what the problem is... ME! I am a lazy no good bum who has neglected his spark plugs for 103k miles. I know my car hates me for it, but it still goes when I say so, so I decided to just do it. It has been doing all that jazz that cars do when they need plugs. The misfires, the rough running.

Hey, possibly you can help me with a different issue though. My car is hell to start, usually takes about 5 seconds and some encouragement from the gas to get it to crank once it gets warm. The fuel pump seems to work, but I have no way to test it, other than listen for it. It has been doing it as long as I have owned it and it is anoying. It always starts, but it would be nice not to have this issue.

[Fredless]

Change your fuel filter to help the starting problem.

[Turbo V6 Camaro]

yeah do a basic tune up

plugs
wires
PCV
fuel filter
air filter
O2's (only good for 80K miles)
clean the TB
flush colling system
tranny fluid
rear end fluid
oil ;)
maybe try some sea foam before doing any of this

[Speed Freak]

OK I've solved your problem.Stop being lazy!!! [img]graemlins/stickpoke.gif[/img]

[Speed Freak]

Also your cat is most likely toast.You might want to check it.

[RedBird98]

Check out this thread regarding your starting problem. Sounds the same...I am having the same issue...
http://www.camarov6.com/ubb/ultimate...c;f=1;t=013369

[bret_xi]

that sounds exactly like my problem.... i had the injectors fuel filter plugs and wires replaced...still had trouble startin..i asked about it on here and people started tellin me maybe it was the fuel pressure regulator...so right now my car is gettin a new FPR and a fuel rail put in...i should be gettin it back tomarow i'll update my thread to tell if it helped

[Clayton]

Yeah, I have been thinking of replacing the cat anyway, i need new pipes so it just makes since to replace all of it. Bret - You said you replaced your injectors, how much? Mine have always tick and it annoys me.

Looking forward to hearing how the fpr replacement goes. I really am at a loss except maybe a fuel pump. The thing is I have had the car for nearly 2 years, and it has always done it. Always been a pain to start, unless it is cold, and always ran perfect until the plugs started to age.

[Rob Bell]

Hard starting might still be plug-related. On my previous car I let the plugs go until about 80K miles, that was before I knew that plugs actually wore out. It got so bad I could barely start it in the morning. replace those plugs before you do anything else, since you KNOW they're bad.

[bret_xi]

where i got my plugs they were $129 each...i got ripped off lol go to www.gmpartsdirect.com and u can get em for about 60 each... with labor and everything i think it ended up bein around $1000... :( :( :( but i got my car back today and it seems to be startin perfect...tomarow i'll know for shure since it will sit over night.

[bret_xi]

my bad...i was thinkin wrong...i dont remember how much the plugs where...the INJECTORS were 129 apeice... i got a lil confused there lol