This is a long read (you've been warned!)
I have a 1998 cobra that has 71,000 original miles. The car has been stored in my garage for the last 7 - 8 months, while I gather the funds to replace both the transmission, clutch and install a new light weight flywheel. I have driven the car probably 4 or 5 times over the last 7 or 8 months and it has ran perfectly fine (motor wise) every time I have taken it for a short drive ( 10 miles max, each time I've driven it ).
This last saturday I decided to take the car for a quick trip to the local sonic, and as usual the motor ran perfectly (no power loss, rough idle, etc..). when I got back to my house, I decided to pop the hood and check the fluids and whatnot just to make sure everything was kosher. I was in and out of my house over the course of probably an hour or so between answering phone calls, e-mails, etc.. and checking out the engine fluids and other stuff... when I got done checking the fluids, I put the car back into the garage and never thought any more about it..
Sunday morning I decided to take the car to the local car wash and give it a detail. when I pulled out of my garage, and started to the car wash, I notice that the check engine light had come on after about 2 miles of driving. I turned around and went back to my house to pop the hood and check the fluids again and various sensors, thinking maybe that I accidently disconnected a sensor or something...
when I get back to my house, and I pop the hood.. the first thing that jumps right out at me, is that 3 of the spark plug wires on the passenger side coil pack were not securely seated and "latched" onto the coils.. It appeared as though the spark plug wires and been pulled off of the coil pack, and then put back on, but without enough force for them to be securely connected to the coil pack (the side clips on the plug wire connectors were not latched onto the coils), so I press down on the the plug wire connecters with enough force to "latch" them onto the coils and then gave the wires a tug to make sure they were seated securely.
after re-seating the plug wire connectors onto the coil pack, I disconnted the car batteryfor about 15 - 20 minutes in order to clear the codes from the computer memory. I started the car, and the check engine light never came on again... so I assumed everything was ok at that point, though I did still kind of wonderhow the plug wires became disconnected / loose, as I had not touched them at all (thati can think of) while checking the fluids on saturday.
So, I decided to head back to the car wash to continue my detailing mission The car ran fine for about 5 miles or so, and all of a suddon the car had really big "miss" as though itcrapped a cylinder! and since that point, the car has had a rough idle and had stalled out a few times in various situations, although the Check Engine light has NOT come back on...
Now, what I am afraid of, is that either my room mate (prankster) or the young kid from next door (7 or 8 years old)pulled the spark plug wires from the coil pack while I wasn't looking... I'm also afraid thatthe wires were switched around, so that they are now not in the correct firing order.
I main question is, would the car even start or run at all if the firing order of the cylinders vs. the coil pack has been switched? if so, would doing such cause damage to the engine?
Also, does anyone know what sensor would cause the motor to run in such a way as I have described?
I'm thinking that if it is a sensor that has gone bad, the Check Engine light would have come back on, even after clearing the codes by disconnecting the battery? I'm also under the impression that if the firing order is not correct, that should also cause the Check Engine light to come on?
It's been quite a while since I've read up on the ins and outs of the 4.6 4v, and I'm not sure if I'm thinking of all of the possibilities here, as to what the problem could be...
also, now that I have cleared the codes from the computer memory, and the car is no longer throwing codes, I'm afraid there isn't going to be much the dealer will be able to tell me without having to go through hours upon hours of "troubleshooting"
any suggestions or help that anyone has to give, would be GREATLY appreciated!!!
'98 cobra sabotage!?!?
[/IMG] 4.30's, aluminum drive shaft, tko 600, ram stage 3 clutch, upr front k member kit, E303, bbk longtubes, catless h, anderson cai, 75mm tb, lightning mass ai
