Ok guy/gals, I need MAJOR help. I have a 2001 Lightning running a chip, #4 pulley, and that's it. I'd also like to point out that I have the stock plugs in still.

Ok, tonight I was on the freeway, just got a fresh tank of gas, and was racing a turbo Talon for chits and giggles. Anyways, We reached 100mph, and the truck started rattling, running REAL rough, and wouldn't shift into 4th gear. I let off immediately and pulled over to the side of the highway to check things out. Once pulled over, I noticed how rough the truck was running and it sound like it was struggling to stay alive almost. It was sputtering(sp?) and like mentioned about had a rough idle. Giving it gas only made for a rough ride. Needless to say i coasted back home (about 5 blocks away) and parked it. Any ideas? I was thinking it is a Spark Plug?? Any help would be great.

 

It could be a blown spark plug. Open the hood and if there is a real loud exhaust noise and one of the coil packs is popping up and down that is a sure sign.

 

It could be bad gas..... or mebbe your chip is loose.

I would pull the chip and see if it is still happening after you disconnect the battery.

Do the easy things first.

Good luck!!

 

Iam just glad I don't live in your neighborhood, running 100mph 5 blocks from your house

 

Sounds like you lost ignition on at least one cylinder. Like he said pull the chip and reset the computer. Then if you want you can unplug the harness connector to each coil pak one at a time and see if idle quality changes or stays the same. If it does not change then it there is your dead cylinder. Either take it to the dealer after you swap pulleys of course . Or pull the plug and look for damage. Then replace them with a better plug like on PSP's web site. I like NGK TR6 for the price.

 

L8 has it covered. Sounds like you burnt a plug.

 

Thanks alot guys, I was looking at it thismorning and noticed a LOT of water coming out of the exhaust pipes. Do you think bad gass would make it run this bad??? I still haven't pulled the plugs except the from passenger plug (I believe that's the #1 plug), and it looked fine to me. I did notice theproblem riht when I got the gas... hm...

 

Bad gas always makes me run bad. I too get a slight popping noise in the rear.

Did you pull the chip?

 

I pulled the chip, and left the neg. battery terminal offf over night. Truck is still runing like crap. It doesn't look like there is any damage to any of the spark plugs, but I should mention that I still haven't pulled any of the others out. I put some liquid in the gas tank to mix with any water and help burn it, and drove it for about 5 minutes. (Any ideas on how to dump all the fuel??)

Symptoms again, idle is still real rough. While at a stop, giving it gas, and then letting RPM's drop back down, the engine seems like it wants to shut off(drops down to about 300-400 RPM)...enigne itself shakes alot. While driving, if I give it more than 1/4 throttle, sounds like the truck keeps backfiring. Almost like when you down shift to 1 low, and you get that popping sound.

 

sounds like you lost spark or compression on a cylinder check plugs 3 and 5 seems to be the weak ones.probally 5. you checked for loose or missing plugs?

 

Check the vacuume line under the intake boot, then check all plugs, either loss of vacuume, bad plug, or bad coil pack. I votr vacuume line since you were pushing the truck it could have blown off.

 

Dont assume...Check your Plugs, chances are you WILL find your problem.

 

K, well the problem was in the plugs, pulled plugs 5 and 6 so far (the two plugs closest to the front onthe drivers side, and on both, the electrodes were burnt off, melted, whatever you want to call it. I don't understand how you guys who can change your plugs at will do it. I'm beat tryng to fight with, wht I cosider to be the two easiest. I'm currently looking for a store that carries NGK's, but no luck. Looks like I'm without a truck for the weekend. BTW, I replaced the 5 & 6 plug with some otherplug, just to check if it'd help at all, and i didn't, so there are more burnt plugs. Guess it's time to send the chip back for a MAJOR reburn. Is there any other damage I should look for while doing the plugs? What plug do you suggest I run with my current mods. (#4 pulley, chip, K&N drop in filter.) Thanks again for the help.

 

NGK TR7's

Change the pulgs. If the problem contiunes... you might have broken a rod... Not what ou want to hear... But that is how we broke our motors, just messing around on the street.

 

Broken rod??? I doubt it, not by his description so far. If that engine has a broken rod it would be making some serious noise.

Sounds like it ran a little lean and (hopefully) just burned the plugs.