Hey guys, I have a 95 sc300. A few weeks ago when it started getting nice out I decided to change the valve cover gasket, sparks, and spark plug wires. I did the maintenance, put it all back together and then it started idling weird. So I went at it again and realized I messed up the boots so I made sure they were fine, I also made sure the gap for the sparks were .04 mm, and then once I put it all together again it kept stalling. So then I replaced the distributor a few days ago and it doesn't stall anymore but the exhaust sounds like it's farting and the idle isn't as smooth as it was before I started working on it. I made sure all vacuum lines and everything else is connected. I'm thinking that the issue is the engine is misfiring and I will be getting new spark plugs tomorrow and replacing them to see if that's the issue. But if the issue persists, what should my next steps be? How should I go about diagnosing the issue? What should I check? What should I fix? Im kind of at a loss right now. If anyone has any info to share please let me know. Thanks in advance

 

It sounds like you are checking the correct things. Check to make sure all the plug wires are pressed on properly, and they are in the proper firing order. Check the vacuum lines again...you can get some carb cleaner and spritz it around the lines to see if the idle changes. That lets you know there is a crack or leak there. Make sure all of the electrical things are connected as well...no loose electrical connections.

After that, maybe begin looking at fuel. How old is the gasoline in the car, things like that.

 

Double check your spark plug gap too - .04mm is WAY too tight, and I'm assuming you might have meant that in inches? Spec should be: Electrode gap 0.043 in (1.1 mm). Otherwise, Turbostar is absolutely correct about a good way to re-trace your steps.

 

Yeah I am same as Rudy, you must have meant 0.04 inches. Use some brake cleaner around the mating surfaces of the throttle body where you removed it when changing plugs to check if leaking there.