If you hate 3800 spark plugs, don't read this...

Post your pics of your non-Bonneville, and If you have video footage, we want to see it. Videos must be hosted on external web space and hotlinked to PontiacBonnevilleClub.com. Also discuss mechanical problems regarding your non-bonneville (this is not another lounge, but posts don't count, random car vids not of your cars should be in the lounge)
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BonneMe
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If you hate 3800 spark plugs, don't read this...

Post by BonneMe »

So last thursday I had my Cyl 4 coil go out on me, in spectacular fashion! Instead of a gradual miss, it went out completely as I was WOT, and around 20psi. Flashing CEL (ver. OMG GTFO) vs a steady CEL (ver. get to the dealer when your schedule works), ALL the boost dumped instantly, and the car had nothing. Was pretty worried because I run a fairly hot tuned 93 Octane program 99% of the time, and I just filled up that day.

I pulled over, checked all the intake plumbing I could to make sure it wasn't a massive boost leak or a piston saying "Hallo" through the block. I tried putting the computer to stock mode, and it still didn't run right so I ruled out a bad ECU.

After limping it 1/4 mile to the GF's apartment, I had it towed the next night back to my place to fix. Put all new coils in (new revision for a recall mind you) and put a new plug in the bum cylinder to get me by till I sourced some colder plugs, and put it back to 91 octane to keep things "slightly" easier on the engine until I had new plugs.
New coils! They just sit right ontop of the engine and go into the head onto the plug.
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Found the 1 range colder NGK Iridium IX's for cheaper than Ebay, locally, and got them in today!

I'm never buying a FWD V6 ever again.... This is too easy!
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Jason Z - Exposed Autos
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2001 BMW 330i
- Titanium Silver - Sport Package - 3 Pedals - Koni Yellow/H&R Sport
2006 Volkswagen GTI - (gone) Tornado Red - DSG, Stage II~280hp/325tq
1993 Pontiac Bonneville - (gone) Purple Pearl H4U/SLE. Loud
wjcollier07
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Re: If you hate 3800 spark plugs, don't read this...

Post by wjcollier07 »

:bscared1:
John
Now: '15 Toyota Prius III | 134 hp 2ZR-FXE | Silver | 36k
Now: '03 Honda CR-V AWD | Slow 4-Cylinder | Dirt | 180k

Then: '07 Ford Fusion SEL | 221hp Gen I VVT Duratec 3.0 V6 | Tungsten Silver | 150k
Then: '99 Toyota Avalon XL | 200hp 1MZ-FE 3.0 V6 | Diamond White | 189k | Sold: July 2015
Then: '11 Ford Fusion SEL | 240hp Gen II VVT Duratec 3.0 V6 | Ingot Silver | 84k | Totaled: Oct 23 '14 (Rear-Ended)
Then: '96 Buick Park Avenue Ultra | 240hp Series II L67 | Medium Dark Lichen | Bought: JAN 11 @ 135k | Accident: FEB 3 '12 | Crushed: MAR 1 '13 @ 153K
Then: '98 Pontiac Bonneville SSE | 205hp Series II 3800 L36 | Topaz Firemist | Bought: NOV '09 @ 74k | Accident: MAY 28 '10 | Crushed: MAR 15 '11 @ 84k
Then: '93 Pontiac Bonneville SE | 170hp Series I 3800 L27 | Dark Yellow Green | Bought: JULY '07 @ 92k | Sold: JULY '12 @ 118k
Then: '89 Pontiac Bonneville LE | 165hp 3800 LN3 | Medium Garnet Red | Bought: JAN '05 @ 117k | Sold: SEP 30 '07 @ 152k
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RJolly87
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Re: If you hate 3800 spark plugs, don't read this...

Post by RJolly87 »

Actually, the spark plugs in mine are no big deal. Reminds me of the Tempo, I could get all 4 spark plugs with a speed handle, which I needed to often. :lol:
~Randall~
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1993 Buick Park Avenue - 197k - Some odds and ends done - Simply won't die
1994 Buick Regal - 78k - Bone stock - Always ready for a good kicking
1990 Oldsmobile 88 - Gone to a better place
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Re: If you hate 3800 spark plugs, don't read this...

Post by 00Beast »

3800 plugs are easier than some, but not many.

/offtopic, I didn't know you had a GF, lol.
Bye Bye:
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RIP sandrock
Sirius wrote:Think about it. You’re tooling down the road in your Prius, knowing full-well that this thing being green is as big a sham as federally mandated ethanol-enriched gas, Russia pulling out of Ukraine, and Obamacare.
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BonneMe
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Re: If you hate 3800 spark plugs, don't read this...

Post by BonneMe »

00Beast wrote:
/offtopic, I didn't know you had a GF, lol.
Maybe not after the supposed "date" tonight!

My car has been better to me in the last week (including this *shoot*) than she was tonight!
Jason Z - Exposed Autos
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2001 BMW 330i
- Titanium Silver - Sport Package - 3 Pedals - Koni Yellow/H&R Sport
2006 Volkswagen GTI - (gone) Tornado Red - DSG, Stage II~280hp/325tq
1993 Pontiac Bonneville - (gone) Purple Pearl H4U/SLE. Loud
Jrs3800
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Re: If you hate 3800 spark plugs, don't read this...

Post by Jrs3800 »

I'll bring you a Kia 3.5 or a Mitsu 3.0 if you like....LOL....

I do like those coil on Plug 4 Clyinder engines...lol
PRD2BDF
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Re: If you hate 3800 spark plugs, don't read this...

Post by PRD2BDF »

The SAAB is just like that, I changed my plugs in 10 minutes, and that included chatting for five minutes.
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xX3800Xx
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Re: If you hate 3800 spark plugs, don't read this...

Post by xX3800Xx »

haha did you get the E-Type coils? The stock ones are junk. If you bought stock replacements expect to go through more. When they fail they dont give any warning.

When are you going Disco Potato?

APR is one of the safest tunes you can get should have went Unitronic or GIAC. APR makes good hardware though.
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Re: If you hate 3800 spark plugs, don't read this...

Post by 00Beast »

Pretty sure he got his APR tune extremely cheap, which is why he did it.
Bye Bye:
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RIP sandrock
Sirius wrote:Think about it. You’re tooling down the road in your Prius, knowing full-well that this thing being green is as big a sham as federally mandated ethanol-enriched gas, Russia pulling out of Ukraine, and Obamacare.
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BonneMe
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Re: If you hate 3800 spark plugs, don't read this...

Post by BonneMe »

xX3800Xx wrote:haha did you get the E-Type coils? The stock ones are junk. If you bought stock replacements expect to go through more. When they fail they dont give any warning.

When are you going Disco Potato?

APR is one of the safest tunes you can get should have went Unitronic or GIAC. APR makes good hardware though.
These are the new recall coils, they're visually different too. The APR tune is a stage II+ setup, and I have the stock HPFP still, never hit a fuel cut either. In reality i'm pretty much at the limit of what I can get out of it without major changes such as an aftermarket HPFP and bigger turbo, so I'm going after suspension next.

The turboback is an APR I got on a psuedo clearance price, and the 4 program fully loaded chip didn't cost me a penny.... :wink:

Big turbo? Eh... I'll probably buy a second car dedicated for motorsports activities before I go big turbo. If the K03 blows then i'll be all over something better however... Really just want a new centerlink for the BSH sway bar, broke one last september.. :roll:

EDIT: Plugs were totally worth it, the car's much more responsive than before any of this crap, and 1psi up across the board!
Last edited by BonneMe on Tue Mar 09, 2010 2:17 am, edited 2 times in total.
Jason Z - Exposed Autos
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2001 BMW 330i
- Titanium Silver - Sport Package - 3 Pedals - Koni Yellow/H&R Sport
2006 Volkswagen GTI - (gone) Tornado Red - DSG, Stage II~280hp/325tq
1993 Pontiac Bonneville - (gone) Purple Pearl H4U/SLE. Loud
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