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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 34
New CEG\'er
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OP
New CEG\'er
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 34 |
My brother has a 1995 Contour GL, 2.0 Zetec, ATX. A few months ago he pressure washed under the hood and accidentally (not knowing) got water down around the spark plugs. So, when he started the engine one of the plugs cracked and that's when he found the water. He replaced all of the plugs with autolite's I think. The problem is that after that incident he has only been getting 23-24 MPG. He used to get 27-30 MPG. Does anyone know what could be wrong? His car has 85,000 miles on it. Thanks for any help!
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Joined: May 2002
Posts: 21,653
I have no life
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I have no life
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 21,653 |
are the plug wires good? any water get into the engine?
98.5 SVT
91 Escort GT (almost sold)
96 ATX Zetec (i brake to watch you swerve)
FS: SVT rear sway bar
WTB: Very cheap beater
CEG Dragon Run - October 13-15
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 34
New CEG\'er
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OP
New CEG\'er
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 34 |
He said that he dried up the water down around the plug before he pulled them out but some may have gotten in. What kind of problems would it cause if a little water got in there? His plug wires are stock I think. I mentioned to him that he might replace them with better ones. It's been running fairly good for a few months. How long would it take for water damage to have an affect? The engine sounds the same, it just doesn't have as good of performance. He also recently took out the MAF, cleaned it with alcohol and put it back in. We said the wires were filthy but cleaning it didn't make any noticeable improvement.
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Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,459
Hard-core CEG\'er
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Hard-core CEG\'er
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,459 |
It seems that a lot of people have had trouble with plug wires after they replace the plugs. I have a sneaky suspicion that the quality of old wires may deteriorate after they are removed and replaced. My theory is that the interior of the wires get brittle and break down when they are handled. Just my opinion.
95 Contour Zetec, ATX (wrecked, sitting in the barn)
95 Mystique Zetec, MTX
2000 Taurus SEL 3.0L Duratec
1994 Crown Victoria LX 4.6 V8
1993 Chevy Silverado 4.3 V6
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Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 1,957
Hard-core CEG'er
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Hard-core CEG'er
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 1,957 |
yea check the wires, replace them they need to be replaced by now anyways.
NEED AN SVT REAR BUMPER!!! pm me
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 34
New CEG\'er
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OP
New CEG\'er
Joined: Jan 2003
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Thanks guys! I'll tell him to check that.
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Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 472
CEG\'er
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CEG\'er
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 472 |
i wish i was able to get 23-24 mph, new york city driving yields 19 mpg for me
96 gl sport, atx, rip at 95k
FDNY 343 remember 9/11
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Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 1,085
Hard-core CEG\'er
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Hard-core CEG\'er
Joined: Apr 2003
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Originally posted by ddmd3216:
i wish i was able to get 23-24 mph, new york city driving yields 19 mpg for me
you are going to hate me......
34 highway
29 city
Mtx
2012 Lotus Evora
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95 Mystique MTX - GONE 395,000 Kms
--------- Both Zetecs
'97 Contour Mtx - stock - GONE
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Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 2,975
Hard-core CEG\'er
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Hard-core CEG\'er
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 2,975 |
Originally posted by WestCoastAjax:
Originally posted by ddmd3216:
i wish i was able to get 23-24 mph, new york city driving yields 19 mpg for me
you are going to hate me......
34 highway
29 city
Mtx
I have no idea how to calculate city mpg??
But I'm averaging 34(well I've only checked once) so probably 35 now. But that is in Canadian Gallons, so more like 30 American Gallons.B But I'll check my numbers again and call again...
1992 Ford Escort LX-E
-Tracer LTS spoiler
-GT Grille
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 34
New CEG\'er
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OP
New CEG\'er
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Posts: 34 |
Well he replaced his wires with 8mm Autolites and hasn't noticed any improvement. I'm wondering if he damaged the MAF when he cleaned it. He did it with a cue-tip and alcohol. I shoulda told him to just spray it with carb cleaner.
When he pulled up to the house the other day I noticed that his car sounded different somehow. That was before he replaced the wires. Hard to describe but the car just sounded sick.
I hope the engine isn't crapping out on him. He bought it with 40,000 miles and since then it's been driven hard with a lot of city and +80mph highway driving. On top of that I doubt it has been serviced but every five to six thousand and that's using the cheapest dino oil and fram filters. What do yall think?
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