First off, I don't know that much about cars so bear with me.
I was putting new spark plugs in my car, '99 Chevy Cavalier, when the porcelain insulator on one of them cracked. I took it out and tried to fish out the chips, but one slipped out and into the engine.
After I got the other plugs in and put the old one back in for the cracked one, I started it up. It started fine, and within a few seconds, the RPMs dropped and the engine started shaking a lot. I shut off the engine, checked the caps again, and tried it again. Some more shaking and then it seemed ok. I revved the engine a little and more shaking, but then it passed again. I let the engine idle for a while and there was a faint amount of smoke coming from somewhere in the engine and also out of the exhaust. I drove it around the block and no troubles. The shaking has stopped and I was able drive it back to the auto parts store to exchange the cracked plug without problems.
I'm thinking that the chip, or possibly chips since I may have unknowingly knocked in more when removing the cracked plug, burned up or passed through to someplace else. Do you think this is what happened? Or will the chip(s) stay in there and eventually cause a bigger problem? I asked the guy at Advance Auto and he wasn't sure what would happen, but he said I should keep an eye on it. Maybe a can of Sea Foam would help?
Thank you in advance for your help, I'm more than a little concerned about my blunder.
I just figured that it is easy enough to just get a 3 bank so when the boat is not in use I can keep all 3 batteries charged. I have not bough a charger yet, maybe I will give it some more thought.
Edit: After thinking this over, with the size, weight, and heat output of the charger (as well as the cost) I think it makes sense to just
buy a 2 bank charger, I have a smaller charger i can use on the starting battery when the boat is sitting at home. Forgive me, for i am a retired engineer and I have to obsess over everything...
Congrats on the motor! I think you’ll like it.
I can’t say much on the charger location but I’ve seen them under the lid in back compartments and under center rod lockers. 160 degrees is more than I expected to hear.
Curious why you’re opting for a 3 bank charger with a 24V trolling motor. Unless you don’t feel you be running you big motor enough to keep that battery up as well?
I did buy an Minnkota Ulterra, thanks for the recommendations. I had a bunch of Cabela"s bucks saved up, which helped. Now i need to
get an onboard battery charger. Where do you guys mount these things in your boat? The manufacturer I am looking at {Noco genius)
says tht their 3-bank charger will run at 160 degrees, seems like a lot of heat in an enclosed compartment? Thanks for any input on this.
Wasn't terrible at a state park beach. Antelope island maybe. I wouldn't recommend it as a beach destination tho. Figured I was there, I'm getting in it.
Question
Jorgie
First off, I don't know that much about cars so bear with me.
I was putting new spark plugs in my car, '99 Chevy Cavalier, when the porcelain insulator on one of them cracked. I took it out and tried to fish out the chips, but one slipped out and into the engine.
After I got the other plugs in and put the old one back in for the cracked one, I started it up. It started fine, and within a few seconds, the RPMs dropped and the engine started shaking a lot. I shut off the engine, checked the caps again, and tried it again. Some more shaking and then it seemed ok. I revved the engine a little and more shaking, but then it passed again. I let the engine idle for a while and there was a faint amount of smoke coming from somewhere in the engine and also out of the exhaust. I drove it around the block and no troubles. The shaking has stopped and I was able drive it back to the auto parts store to exchange the cracked plug without problems.
I'm thinking that the chip, or possibly chips since I may have unknowingly knocked in more when removing the cracked plug, burned up or passed through to someplace else. Do you think this is what happened? Or will the chip(s) stay in there and eventually cause a bigger problem? I asked the guy at Advance Auto and he wasn't sure what would happen, but he said I should keep an eye on it. Maybe a can of Sea Foam would help?
Thank you in advance for your help, I'm more than a little concerned about my blunder.
Link to comment
Share on other sites
11 answers to this question
Recommended Posts