Instant out of the blue buck and sputtering

[a2l1]

This may not be the proper forum but it could be in so many different ones I decided I would try here as overall best bet.
I was out in the 95 -JEROME today just cruising. I am in a rural area so not much in the way of traffic. I had the cruise set at 60 and all was going fine then with no warning not even a hickup the van started running bad. It was coughing. sputtering and bucking. I thought it might be low on gas and sucking the bottom of the tank so went about another 200 feet to the gas station and got fresh middle grade. Started it up pulled out and the same thing. If it is just idling it has a slight skip nothing radical but enough to notice the jump. Give it a little gas and it will buck and object but it will go down the road slowly. If you put your foot into the pedal it coughs, sputters, bucks and doesnt pick up speed it actually does all this and looses speed. I limped it home with a very soft pedal and low speed.got it back here the hill out front was a real challenge though.
Today was chemo day so I was in no condition to go out and check things and tomorrow is the appointment with the attorney so the earliest I can look it over will be tomorrow evening or the next day. I would guess that a vacuum line popped of and a plug wire jumped of as well because thats the way it is acting. Now since we know that doesnt happen I was wondering what you would have to offer? Your opinion on where to start and what to look for? I figure the more help the easier it will be to find and fix so please if you have an opinion as to why the van is acting like this please let me know.
The weather has been great, dry and in the eighties so I doubt if there is any weather related difficulty ( condensation in the cap moisture arcing on the wires, that sort of thing). Please feel free to let me know what you think. I appreciate all the input.

Thanks
A J

[Leeann_93]

Doubt it's moisture-related, especially since it wasn't right at startup.

When's the last time you checked the coil and the fuel pump output?

[a2l1]

Well because of all the errands today I am not feeling up to working on the van. I will probably check tomorrow and look it over. I have never done anything to the van tune wise since I got it but I only got it about 2-3 months ago. I was thinking pump as well but want to check the filter first. Thats the reason I stopped for gas. I though it was sucking some air. I will check it all out tomorrow, I hope.


A J

[a2l1]

On my way out to open er up. I will post later what I find, that is if I find anything.

[RECox286]

Do You have a Fuel Pressure Test kit ? Have you changed out the FF ? Did it set any codes ? Check for Vacuum leaks, and look for wires off sparkies, pull the plugs and look them over.
I should think it would be something simple to have happened all of a sudden.

Good hunting

Bob

[paintdrying]

fuel filter coil, timing. dizzy gear.

[a2l1]

OK, who in the pool had two plug wires jumped off the plugs??

Thats the winner.
I either need a tune-up or Chevrolet has a fuel economy mode that has been kept secret from us and on the V6 as you go down the road it will drop one wire on each bank for fuel economy. Im guessing its time for a serious tune to include new plug wires.

Thanks everyone,

A J

[RECox286]

I know that $$ is allways a consideration, but you really should think about getting a wireset that advertises to be a "direct replacement" and I have gone to Bosh Plus 4 plugs. I really like them, a lot.
Check out the dist cap: make sure you get brass rather than aluminum in the towers. More $, yes. Works better, lasts longer, YES.

Bob

[a2l1]

Thanks Bob. Appreciate the input

[RECox286]

Part Deux,

Get yourself some diaelectric tune up grease to use on the inside of all the spark plug boots including the distributor and coil connections.

And you are correct, Chevy has been secretely working on a new version of the 4.3L, the "6, 4, 2 cylinder" is scheduled to appear in all 2012 and later Astros and Safaris, along with the new 18 fwd, 2 rev speed
transmission. So far as I can tell, they are toying with the idea of mounting the transaxle in the rear, and aircooling the engine. I also hear that they will be available in every color imaginable as long as you want black, and (wait for it) there will be 3cupholders per person in basic cargo models that have windows all around. I have it on good authority that the side door will be replaced by a dutch door design , with a split sliding door is to be fitted in the rear of the van. The currently available freon A/C system will be upgraded to a "2-60" sysem that will incorporate screens on all fully functional windows. There are other upgrades due to surface, but I haven't gotten all the information yet. I'm guessing that it will take a few more water boarding sessions to break the Chevy rep.
More as this story unfolds.

Bob

[a2l1]

I knew it was something like that Keep us/me posted especially on the split sliding door does half fold up or down

[RECox286]

Who in the pool ?

Me, it was me. I win. Oh, ah, ha, ha, ha. I've never won anything in my life. I can't believe it... I won !

What a warm fuzzy feeliing. (I think I just peed my pants) So, what do I get ?

bBo

(can't wait for this one)

[Leeann_93]

I'm glad it was so easy!

I'm with everyone else, though - go for high-quality, OEM-style wires. They make a difference. AC Delco, Delphi or Autolite Professional.

[a2l1]

I will go along with everyone and go for the better built products for the tune-up. I am tired of pulling the seat out and the engine cover. Even though I am getting good at it I really would like to not take it off for awhile so a better grade tune-up it is. thanks everyone.

Bob a box of depends are on the way----- should help with the damp feeling you got from winning the pool

[cowboydan]

blue streak is good for the money, but i'm msd all the way

[a2l1]

Im on the I will get the best I can afford for no other reason than it will be the best I can personally afford. And I cant really afford much so I will say I will get new stuff a bit at a time and that will be what I can afford. Clear as mud but it comes out to the cheap stuff is better than the broken stuff

[Matrixx]

If money is an issue here a2l1, then get the good stuff a little at a time.

AC Delco or Delphi are the tried and proven brands here for the 4.3s. If you can only afford just a few things at a time, then get the AC Delco Cap and Rotor first.

The above suggestion is based on what you have mentioned here so far with your vehicle. It didn't start running rough until the wires fell off the cylinders, so that means you still have a bit of life left in the plugs and wires. Cap and rotors take the most punishment.

I doubt the wires "just" fell off by themselves a2l1, I think they were loosely put on buy the other owner and he/she forgot to snap them in place on the plugs and over a period of time (and torque from the motor) worked themselves off. This comment is based on what you have mentioned already on this thread.

Hope this helps.

[a2l1]

Makes sense. As to the previous owner. He said they had the motor replaced, it was done at a junkyard with a used yard motor. They cut the core support and used little square metal patches to screw the core support top bar back together. Now that you have that image in your mind you will know why I spend my time tracing connections and repairing them. There was no vacuum to the dash at all -- that was a tube that was cut and never replaced. The main vacuum line going to the vacuum tank that was not bolted in, had no vacuum. The hose was clamped shut because it was behind the alternator bracket bolted tight. There is more but you get the idea so the plug wires not staying on was no surprise especially since there are two different kind/brand of wires/ As a temp fix I just crimped the connector at the plug end of the wire. The van was supposed to give me something to do and occupy my time. It does that well

Thanks,

A J

[throrope]

a2l1

Seeing as you're enduring another's shortcuts, I saw a neat one on cable the other night and thought I'd share.

They used wire ties for plug wire guides. The took one tie loosely around four wires, then used three other ties around the first between the wires. Holds all four flat and easy to attach to brackets.

[a2l1]

I would like to see a photo of that