replaced plugs and wires camaro feels sluggish??

**PAT-LS101** · 02-27-2009, 07:50 AM

I just replaced my plugs with NGK tr55's and my wires with MSD 8.5mm plug wires. When I went to start it it would just crank for a bit, then it finally fired up and ran at high idle and then smoothed out. I shut the car off and noticed the coolant temp sensor was disconnected so I plugged it back in and it fired up fine and ran. When I went to take it on a test run it felt kinda sluggish. Maybe its just me but it doesnt seem as peepy as it used to. I didnt gap the plugs due to the fact that NGK tr 55's are gapped .59 so I thought that was good. All plug wires are tight and on and it idles good. My question is do you think the gap should be bigger and would the coolant temp sensor make it not start up like that? Thanks in advance

**2001NBMZ28** · 02-27-2009, 10:27 AM

The gap is fine, I use .55 on mine even though NGK's site changed them because GM suppliers changed their gap to .44? I even emailed NGK to ask them if they changed the plugs - answer was no and said stock gap would work fine. ECT sensor in the head might have caused the strange start up, won't throw a code until the second ignition cycle. If you're talking about the low coolant sensor in the radiator disconnecting it won't affect performance, just keeps the low coolant light off.

Edit: 02's don't have a low coolent sensor, must've meant ECT.

**JoshieDoom** · 02-27-2009, 11:35 AM

Take off the battery cable and let it relearn itself. Make sure all of the wires are snapped in good

**PAT-LS101** · 02-27-2009, 12:51 PM

Originally Posted by 2001NBMZ28

The gap is fine, I use .55 on mine even though NGK's site changed them because GM suppliers changed their gap to .44? I even emailed NGK to ask them if they changed the plugs - answer was no and said stock gap would work fine. ECT sensor in the head might have caused the strange start up, won't throw a code until the second ignition cycle. If you're talking about the low coolant sensor in the radiator disconnecting it won't affect performance, just keeps the low coolant light off.

Edit: 02's don't have a low coolent sensor, must've meant ECT.

I meant the coolant temp sensor sorry! its the sensor on the driver side in back of the power steering pump... and all the plugs are tight...???

**JoshieDoom** · 02-27-2009, 01:00 PM

Originally Posted by PAT-LS101

I meant the coolant temp sensor sorry! its the sensor on the driver side in back of the power steering pump... and all the plugs are tight...???

Give the computer some time. I did a fuel filter, maf cleaning and some other things and it rapped me with like 15 mpg for a good while. then it finally went back up.

**QKSLVR99** · 03-02-2009, 07:31 AM

had same problem with MSD wires.... I "thought" they were all on tight..... last one on passenger side wasn't on all the way corrected that problem and POOF worked great... Imagine that plug wire connected made a difference...LOL

**0rion** · 03-02-2009, 08:27 AM

yes, the coolant temp sensor will cause issues if it's not hooked up or working properly. Did you pull the air hose off the manifold to make the plug install easier? If so make sure it's not leaking as that'll give you a false lean and could cause your problems. Make sure all wires are snapped on as everyone else suggested. That number 8 is just a PIA to get to and it's easy to not have it on there good.