2001 Tahoe Rough Idle/Skip After New Plugs and Wires

[dawgfan83]

Sorry if this has been asked and resolved before, but I'm new to this forum and have run out of ideas.

I have a 2001 Tahoe 5.3 2wd that has 160000 on it. I replaced the plugs and wires just for general maintenance and tune up, and now it wants to skip/idle rough at low speeds or while sitting still...what gives? I replaced the plugs with AC Delco Iridium pre-gapped at .040. Also put on new wires. My truck wasn't skipping before so it has to do with plugs/wires right? I rechecked everything, even put new wires on for a second time just to make sure they werent bad, and still no solution. I'm out of ideas...please help.

 

[03TahoeZ71]

I'm guessing one of the plugs is bad. Iv'e had it happen with new plugs. I would suggest pulling the plug wires one at a time. Your misfire should get worse. Find the cylinder that has no effect when you pull the wire...thats your bad plug.

 

[dawgfan83]

So on the advice of a friend, I pulled the wires, removed the aluminum heat shields around the plugs and reattached the wires without shields...as of right now, this seems to have solved the problem. My only concern however, is whether or not the wires are designed to be used without these heat shields in place? If I once again pull the wires and put the heat shields back on and the problem returns, what does this indicate?

 

[03YukonNH]

So on the advice of a friend, I pulled the wires, removed the aluminum heat shields around the plugs and reattached the wires without shields...as of right now, this seems to have solved the problem. My only concern however, is whether or not the wires are designed to be used without these heat shields in place? If I once again pull the wires and put the heat shields back on and the problem returns, what does this indicate?

Perhaps one of the wires was arcing over to the heat sheild and when removed it no longer does it. Or...you never had one of the boots fully pressed on to the end of the plug and when you removed all the boots to take the shields off, you reconnected all boots fully. I would keep an eye on the wires to make sure they are holding up to the temperature of the exhaust manifolds.

 

[dawgfan83]

I am hoping that the plug wires will be okay, none of them are touching any part of the manifold. I went back with Duralast wires from Autozone, (they were the only ones they stocked). Should I buy a set of Delco wires, or just keep an eye on these as long as no symptoms return? Perhaps I should have relied on the old "if it aint broke don't fix it". Just figured with 160k on the hoe, it was about time.

Thanks for the help and advice.

 

[03TahoeZ71]

I am hoping that the plug wires will be okay, none of them are touching any part of the manifold. I went back with Duralast wires from Autozone, (they were the only ones they stocked). Should I buy a set of Delco wires, or just keep an eye on these as long as no symptoms return? Perhaps I should have relied on the old "if it aint broke don't fix it". Just figured with 160k on the hoe, it was about time.

Thanks for the help and advice.

I would get Delco's. It's a known fact that most aftermarket wires are inferior to the Delco's.

 

[ezdaar]

Spark plug boot heat shield

 

[Danzigman]

An easy way to see if you are arching it pop the hood in the dark and fire it up. You will see the spark.