Placement of spark plug wires

October 13, 2006 4:00 PM

Placement of spark plug wires..

I just changed my plugs and wires and in the midst of pure automotive geniusdom, didn't mark which wires connected to which coil pack.

Does it matter?

posted by jazzkat11 to Travel & Transportation (14 answers total)

Best answer: Yep, it definately does. I've mismatched them before and it causes horrible misfiring. Look up the correct pattern and you should be fine.
posted by snsranch at 4:03 PM on October 13, 2006

Response by poster: Any idea of where to find said pattern? My google-fu is failing me.

If it's any help, I have a '99 Toyota 4runner.
posted by jazzkat11 at 4:16 PM on October 13, 2006

What engine?
posted by paulsc at 4:21 PM on October 13, 2006

Look around Tundra

Solutions. Maybe ask there or go by your local auto parts store and look in a repair manual.
posted by lee at 4:22 PM on October 13, 2006

Best answer: The phrase you want to search for is "firing order".
posted by sfenders at 4:30 PM on October 13, 2006

Response by poster: It's the V6 SR5 4WD.

Using the 'firing order', I then connect 1 to 2, 3 to 4, etc?
posted by jazzkat11 at 4:36 PM on October 13, 2006

It's going to go 1 to 1 etc. Lemme see what I can find.
posted by snsranch at 4:44 PM on October 13, 2006

sfenders is right on, this should be it.
posted by snsranch at 4:47 PM on October 13, 2006

Response by poster: I must have something wrong - the wires connect to each other across the block.. so it would be 1 to 2, 3 to 4.. or 3-1, etc.

There must something simple here I'm missing.
posted by jazzkat11 at 5:42 PM on October 13, 2006

http://www.faqfarm.com/Q/How_do_you_put_the_spark_plug_wires_back_in_the_correct_order_on_a_1994_4Runner
posted by IronLizard at 6:01 PM on October 13, 2006

Incase you don't have it yet. The wires go from the distributor to each spark plug, not from one, to the next.
posted by lee at 6:41 AM on October 14, 2006

Just a recommendation for next time, disconnect and replace them one at a time to avoid this.
posted by jimmy0x52 at 7:06 AM on October 14, 2006

Response by poster: In this year model there isn't a distributor.. In its place is a 'coil pack' that connects to the passenger side above each plug, 3 in total.

So the wires connect to each side of the block.. I can only assume 1 goes to 2, 3 to 4, etc. However that may be completely wrong - I am still having a hard time getting it to work.

And yes, lesson learned. I will 'mark and replace' next time.
posted by jazzkat11 at 12:28 PM on October 14, 2006

Response by poster: So.. for those of you who happen to find yourself in the same predicament with a 3rd generation 4Runner, here is the wiring layout (with the previous diagram in mind):
1-4
3-6
5-2

Thanks again everyone!
posted by jazzkat11 at 7:06 PM on October 14, 2006