GTP Running Rough
Well if you don’t know the 98 Pontiac GTP 3800 Supercharged has had a couple problems surface all at the same time. Changed out the $100 oil pan gasket before heading down state, broke the sway bar and upgraded to the factory gm impala beefy 9c1 police package sway bar(great for racing if I decide to). Plugged fuel filter downstate, leaking heater core way back from down state. It always had a random misfire in real wet weather, this last weekend up to Houghton was very rainy. Well I finally got around to getting it on a computer to see the P0300 Random Cylinder Misfire Error Code. Then I jumped down to see if it was the same cylinder, cylinder 5 misfire 5369 times while the others said like 40-60 misfires in the same time period.
Went and got myself some Bosch Platinum Plus 4041 Spark plugs. Cracked out cyclinder #5 spark to find this.
Pontiac decided it was a good idea to have these little aluminum cups over the spark plug, with a little spring. I am not sure what it does but I know it helped hold moisture and/or arc out the plug in humid weather. Just for good measure I am going to change out all the plug wires when I can swing by auto zone again. This looks like the culprit and I hope. Next up I need to tear apart the interior to change out my heater core before winter and then decide if my timing chain rattle needs to be fixed with a new timing chain tensioner… Still love the car and the 3800 supercharged engine.
