You could unplug the O2's and run open loop all of the time. Then, you can make changes to the open loop a/f fuel table. You should atleast download freescan and check the BLMs, but that has to be done before you unplug the O2's. The program is free.

 

The fact that you changed from a cooler plug to a hotter plug is enough to make the plugs look different. The hotter plug is burning off the deposits more completely is all. If your o2 sensors are working and you don't have something wrong mechanically, then you are probably at 14.7 - just where you're supposed to be. Don't forget 14.7 IS pretty lean... Scanner & wideband will tell you more about if it's running where it's supposed to be.

 

[QUOTE=Kevin Blown 95 TA]The fact that you changed from a cooler plug to a hotter plug is enough to make the plugs look different. The hotter plug is burning off the deposits more completely is all. QUOTE]
obviously...that is why i switched to a hotter plug. my problem is wondering why it would stumble and studder because of switching to a hotter plug. gaps aer set right around .040 so i don't see tha tbeing a problem either.

 

[QUOTE=blackztpi]First you said that it had a lot more ***** with the new hotter plugs, now you say it stumbles & stutters.

 

it does have a lot more *****, but under load and in lower rpm, it has a tendency to studder and cut out and then all the sudden the power is back again. it is not ignition related

 

My car was just doing the same exact thing. I unplugged the O2's and it cleared it up quite a bit. This is my temporary fix until I can get it tuned right.

 

okay, i replaced the o2's today with new gm units. car seems to be a lot better now, although i've only driven it once and it wasn't acting up today with the bad o2's in it. without a scanner, i never would've known that my o2's were dead....that SES light needs to come on for that...

 

The light will come on for that, if they are far enough out to cause the pcm to change the fuel table more than the allowable amount. It is possible for them to be bad without this happending. I have tuned a few cars like that, and until I figured it out it drove me nuts.

 

cars always drive me nuts. I'll tell you what. i'm going to go ahead and buy that 1000 dollar scanner that mac just brought out for this year. I get the student price of 500 bucks so i can deal with that. it's nice to have, especially with updatable hardware and all domestic files come with it, obd1 and 2. also works for the american hondas, toyotas, and whatever other crackerboxes are being made here.

 

Why not get a laptop, a cable, and download freescan?

 

i did...execpt i can't get it to work... it will only let me pick come port 3, which isn't connecting between the pcm and the program. reason for getting the mac scan tool is not oly for this car, but for others, too. i'm going to college to be a tech. Without a good scan tool, it's hard to do anything with any car.