Hesitation during heavy rain?
08-21-2017, 01:33 PM
#1
New Member
Thread Starter
Hesitation during heavy rain?
Anyone ever have the following issue. Occasionally when I am driving in heavy rain and go to accelerate my '09 SS will hesitate, almost feels like I dropped an ignition coil. It only happens in the rain and not all of the time, very weird. No check engine light and when I check for codes afterward there are none. Any feedback would be appreciated.
08-21-2017, 01:48 PM
#2
New Member
when i had a similar problem on a v6 sebring it was because the spark plug wires were arching to the cast aluminum intake manifold.
Again, not a cobalt, it was a V6 sebring. I know the difference is that the cobalt is coil on plug vs the sebring had plug wires. That being said it sounds very similar to your problem where the added humidity is causing the arch to jump across the coil to the head instead of across the spark plug.
You could log for individual cylinder misfire, and see if there is only 1 misfiring cylinder and change that coil pack, or start by changing spark plugs, not sure how old yours are.
Again, not a cobalt, it was a V6 sebring. I know the difference is that the cobalt is coil on plug vs the sebring had plug wires. That being said it sounds very similar to your problem where the added humidity is causing the arch to jump across the coil to the head instead of across the spark plug.
You could log for individual cylinder misfire, and see if there is only 1 misfiring cylinder and change that coil pack, or start by changing spark plugs, not sure how old yours are.
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cbjames6 (08-22-2017)
Moderator
08-22-2017, 08:47 AM
#5
New Member
Thread Starter
Thanks for the feedback, if the problem persists I will definitely try checking for a misfire and change a coil pack if needed. The plugs are actually relatively new.
08-23-2017, 09:51 PM
#8
I get the same symptom, but not all the time. Only happens after it gets wet. Usually the day after, then it's gone. I'm assuming some connector must be getting wet causing it.
08-25-2017, 09:32 AM
#9
New Member
what plugs do you have? it appears these engines tend to be very picky about spark plugs.
I dont know if you have any mods, or an aggressive tune, but i'd recommend stock plugs (assuming you're fairly close to a stock engine)
I dont know if you have any mods, or an aggressive tune, but i'd recommend stock plugs (assuming you're fairly close to a stock engine)
08-25-2017, 03:37 PM
#12
New Member
spark gap is highly debated. If you are highly modified i understand the desire / need for a smaller spark gap or a colder plug.
For a stock engine, and a mild tune, especially one that is daily driven in all sorts of conditions from hot to cold personally i believe stock plugs are chosen by GM for a reason. Unless we have an automotive engineer that works on spark plugs that wants to share some knowledge it is fair to assume a forum advice does not have the knowledge of an entire team of engineers that have hundreds of hours of CFD work and dyno testing.
It particularly states on the packaging of the plugs not to re-gap them... yes i'm aware a lot of people have done so successfully. For a stock / mild tune .032 seems unnecessarily small, stock i thought is much higher, can't remember exactly so i won't state any values in fear of spreading incorrect info.
i am now prepared for the unnecessary debate about spark plugs here *flame suit on*.
more on topic, i'm looking forward to posts from the guys with the problems, whether you found out how to fix it or need further discussion.
For a stock engine, and a mild tune, especially one that is daily driven in all sorts of conditions from hot to cold personally i believe stock plugs are chosen by GM for a reason. Unless we have an automotive engineer that works on spark plugs that wants to share some knowledge it is fair to assume a forum advice does not have the knowledge of an entire team of engineers that have hundreds of hours of CFD work and dyno testing.
It particularly states on the packaging of the plugs not to re-gap them... yes i'm aware a lot of people have done so successfully. For a stock / mild tune .032 seems unnecessarily small, stock i thought is much higher, can't remember exactly so i won't state any values in fear of spreading incorrect info.
i am now prepared for the unnecessary debate about spark plugs here *flame suit on*.
more on topic, i'm looking forward to posts from the guys with the problems, whether you found out how to fix it or need further discussion.
08-25-2017, 04:15 PM
#13
Senior Member
iTrader: (6)
spark gap is highly debated. If you are highly modified i understand the desire / need for a smaller spark gap or a colder plug.
For a stock engine, and a mild tune, especially one that is daily driven in all sorts of conditions from hot to cold personally i believe stock plugs are chosen by GM for a reason. Unless we have an automotive engineer that works on spark plugs that wants to share some knowledge it is fair to assume a forum advice does not have the knowledge of an entire team of engineers that have hundreds of hours of CFD work and dyno testing.
It particularly states on the packaging of the plugs not to re-gap them... yes i'm aware a lot of people have done so successfully. For a stock / mild tune .032 seems unnecessarily small, stock i thought is much higher, can't remember exactly so i won't state any values in fear of spreading incorrect info.
i am now prepared for the unnecessary debate about spark plugs here *flame suit on*.
more on topic, i'm looking forward to posts from the guys with the problems, whether you found out how to fix it or need further discussion.
For a stock engine, and a mild tune, especially one that is daily driven in all sorts of conditions from hot to cold personally i believe stock plugs are chosen by GM for a reason. Unless we have an automotive engineer that works on spark plugs that wants to share some knowledge it is fair to assume a forum advice does not have the knowledge of an entire team of engineers that have hundreds of hours of CFD work and dyno testing.
It particularly states on the packaging of the plugs not to re-gap them... yes i'm aware a lot of people have done so successfully. For a stock / mild tune .032 seems unnecessarily small, stock i thought is much higher, can't remember exactly so i won't state any values in fear of spreading incorrect info.
i am now prepared for the unnecessary debate about spark plugs here *flame suit on*.
more on topic, i'm looking forward to posts from the guys with the problems, whether you found out how to fix it or need further discussion.
There really isn't a lot to debate on plug gap, either you have spark occur for all situations or you get spark blowout at high loading. Decreasing a gap within reason will not have an effect on a DD for normal operation, going WOT it will prevent spark blowout.
Stock plug gap is 0.035. Decreasing the gap will allow the spark event to occur during high boost high cylinder pressure when the resistance increases significantly the coil on pack may not have sufficient voltage to spark. Change the boost pressure from 15psi to 20-22psi is a significant change that can cause spark blowout. You're likely to do more damage running to large of a gap and getting spark blowout than running a slightly smaller gap to allow the spark to occur.
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double clutch (08-25-2017)
08-27-2017, 12:25 AM
#14
I would recommend to always check em to make sure they are .035
I go .034 cause it makes me feel cool
Last edited by b9k; 08-27-2017 at 08:37 AM.
08-28-2017, 10:01 AM
#15
It particularly states on the packaging of the plugs not to re-gap them... yes i'm aware a lot of people have done so successfully. For a stock / mild tune .032 seems unnecessarily small, stock i thought is much higher, can't remember exactly so i won't state any values in fear of spreading incorrect info.
