Violent engine vibration

[GTLGDP]

So i go to leave my friends house late at night and i start my car, it just starts vibrating hard making my entire car shake, also making my SES light blink my entire ride home. I know my spark plugs are bad, but could that be it? It sounded like my car had a cam but it was a very fast vibration. I also have a knock sensor code too but now i might have more.

Probably the scariest car ride home in my life thinking i was gonna die.

I am i completely screwed? Got the car three months ago, fml.

[KeithGTP03]

A blinking SES means a possible catalyst harming misfire. If you know your spark plugs are bad, why haven't you changed them? I would start there.

[bps02gtp]

Yeah the blinking light is usually a serious fuel and/or spark issue. Fix the spark plugs and u should be good. Do it before u cause harm to something.

[GTLGDP]

Well I ordered everything online and it hasn't come yet, should i just not leave my house until i can get them? Then i still have to drive to my friends to install them.

[ctracer]

you CAN drive but try not to. your misfires should go away after you replace your plugs.

[GTLGDP]

Alright i'm really hoping its just spark plugs and nothing else >

[asite57]

i had a very similar problem and it was just the plugs i would drive on it unless you absolutely have to

[bps02gtp]

Ud be surprised what a terribly bad spark would do to how ur car runs

[Poil336]

if you drive somewhere to change spark plugs, i suggest gloves. get wires while you're at it. sounds like a dead miss, kinda unusual for a plug to do that unless it's really f*cked. hope it fixes it, keep us posted

[FordMan77]

Worst case, you could pull the old plugs and try to clean then up, regap, then reinstall. This is assuming of course that you don't ruin one of the wires on the rear bank when removing it, lol... Which judging by the sounds of it is highly likely. You may be able to get away with just cleaning up the front 3 and see what you get.

Whatever you do be gentle on it and don't drive it anymore than you have to. Last thing you want is a chipped piston or a dead cat converter.

[bps02gtp]

F**k that. Spark plugs are 2 bucks and not worth the work. Especially messng with the rear ones. Lol

[FordMan77]

Which is why I suggested that he just pull the front 3 and see what that gets him until he can get the new plugs and wires. Trying to get him to his buddies house w/o destroying the motor.

OP- a tip on changing the rear plugs/wires. Remove the front 2 dogbone mounts and use a ratchet strap connected to the bracket in back and the other end on the rad. support. Pull the motor forward w/ the strap. This will give you some additional room in back to get to those. And twist the plug wires as you pull and they should come out.

[GTLGDP]

I'm not takin anything out myself so i'm just gonna let it sit until thursday when everything should come from rock auto. Praying this fixes my problems

[FordMan77]

I'm not takin anything out myself

Sure you can. The front 3 are a piece of cake, especially if you're stock. All you need is a 3" extension, a 3/8 ratchet and a spark plug socket. Just watch the back of your hand on the fan shroud, lol..

Now is the perfect time to learn how to troubleshoot your car. If you get stuck somewhere are you gonna leave it sit until your buddy is free, or go fix it yourself? I don't what your level of experience is but this is something everyone should know how to do. We are here to help if for some reason you get stuck. Just do one at a time so you don't mix up the firing order or you will have another issue.

[GTLGDP]

Well of course my rock auto shipment came two days earlier than expected. Checked the box..got the wires...then they only sent me 4 out of the 6 spark plugs. Time to wait longer

[bps02gtp]

you dont have to. knock out the back 3 plugs and see if it fixes your issue. then in a couple days when the other ones get here you can do the front 3. a couple days of difference wont hurt. they dont NEED to be done all at the same time.

[Poil336]

or find a code reader and see if it was lucky enough to tell you which cylinder was failing. you'll have P030- and then one more number. and that number will be the plug you want to replace. the front three cylinders, from passenger side to driver side, are 1-3-5, and the back three from the passenger side to driver side are 2-4-6