Wasted Spark Advice Required

[chipstick 382 1 Cars]

My car recently failed an MoT due to high emmisions.

 

I changed the plugs and blew the cobwebs out by giving it an Italian tune up and it flew through.

 

A couple of days later the car developed a hesitation/missfire so I bought some new leads thinking perhaps I disturbed them or it was just a coincidence. This didn't make an improvement. I refitted the existing leads again (replacements didn't appear good quality anyway) and it was temporarily solved for a few miles and came back again. The leads I use are for a 16v Corsa GSi etc.

 

I got a new coil pack today and fitting that has made no difference

 

The car is over fueling - as there's a strong smell of fuel at idle, and it also pops on idle and whilst not using a great deal of throttle.

 

Could it be that I've perhaps a faulty spark plug from the set I purchased?

 

So I can be double sure my leads are in the correct order, could anyone running the same setup please perhaps provide an explanation/pic of the order of their leads? Does the length of lead matter or is that purely for convenience to have the shorter one nearer the coil pack?

 

My coil pack (Intermotor 12613) has numbering next to the fittings, but has different numbers at the top and bottom - presumably to cater for varying vehicles it's comparable with.

 

Any pointers appreciated.

[welshpug 1,657]

What fpr do you have?

 

Lead length is purely for ease of fitting.

 

faulty plugs are rare, but could have one fouled up from running rich, maybe an imbalance there.

[chipstick 382 1 Cars]

FPR is the standard WEBER 6 one. There's never been a pipe connected to it though.

 

I shall check the plug colours and see if that gives anything away.

[chipstick 382 1 Cars]

Whipped the plugs out. Cylinder 3 was very black. Remainder were dark but not so bad.

 

Cleaned them up and now it runs how it should.

 

Presumably the fitting of new plugs after it being sat for several months followed by a spirited clean out fouled them up.

 

Hopefully constant use of the vehicle will mean it doesn't happen again. I'd rather not have to constantly clean them often. Would there be a suggested plug to use which can handle a richer mix until warm? I'm using bog standard NGK BKR6EK at the moment.

Edited July 1, 2014 by chipstick

[welshpug 1,657]

I would suggest getting the balancing checked.

[chipstick 382 1 Cars]

Only done about 100 miles since it was last done

 

I shall invest in a syncrometer so I can check and keep an eye on it.