the spark plug gasket? if the plugs are out of spec should it throw out a code? I've bought the plugs from autohausaz. do they need to be adjusted. i thought these plugs have no adjustments. will the coil packs make the car sound like this. it sounds like sand only in the low rpms

The spark pug gaskets are the little "o-ring" looking things that seal the valve cover to the spark plug holes. They can shift and/or be crushed during installation, thereby allowing oil to make its way down to the spark plugs and then onto the tips of the plugs themselves (which will interfere with spark). Also, you are right, the plugs come pre-adjusted, but it's not uncommon for them to be bent during shipping. It's always prudent to check the gaps with a gauge before installation.

The coil packs can make the car sound like that if they aren't functioning properly, causing decreased or non-existent spark (i.e. you would be running on a non- or malfunctioning spark plug/cylinder).

One other culprit I forgot to mention in my original post was that you could also have a vacuum leak. My truck sounded like that (although it was only at idle) and it ended up being an intake vacuum leak.

Hope that helps some...

:)

Fixed...it was actually my secondary air line leak that was causing the rattling sound. it was an exhaust leak. While changing the water pump i removed it and when installing it i didn't get it back in properly. fyi for people who replace their water pump and remove the secondary air line to also replace the o-rings on the secondary air line and to make sure it is properly seated in before tightening the bolts.