I have a 2006 HHR LT with the 2.4 Liter engine. The check engine light came on recently and I took it to the auto parts store and hooked up their code reader. It indicated that I have a #1 cylinder missfire.

I tried changing the spark plugs as a cheap fix, but no change. I suspect that the coil pack on the #1 cylinder may be going out, but I haven't really noticed any change in performance or fuel mileage. Before I spend the $75 or so on a new coil pack, do you all think I am on the right track? For that matter, if that is the problem, which is the #1 cylinder?

All input is welcome as I am the type of person that gets a bit manic about idiot lights, and want to resolve this before I do have a problem that could cost me lots more money.

 

As you are facing the vehicle the firing order is 1-3-4-2. Have you eliminated the plug wire as suspect?

 

The engine has individual coil packs for each cylinder. There really is no spark plug wire per se.

 

Well that is 2 correct answers combining to make a wrong one! Firing order is not the same as cylinder numbers. #1 is at the "front" of the engine, in this case the passenger side where the belt is. Followed by #2,#3,#4 to the right as you face the front of the car.

But pull the packs and check for anything abnormal, also the plugs could be loose. Seems that the most common thing is a burned valve.

 

I thought the 2006 had a single coil pack, come to think.

 

I have a 2006 with the 2.4 engine, it has the individual coil packs (4).

One way to check the coil is to swap it with another coil and see if the misfire code moves to the cylinder # that you put the coil removed from #1 to.

If the misfire still shows cylinder #1, then it's not the coil.

Steve

 

I like that idea. If it is a burnt valve, that sounds expensive.

 

I have had tha issue on my Chevy work van, We have 20 + trucks and from what I remember ever time we had a code cyl misfire it was the coil. For the longest time mine read random misfire with no cyl info. took forever to finally get it to read the coil