Misfire Problem
02-01-2016 | 01:42 PM
#11
Thread Starter
Joined: 06-15-2012
Posts: 9
From: Alaska
Thank you everyone for the help so far. Unfortunately hasn't made much of a difference.
Just an FYI, I am a pretty decent wrench, but without the service manual and a proper scan tool, I am finding myself a bit muddled with the diagnosis of the problem here and not making much headway. Weather is finally back up to JUST freezing so trying to get it figured out while I can work outside for an entire afternoon. So as always any help is much appreciated.
Quick recap. Car running great, park it for the night, it gets really cold and forget to plug it in, jump in next morning and car cranks over great but does not start. Figuring it might just be WAY to cold to run, plug it in and let it warm up all day and it starts and runs horrible.
So first time I tear into it, the spark plugs are pretty much toast and due for a change, swap them out and it still runs rough. Hoped that the symptoms and the code would help give a bit more direction, so threw up a forum post.
Based off suggestions given, about possible plugging of fuel injectors, bad gas, etc. Put in some injector cleaner and gave it some run time. No difference.
Just this last weekend, pulled it apart again. Cleaned the injectors, plugs, checked all connections, disconnected battery to lobotomize computer. Swapped outboard injectors and plugs with inboard to see if problem moved. No change.
From the looks of it cylinder 1 and 4 are not getting spark at all. The plugs are dark, sooty and dry, cylinders 2 and 3 are clean as a whistle. This one has the coil rail prior to individual plug coils. The rail obviously has two coils embedded in it, but checking across the terminals both coils have matching resistance, so seems no problem there (to my understanding).
But near as I can tell one of the two ignition circuits (cylinder 1&4) is not working correctly. Kind of leaves me thinking that the ignition module has failed. Unfortunately there doesn't seem to be a shop in this entire city that can test the module. At home I've got 5 shops within 10 minutes that can do it and 4 of them will do it for free.
So before I throw a $150 part at it, was wondering if anyone else has any ideas?
Just an FYI, I am a pretty decent wrench, but without the service manual and a proper scan tool, I am finding myself a bit muddled with the diagnosis of the problem here and not making much headway. Weather is finally back up to JUST freezing so trying to get it figured out while I can work outside for an entire afternoon. So as always any help is much appreciated.
Quick recap. Car running great, park it for the night, it gets really cold and forget to plug it in, jump in next morning and car cranks over great but does not start. Figuring it might just be WAY to cold to run, plug it in and let it warm up all day and it starts and runs horrible.
So first time I tear into it, the spark plugs are pretty much toast and due for a change, swap them out and it still runs rough. Hoped that the symptoms and the code would help give a bit more direction, so threw up a forum post.
Based off suggestions given, about possible plugging of fuel injectors, bad gas, etc. Put in some injector cleaner and gave it some run time. No difference.
Just this last weekend, pulled it apart again. Cleaned the injectors, plugs, checked all connections, disconnected battery to lobotomize computer. Swapped outboard injectors and plugs with inboard to see if problem moved. No change.
From the looks of it cylinder 1 and 4 are not getting spark at all. The plugs are dark, sooty and dry, cylinders 2 and 3 are clean as a whistle. This one has the coil rail prior to individual plug coils. The rail obviously has two coils embedded in it, but checking across the terminals both coils have matching resistance, so seems no problem there (to my understanding).
But near as I can tell one of the two ignition circuits (cylinder 1&4) is not working correctly. Kind of leaves me thinking that the ignition module has failed. Unfortunately there doesn't seem to be a shop in this entire city that can test the module. At home I've got 5 shops within 10 minutes that can do it and 4 of them will do it for free.
So before I throw a $150 part at it, was wondering if anyone else has any ideas?
Last edited by ArcticKnyght; 02-01-2016 at 02:51 PM.
02-01-2016 | 08:54 PM
#14
Thread Starter
Joined: 06-15-2012
Posts: 9
From: Alaska
Thank you! That video was extremely helpful. Was a little disheartened when it started out lets hook up the scope... but the whole issue was exactly the same as mine so watched it thru. Glad I did, gave me exactly what I needed to know to check the module with a test light.
So got home tonight, plugged the module back in, ran the pins with test light and lo and behold shows clear as day the module has a dead circuit in it.
Had already made a double fistful of phone calls today and have a good module pulled and waiting for me tomorrow. So hopefully tomorrow night will be able to assemble it and everything goes well will have her back up and running.
Thank you for the help. Will let you know if she's all good or still sickly.
So got home tonight, plugged the module back in, ran the pins with test light and lo and behold shows clear as day the module has a dead circuit in it.
Had already made a double fistful of phone calls today and have a good module pulled and waiting for me tomorrow. So hopefully tomorrow night will be able to assemble it and everything goes well will have her back up and running.
Thank you for the help. Will let you know if she's all good or still sickly.
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