Hey all

I know there are a few posts about this problem, but I figured I'd put my exact situtation out there. I had a problem last summer with the check engine light coming on. Checked the code and it told me that there was a misfire. My dad and I were going to fix it, run some tests, ect. But before we could we put some fuel injector cleaner through the tank, filled it with gas and the check engine light went off. Kept thinking it was going to come back, and it didn't until this week. Simular problems started happening. Haven't ran the check engine code yet, will check it tomorrow.

I'm really not mechanically inclined, but the shop up here is 90 bucks an hour and they're slow and not reliable. What are some things I can do to fix this myself? Is this something I should bring into the shop?

Any help will be greatly apprieciated.

 

Check for engine codes first. Then I'd change spark plugs to begin with if you don't know how many miles are on them.

 

I got the check engine code, it's P0303, just as I expected, No. 3 misfire. I changed the spark plugs last summer, and the fuel filter. I honestly think there's just something directly wrong with the no. 3 cylinder. I thought about just switching out the no 3 cylinder with say no. 4 cylinder to see if the code moves to that one, but I have no clue how difficult that would be.

I took it to a mechanic yesterday and he wants to do a basic tune up; spark plugs, fuel filter, ect, but most of that has been done last summer and I really just want this fixed as cheaply as possible.

Any input?

 

Also, that being said, if I keep running my fuel injector cleaner through the system like I did last summer, what do you figure the odds are that this problem is going to eventually clear itself up on it's own again? What kind of damage can happen with my system?

 

not sure what you mean by switching out the cylinder? when you changed the plugs did you check the boots? is the miss constant or irregular? when you changed the fuel filter did you notice anything unusual in the left over gas? you may be better off spending the money taking to a dealer and getting diagnostic testing, they can do more than check codes, they can view while running and hopefully see the problem. good luck

 

Like I said, I don't know much about mechanics so if I sounds like I don't know what I'm talking about, it's 'cause I don't. Taking it to a dealership is a risky move as I like in Fort Simpson, NT at the moment, the closest place to take it, I think, is Hay River (about a 4 hour drive again) I have one place I can take it and they have to order a large chunk of their parts because it's a very small garage.

The studdering is pretty consistant.

 

if its a ignition coil they might be getting wet thats what happens to mine

 

The plug boots should be with changed with the plugs as they get form set to the old plugs and don't seal as well next time. If you didn't use dielectric grease lightly smeared in the end of the boot before reinstalling over the plug, sometimes ground arcing down the side of the plug can occur and cause the misfire, especially with an older loose fitting boot. You can try switching the coil pac and boot with the one next to it to see if the misfire code stays with the same cylinder ruling out the coil pac and boot.