CamaroZ28.Com Message Board - The great misfire mystery

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Sweet! This info is way useful. I seem to have misfire problems every so often. Like many of us, I've changed plugs and wires numerous times. One question though, of anyone whose had this problem, did your "Service Engine Soon" light come on? Mine will seem to come on, stay on for a few days and then eventually go off. While the light is on, my car runs kind of crappy. As soon as it goes off, it'll run fine. I can always tell when my light is about to come on because I'll start to feel a light "misfire" tugging while driving. Also, when my car switches from 1st to 2nd gear, it'll jerk. I do know that something as simple as running a different octain than normal or even adding an injector cleaner to a fill up will bring this on. From what I understand, the computer needs to "sync up" with what's going on with the engine and will eventually correct itself. However, if I've done none of these things and this happens, I've always assumed that it was an ignition problem. In your experiences, once this starts, is it constant or does the misfire only seem to happen after the car has been on and warmed up? That's when it seems to happen to me the most. One note about my experience, this is not a constant thing with my car. It only seems to happen every so often. I've almost become immune to my "Service Engine Soon" light.

Quote:

Originally posted by MacPHYST
Sweet! This info is way useful. I seem to have misfire problems every so often. Like many of us, I've changed plugs and wires numerous times. One question though, of anyone whose had this problem, did your "Service Engine Soon" light come on? Mine will seem to come on, stay on for a few days and then eventually go off. While the light is on, my car runs kind of crappy. As soon as it goes off, it'll run fine. I can always tell when my light is about to come on because I'll start to feel a light "misfire" tugging while driving. Also, when my car switches from 1st to 2nd gear, it'll jerk. I do know that something as simple as running a different octain than normal or even adding an injector cleaner to a fill up will bring this on. From what I understand, the computer needs to "sync up" with what's going on with the engine and will eventually correct itself. However, if I've done none of these things and this happens, I've always assumed that it was an ignition problem. In your experiences, once this starts, is it constant or does the misfire only seem to happen after the car has been on and warmed up? That's when it seems to happen to me the most. One note about my experience, this is not a constant thing with my car. It only seems to happen every so often. I've almost become immune to my "Service Engine Soon" light.

Man mine does the exact same thing!!!! Feels like i gotta shift kit when it goes to second lol. My ses light also goes on and off when it feels like it. So I guess engine heat is the main problem, this is one of those posts everybody should read.

Just finished the mod and the car is running great. Thanks for the info.

Well, mine is going in the shop tomorrow. Not looking forward to seeing the bill from the Pontiac dealership. However, my wires are under warranty so maybe that'll help a little. I've tallked to the shop forman earlier and spoke of the heat shielding, routing, etc. He mentioned that he'll look into what can be done and that we'll chat about it in the morning when I drop it off. Hope they can fix it right away. Can't go too long without a car. :(

Well guys... I did my plugs and wires today.

I have a 2000 with tubular manifolds so I assume it was a little easier for me. My car is pretty stock with 38,200 miles on it.

I used
-8.5mm Msd wires (from www.ammperformance.com $50)
-NGK TR-55 Plugs (from www.mascperfomance.com)
-MSD 1000* heat sheating 6' roll (from Summitracing.com Part # MSD3412)

When I pulled looked at my old wires the # 6 wire was actually laying on my exhaust manifold, when I pulled it off, it was burnt in 2 spots, and and the boot crumbled apart, it also looked burned up at the tip of the plug. Also the number 2 wire had rubbed agianst something and worn through the outer coating, and the #4 wire looked burned up at the plug.

I cutt the 6' roll of heat sleeving in 1 foot sections(giving me 1 foot for each wire) I then with a utility knife shaved off the MSD logo off the spark boot, just enough to cut it off not dig into the boot. I then put the heat sleeves on eave wire, zipp tied it at the end and used electrical tape to make it look a little nicer.

I resued the old metal boot shields that were factory on the car, I twisted them over my new plugs with heat sleeves on them.

Then I startd doing the plugs on the car(I uesed a handy tool, its like a socket wrench with but doesn't have a handle, just a circular disc that ratchets. I used the a regular wrench to start the bolt and the new tool to finish) IT was pretty easy. I picked the tool up at advacned auto for $8, its worth it, a regualr wrench woudl have take forever since you coudl probably only turn it one click in most spots. I then installed my newly gapped plugs at .045 to finger tight with the new tool.

then I installed each plug boot, they offered mor then enough protection in my opinion, I ran the passenger side wires straight up and over the motor instead of behind the alternator when they were factory installed.

First impression, car ran alot better and smoother, I plan on taking it to the track and seeing the difference. My stock wires were not doing so well.

In my opinoin if you are going to do plugs and wires, take a little more tiem and do it right...