sputtering, SES light UPDATE: problem found, need assistance!

[j_downey50]

my car was running great all day. no noises, no problems. i was driving over to a friend's house a moment ago and it started sputtering, and almost stalled twice. at first, it was only when i was at more than 1/4 throttle. now it does it all the time. it's not consistant, it's random. then after a while of looking around the engine bay for loose or missing belts, the SES light popped on. my dad and i are going to check it out tonight, and hopefully we can fix it ourselves. anybody have an idea as to what it might be?

if it helps, it's a 1996 3.8 A4, only 66k.

[ November 22, 2004, 10:38 PM: Message edited by: j_downey50 ]

[Flowbee V6]

usually a cylinder misfire (i dont know if you mean your cars sputtering or your ses light is blinking) especially if you feel a power loss and your car sounds like a deranged 60's muscle car

I have a problem myself with the ses light going on and off (usually on), never figured out what it was but it doesnt effect my cars performance

[j_downey50]

yeah, a derranged muscle car haha. there is quite some power loss, and the SES light isn't blinking. it stays on now.

oh yeah, and the exhaust doesn't smell too great either.

[Ian]

you get the code scanned?

[j_downey50]

yeah, P0305--cyl 5 is misfiring. i bought new wires and a plug for it, hoping that would solve the problem. if not, i'll take it to get checked out after class tomorrow.

this is the first time i've actually worked under the hood of a car other than cleaning. i'm doing this all myself and i'm quite proud [img]smile.gif[/img] . but i'm experiencing one problem:

the wire for cyl #5 goes through a bracket halfway down, between the engine and the firewall... how the hell do you open that bracket to get the wire out? i need an answer ASAP!

[98Camaro3.8]

Originally posted by j_downey50:
the wire for cyl #5 goes through a bracket halfway down, between the engine and the firewall... how the hell do you open that bracket to get the wire out? i need an answer ASAP!

Get it from under the car. ;)

[j_downey50]

aw, ****. alright, here i go. wish me luck and let's pray this fixes the misfire...

[lon elliott]

number 5 sucks, i had that wire burn from laying on a manifold. about the only way i could get it off was to destroy it from under the car, good think i didnt have to change the plug also.

[j_downey50]

alright, i changed the plug and the wire and the engine seems to be doing a LOT better. there isn't as bad of a loss in power, but the misfire is still there. it's not as bad though. driving to autozone, i felt like it would **** out on me at any second. now it runs stronger, but i really want to get this misfire taken care of.

i filled up and poured in some injector cleaner. hopefully this will do it. cleaned injectors, new plug, new wire... if this doesn't fix it, she's going to have to take a trip to the shop.

[LwnGy83]

If you're still misfiring after changing the spark plug and wire, it could be the coil. That happened to my 97. They are easy to replace, and are pretty cheap. I think about $20 at the part store. Good Luck

[pontiac nino]

COILS [img]smile.gif[/img]

[ November 23, 2004, 03:44 AM: Message edited by: pontiac nino ]

[j_downey50]

coils... hm...

spark plug: $6
set of wires: $30
coils: $20
serpentine belt: $40 (noticed i need a new one while working on this problem last night)

well this little mishap so far has costed me $96... being a kid, working barely over minimum wage, that's just under half a paycheck. :mad:

after class today, i'll drive her around for a while, get some of the new gas with injector cleaner up to the engine, and see if it helps any. if not, i guess i'm making another trip to autozone.

[1999V6]

the exact same thing is happening to me right now, is there a tool that can check the current in the spark plug wire to see if there's a problem? I know it's kind of tough to get to all the plugs and wires, just hope it's one thats accessible to me.