Cylinder 4 misfire... Please Help!

[toodazed]

I was driving yesterday and my car started to shake violently and it seemed like it was loosing power. Sometimes it would even stall out on me, and when I tried to accelerate up hills it could barely make it. Also while I was at a red light I started to notice some smoke coming from the hood.

I took it to Autozone and their reader came up with "Cylinder 4 Misfire" and they told me i need a tune up. I replaced it with new spark plugs and wires and the same problem is still happening. I also replaced the fuel filter and air filter and nothing has changed except make the check engine light go off, but that has came back on today and now it starts to blink. I took it back to Autozone and they said they have no idea except for to change the spark plugs and wires but I already did that.

Please someone help me!

[mark v]

Autozone and other chain parts stores hire people who can type on computers and barely count money, barely any mechanical skills required.

If you replaced the wires and plugs I would say the coil for that cylinder may be bad, not sure. Hopefully there will be a member here soon that is an expert on that engine and can give the same or better advice than I gave.

[thundercougar]

i would also say a bad coil pack is the best place to look.you already replaced plugs and wires.a completely failed coil pack will make your CEL light flash.

[LincolnTech10461]

Try checking the fuel injectors, the one on CYL 4 may be clogged which could either prevent the proper amount of fuel from entering the combustion chamber or the clog could be keeping the injector open which will "dump" excessive amounts of fuel into the combustion chamber


Btw, if your MIL (engine light) is blinking, the car is warning you that the misfire IS CAUSING MODERATE DAMAGE TO YOUR CATALYTIC CONVERTER due to raw unburned fuel entering the catalytic converter which will in a surprisingly short amount of time DESTROY the catalytic converter (to R&R a Cat Converter is appx a $3K - $3.5K job)

[BroncoJoe19]

LT... I like your post... how would you recommend that one check his injectors?

[toodazed]

Originally Posted by LincolnTech10461

Try checking the fuel injectors, the one on CYL 4 may be clogged which could either prevent the proper amount of fuel from entering the combustion chamber or the clog could be keeping the injector open which will "dump" excessive amounts of fuel into the combustion chamber


Btw, if your MIL (engine light) is blinking, the car is warning you that the misfire IS CAUSING MODERATE DAMAGE TO YOUR CATALYTIC CONVERTER due to raw unburned fuel entering the catalytic converter which will in a surprisingly short amount of time DESTROY the catalytic converter (to R&R a Cat Converter is appx a $3K - $3.5K job)

How would I check the fuel injectors?? I really can't afford a repair for $3k I will also try replacing the coil pack and hopefully that will fix the problem...

[mark v]

I know on the OBDI cars you could test the injectors with the KOER test or something like that.

[2000fordcontourowner]

Originally Posted by toodazed

I was driving yesterday and my car started to shake violently and it seemed like it was loosing power. Sometimes it would even stall out on me, and when I tried to accelerate up hills it could barely make it. Also while I was at a red light I started to notice some smoke coming from the hood.

I took it to Autozone and their reader came up with "Cylinder 4 Misfire" and they told me i need a tune up. I replaced it with new spark plugs and wires and the same problem is still happening. I also replaced the fuel filter and air filter and nothing has changed except make the check engine light go off, but that has came back on today and now it starts to blink. I took it back to Autozone and they said they have no idea except for to change the spark plugs and wires but I already did that.

Please someone help me!

I own a Ford Contour and had a heck of time with this similiar situation and I would began with replacing the coil pack on your automobile, before you cause damage to you catalyst............also for anyone with a 2000 ford contour with stall problems or poor acceleration, especially after driving a long distance and your car starts (jerking) hesitating ( replace fuel pump) these fuel pumps due not generally just go out/ they will increase fuel pressure to the max until they get to hot from being clogged up. Once the car stalls or dies after a few minutes it will start up and only drive for 5 minutes or less and then stall or hestitate again.......also recommend replacing fuel pump relay with your new fuel pump installation.....remember always disconnect the battery when performing fuel operations....I hope this helps....I had the exact same problem with my coil pack......all cylinders receive spark except one or more cylinders don't recieve the spark they need.

[raquel_97contour]

autozone can test coil packs. depending upon. im pretty sure they can test a contour one. check the resistence on it wit a ohm[?] meter....
put some injector cleaner in there was well. might have built up carbon in the injector.