What does a cylinder misfire mean?
An engine misfire is when one or more cylinders doesn’t produce power, and there are several possible causes, from a fouled spark plug to a clogged fuel injector or faulty oxygen sensor.
How do you diagnose a cylinder misfire?
The PCM can detect when a cylinder decelerates (an indication of a misfire), store a Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) in memory, and turn on the Check Engine Light. Some car computers detect misfires by measuring electrical activity [ionization] at the spark plug electrodes.
When does a misfire in a cylinder trigger the Check Engine light?
Check Engine Light If your car develops a misfire in one of the cylinders, it may trigger your check engine light. Your car’s first line of defense when it comes to problems is the check engine light. Most modern vehicles have some sort of electronic control module (AKA “the computer”).
Can a 4 cylinder engine misfire on a 3 cylinder car?
If your 4-cylinder engine is misfiring on one cylinder, it may sound like a three-cylinder engine. If your car’s sound is extraordinary, it’s most likely misfires on every cycle that you can hear. So, when you suspect that your engine is misfiring, where should you start looking for the problem?
What causes the Check Engine light to pop on when your car is running?
Technically, a misfire is the result of incomplete combustion (or zero combustion) inside one or more of an engine’s cylinders. But to you, the driver, the problem will usually feel like hesitation or shaking when the car is running. On modern vehicles, the check engine light will also pop on when there’s a misfire.
How can you tell if your car has a misfire?
You won’t always be able to sense a misfire, even when your check engine light is triggered. However, one symptom that you will likely notice is a rough idle. When your vehicle misfires, it can throw your air/fuel mixture way off. This will cause your engine to “sag” or “lurch” unevenly when you’re sitting still.