car misfires and the CEL blinks?

Hello,

OK, first thing that needs to be done is take for test drive so that you recreate the CEL then go to this guide to check the codes

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/checking-a-service-engine-soon-or-check-engine-light-on-or-flashing

This guide can help as well

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/engine-misfires-or-runs-rough

Post results back on here, make sure you write down the engine code or codes them give you.

The code that was pulled is P0300, or random misfire.

The battery is good, and the alternator is putting out 13.8 volts.

OK, well there are multiple causes for that code. here are a few...

Vacuum Leak
Spark Plug
Weak Coil
Clogged fuel injectors
Vacuum Leak

So, first off when was last tune up?

I would recommend checking for vacuum leaks at vacuum lines and intake manifold and air intake.

I don't find any leaks I would replace Spark Plugs. If that doesn't correct then more testing will be needed.

A friend of mine gave me a spare ignition switch that he had. i installed it because mine would get stuck in the off position from time to time, and it fixed all of the issues. i really did not expect this. after that i changed out plugs wires and air filter. now it runs like new.

Great!!! Glad it was a fairly quick fix...

Got a 2002 chevy cavalier. Check eng. light came on. Read code said misfire #1 cylinder. Replace plugs light when out. 2 days later light comes back on reading same code?

Did you also change the wires? If not, start there. Then check that the coil for that cylinder is firing. If not, replace it.

Also, check that the fuel injector is firing for that cylinder. You do this by listening to the injector with an automotive stethoscope. You'll hear a distinct clicking sound while the engine is running.

If it's firing, do a flow test on that injector to make sure it isn't clogged.

Thank you.. Could it be the coil pack going back??

Yes it can. But test it with a spark checker before just replacing it. Too many people replace parts without checking them first and spend money unnecessarily.

My car was hesitating, sputtering then cutting off. Classic symptoms of fuel filter, sparkplugs, ignition coil, ignition module and crankshaft sensor. Available parts were changed out, only coil hasn't been yet and still throwing a generic misfire code and running the same. What else can it be besides the coil? Won't have it for a couple days and we are stumped if it's not the coil.

since you provided no engine size i will generalize

compression test, fuel pressure and spark need to be checked.

is the check engine light on??

Roy

Sorry, been at auto parts store all day they know it by heart, it's 2.2 and the f vin. No lights on dash, was reset early this morning and nothing now. Prior to that the trac light would light up on and off, check engine as well. We haven't tried to drive it, popped into gear it sounds worse. No issues with exhaust, no clouds of smoke, no backfire. No smell electrical or fuel. Took 4 hours just to get the misfire code, before that no codes were popping even as it was sputtering.

never, never clear the codes till the repair is done and confirmed. clearing it does nothing but erase vital info for diagnostics.

did you do any tests??

roy

Only code we had prior to clearing was for an O2 sensor we replaced months ago and didn't clear, hoped it would reset and give us something we could work with. We haven't done any tests, i have limited tools and my nephew is working out of his mobile garage since he lives an hour away. Getting her to a garage isn't possible, she'd never make it with the way she is running.

2002 cavalier 2.2 ecotec. it has cylinder 4 msfire. ihave changed spark plugs wires icm ignition coil and fuel injectors with no change. did compression test and cylinder 1-3 210 psi and cylinder 4 190 psi. what could my problem be?

remove the valve cover and make sure the pushrods and rocker arm is moving.

Roy

i did remove valve cover and rocker arms are moving. time chain is correct tensioner is good.

re check the compression for that cylinder. is there any noise from the valve train while running??

does the plug spark ??

Roy

yes sounds like valve clatter when under load. i did check compression cylinders 1-3 had 210 psi and cylinder had 190 psi cylinder 4 is the one i am having issues with. yes it has spark and fuel.

the noise may the valve moving in the guide causing the miss.

Roy

The car can be driven but it has no power and misses.
a diagnostic tool said "cylinder 2 miss fire". A friend who is a mechanic messed with it and says the 2 and 3 cylinders are firing at the same time.
I changed the coil, plug wires, plugs, air filter, oil, oil filter, fuel filter, air intake sensor, and checked the fuel line to see if it was clogged and checked the injectors but didn't replace them. I'm getting desperate and running out of money, any suggestions?

Hello, what's the litre size of you engine? Cylinders 2 & 3 are supposed to fire at the same time. Whether it is a 2.2 or 2.4, the firing order is the same, 1342.

Did you visually check for spark at the plugs? Did you use a gage and check fuel pressure? A misfire can be caused by just about anything. Do your testing before you replace anything.

its a 2.2L and its getting spark at the plug. I assume we checked the fuel pressure, but I think the problem is something else. We decided to hook up a timing light to it just to see if that could tell us something and it looked like there isn't a constant spark, like it will flash constant and pause for half a second at odd times like its skipping a spark every once in a while, but we didn't know if it was supposed to do that or not. One thing I forgot to mention is the "Trac" light comes on when it starts missing and when it goes off its fine. Its on more than its off. When you drive it, it will be missing then it will start running fine for about 5 minutes, then runs bad and then good over and over. The check engine light sometimes comes on, but usually only if we are driving it for 10 minutes or more. I guess I will probably have to take it to a garage and let them do some tests on it

My car is missing intermittently. When it does this, the check engine light comes on steady until the car shifts into drive when it starts to blink. We have replaced plugs, wire, and coils. When it did this in the past, it coded for a misfire on cylinder 4. What could it be?

Scan the computer for OBD2 code/s and comeback with it-we start here w/o it there's no starting point

P0304

Check the sparkplug/compression and injector for cyl no.4

The engin was presure washed and now the car is skipping. Also the Check engin light and the Track Off light is on.

You may need to unplug everything that has an electrical connector and dry it off. Another thing you can do is place the vehicle in total darkness, start it, raise the hood, look for fire--spark anything that makes a lite. You may have to have the codes checked?

Welcome to the site.

I have a 2000 Chevy Cavalier 2.2L which was recently diagnosed as having a cracked cylinder head as the reason for a bad misfire. From the mechanic's own words, radiator fluid had been leaking into the cylinder, but my radiator fluid levels are fine, there's none of the typical smell of antifreeze after driving the car, and it hasn't had any engine temp problems in a while, despite driving around with the misfire for over a month or so now. They already charged me $700 for electrical work that they first 'diagnosed' as the problem. Could this be the real reason, or is my mechanic just trying to bilk me out of even more money?

You can tell if coolant is being burned in the combustion chamber they have a chemical test kit that you put a test fluid in and run the car while it set's in the coolant bottle opening.They rent the tool at auto zone for free all you have to do is buy the fluid for it which i think is under 10.As far as being charged 700 for fixing the problem then they say now its this other problem i say is wrong i would call them on that one.Let me know what you find.

Hello,

Ok, there can be many reasons for a cylinder miss fire. Do you have the engine code for the misfire? If so post it. If not go by your local auto parts store and ask them to pull codes for you and write them down and post.

The cause is typically a vacuum leak in the intake manifold, throttle body or vacuum plumbing, a defective Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) valve that is leaking exhaust into the intake manifold, or even bad gasoline. Less common causes include bad spark plug wires, worn or fouled spark plugs, a weak ignition coil, dirty fuel injectors, low fuel pressure, or weak valve springs. If a misfire is occurring in only one or two cylinders, you will usually find a misfire code for that specific cylinder rather than a random misfire code.