QuestionI went to Advanced Auto Parts and they said the code was a cylinder 1 misfire. They engine light is steady at rest, but when the gas is applied, in gear, the engine light flashes. I replaced the plugs and wires with manufacturer suggested replacements gapped at 44 and it runs about 50% better but still bogs and sputters when the gas is applied. Is there something else that I could change or replace to fix it?
AnswerYou should check your coil to see if it is arcing. Try spraying the wires and coil gently with water to see if there is any arcing. If so, you'll need to replace the components that are arcing.
You might also recheck the spark plug gaps to be sure you didn't accidentally knock one of them closed. Check to make sure the wires are securely installed onto the plugs.
If you cleared the lamp after the repairs and it came back on, you should also have the trouble codes rechecked.
If you have a misfire, you should try to determine which cylinder is misfiring. Once you've determined which one is misfiring, you can try things like swapping the plug with another cylinder to see if the misfire moves.
Although ignition problems are the leading cause of misfires, they can also be caused by injector problems or lack of compression (or anything causing cylinder leakage).
