There are a lot of different problems that
your vehicle may showcase. Whether you have a newer car or an older model,
there are some problems that will arise.
One of the issues that you may find is
that of an engine misfire. You will hear it, you will feel it, and you’ll find
that your vehicle is going to be a bit out of control for a moment.
It’s not
going to derail your car’s performance, but it’s definitely worth noting. If
you hear a misfire, you’re going to want to fix it, or at least figure out what
the root cause may be.
With that in mind, you’ll find that you can
fix the issue in many instances. If the problem is not too serious, you could
simply change things a bit, and get your car’s issue fixed with ease.
Note, the
following solutions will not fix EVERY issue, but it could help you overall.
The following are some simple steps to help you identify the misfire, and
whether or not you can apply a simple fix, or if you need to call someone to
help you fix things on a more experienced platform.
Things
Falter Over Time
As mentioned above, no matter how new or
old your vehicle is, there will be a time when you will have problems.
Things
will fall apart for even the most expensive of vehicles. If you drive daily,
and you are not keeping up with the regular maintenance schedule, you may end
up with an issue sooner or later.
Even with proper care, there are moments that
could cause your car to misfire, including driving on a freeway often, going
off road, and much more.
You may hear a misfire when you’re idle, or when
you’re switching gears. When you hear it, you’ll know it, and you’ll need to
diagnose the issue.
How
To Diagnose Problems
Moving forward, you’re going to need to
look into your engine control unit, or what is known as an ECU.
To check this
out, you’ll need to invest in a diagnostic tool. These are known as OBD2 or OBD
adapter options. These can be downloaded, or you could buy a handheld version
that connects to your car or trucks ECU element.
Once you do that, you’ll
receive feedback about what is going on with your car. You’ll receive codes
that tell you the root issue, and you’ll be able to apply a fix if the issue
isn’t too difficult to manage.
In the past, mechanics had to figure out why
based on trial and error, tweaking certain parts, and hoping for the best.
Today, you need to work with a diagnostic adapter, otherwise you’ll be left to
trial and error overall.
Check
The Ignition Issue
Let’s assume that you attach your OBD adapter to the vehicle, you’ll find that you will find that the ignition could
be the problem.
Your ignition element could be misfiring because there are
parts that need replaced.
The easiest thing to replace is simple, spark plugs.
Changing these plugs is a major thing to update, but it’s easy to work with.
You will need to locate the plugs under the hood, remove the old ones, and then
install the new ones. Just updating this will help you gain the upper hand when
you have a misfire element.
It’s recommended that consumers change the
spark plugs on their vehicles every 20,000 miles or so.
Aside from changing the
plugs, many mechanics will recommend that the wires get changed out.
Plug wires
should be replaced every 100,000 miles, but in regard to fixing this issue,
change plugs, and wires, just to make sure nothing is left to chance.
More
often than not, the spark plugs or the ignition can be to blame. Changing these
things out is the key to going with a simple solution to fix the engine misfire
problems you may run into.
Major
Defects
Assuming you use a good diagnostic tool,
and you’ve tried changing the spark plugs and wires, and the problem persists,
you’ll need to get help.
The worst case scenario in this case is to have a
major engine defect or break. Anything on the engine itself from a cylinder or
piston problem, will require a great deal of help.
You may also have a fuel
injector problem, which is not something that you can fix DIY, unless you’re an
experienced mechanic.
If you’re not an experienced mechanic, then at least you
can diagnose the issue, and then visit a garage and give them the information
that you were able to pull.
If you need help with fixing the misfire,
an experienced professional can price the fix based on parts, labor, and less
on the diagnostic front if you have codes, and information with you.
By going
into a garage with information already, you can dictate a lower price and
figuring out whether or not you’re going to get a good price etc.
Purchasing
A Diagnostic Tool
The common denominator overall is simple,
purchase a diagnostic tool. If you have one of these tools, you’ll be able to
gain the upper hand with engine misfires.
Do not assume that an engine issue
can be ignored. If you see the “check engine” light, if you hear a misfire, or
just about anything wrong with the engine, make sure that you do not wait to
get it fixed.
There are a lot of diagnostic tools that
you can purchase, and many are under $50.
Get a basic solution to get started,
and then purchase a professional grade option if you’re interested in car
maintenance, and fixes that are more complicated.
Without a diagnostic’s tool,
however, you’re going to have to go through trial and error to figure out what
you need to apply for a fix.
When all else fails, you can go to a professional
to get this fix.
Misfires are caused by three common issues, which can start
with simple issues with the spark plugs, rotors, wires, or other simple things.
However, it could be a matter of bigger issues overall, as well.
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