Diagnostic Solutions: Diagnosing Misfires

Although diagnosing misfires can be a tough assignment for any driveability technician, the diagnosis can be made much simpler if he understands the basics of misfire diagnosis. For example, when the first OBD II misfire monitor was first introduced in 1996, technicians were puzzled by problems with false misfire diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs). Case in point, vehicles being driven on washboard dirt roads began recording false misfires.

air/fuel ratios caused by leaking fuel pressure regulators and other fuel control issues can also cause general misfires on other vehicles. Freeze-frame data obtained by a scan tool can be used to determine the conditions under which a general misfire has occurred.

In these cases, short- and long-term fuel trim numbers can be used to help diagnose a general misfire condition. If the PCM is adding fuel at idle, or if the fuel trim is adding fuel to one cylinder bank, suspect a vacuum leak. If the fuel trim is subtracting fuel, suspect a leaking fuel pressure regulator, fuel-contaminated crankcase oil, or other component failure that introduces excess fuel into the cylinders.

If, during a road-speed test, the fuel trim numbers exceed 10% positive, the PCM is compensating for a failure or set of failures that are causing a lean fuel condition. Here again, any condition or failure that causes a loss of fuel pressure or incorrect metering of engine intake air can also cause a general misfire condition. Keep in mind that a contaminated hot-wire MAF sensor often causes an engine to run rich at idle and lean at high speeds.

UNUSUAL MISFIRE PROBLEMS

When diagnosing a misfire problem, remember that the PCM is actually looking for a momentary deceleration in the rotating crankshaft assembly. To illustrate, I’ve had a sunflower seed shell caught in a MAF sensor cause a general misfire. If the shell turned edgewise, the engine ran great. If the vehicle hit a bump, the shell would turn sidewise and block the airflow through the MAF sensor and cause the air/fuel mixture to go lean, which created multiple misfire codes.

In another case, I had a brand-new CKP sensor indicate misfires at road speed as fast as the PCM could count them. Last, worn valve seats and guides can create an intermittent misfire condition by causing an intermittent loss of compression.

Other unusual issues that have been reported to me are heavy lap splices in serpentine belts and vapor bubbles forming in single-line fuel systems that eventually cause random fuel injector misfires. Last, but not least, are the efforts of some amateur techs causing a misfire by replacing the dual-electrode plug used on some Toyota engines with single-electrode spark plugs.

In other cases, substituting a plated, long-life spark plug with a non-plated, steel-shell spark plug will cause a misfire due to the less efficient electrode configuration and considerably shorter service life of the cheaper spark plug.

To prevent the MIL from illuminating due to a P0300-series misfire, it’s always best to replace ignition parts at specified intervals with OE or OE-equivalent parts. Always allow an engine to cool before removing the spark plugs. When replacing a seized spark plug, soak the threads with high-quality penetrant and alternately tighten and loosen the spark plug in about 1/8-turn increments until it turns free. Thoroughly clean the spark plug seating area.

Last, tighten the new spark plugs to the manufacturer’s recommendation and apply a small amount of dielectric grease to the inside of the coil or wire boot before installation.

some misfire-related dtcs describe primary ignition and fuel injector failures. cardboard or plastic sleeves protect the electrodes and electrode air gaps on most long-life spark plugs. grasping a spark plug by its threads will prevent contaminating the insulator with greasy fingerprints. use a clean spark plug boot or dedicated holding tool to handle and install new spark plugs. improper handling can easily damage electrodes plated with precious metals. always use the correct tools to adjust spark plug gap. if the air gap must be increased, use a recommended tool to gently lift the ground electrode. if the air gap must be reduced, gently tap the ground electrode with the gapping tool. if recommended by the auto manufacturer, brush a very small amount of the recommended anti-seize compound on the threads directly behind the ground electrode. always inspect the spark plug boot for carbon tracking, oil saturation or perforation. Cleanliness is always important on modern engines. Before removing spark plug, use compressed air to blow debris out of spark plug well. Clean the seating surface before installing the new spark plug. Don’t forget your safety glasses!