So, I belive that one of my cylinders isn't firing... I've changed the plugs and tried a new wire and to no effect. One of my coils is a different shade of color, could be becuase of an oil spill but I'm not sure. How can I check to see if this is my problem or not?

TYIA-
Dan

 

Pull your plugs. If one cylinder is not firing, that plug will be fouled, big-time.

 

Dan

Check for codes!! The following web site will tell you how and what they mean.
http://www.stengel.net/diccodes.htm


I have to go to a Prince concert and when I get back I will post the procedure for checking the coil resistance and voltages. More than likley you have a BAD spark plug wire. Please check the resistance of each one with an ohm meter, Stock wires should read from 250 ohms to 750 ohms. If they are like in the MEGOHM range you found the problem

Let me know how you make out!

Bill C

 

Broken valve spring?

 

Someone posted a way to check the coil packs using a timing light a while back (evil-twin maybe?), but I can't find it with a search. Basically, clamp the timing light onto a plug wire and observe the pattern of the light, it won't be an accurate RPM indicator but will have a distinct pattern. Do that to all 8 wires, if a coil pack is bad it should have an obviously different pattern of flashes.

Good luck

 

TTT FOR YOU
DAN YOU OWE ME $70 FOR NEW WIRES!!!!!
JUST KIDDING
MARTIN

 

Each wire "if connected to a timing light" should cause the light to FLASH. No special pattern or color, just a bright flash the should coinside with the firing of the coil. If the coil is producing high voltage the inductive pick up will sence the HV and cause the light to strobe. As the RPM picks up the flashes should increase in frequency byt will look kile they are dimmer than if at idle. This is normal!!

Just because the light flashes, it does NOT mean that the cylinder fired!! The spark plug could be shorted or broken, the insulation could be torn or burnt abd the voltage could leak to somewhere besides the plug gap!
Here are come ignition coil facts:

Each coil is supplied 12 VDC from the Under Hood electrical Center via mini fuse # 16 (10amp fuse). The ground for the coil circuit is G-107 which is on the rear of the block (drivers side)
The coils have the following wires that provide the following signals:
a. brown = reference low
b. Pink = Ignition coil reference voltage 12 VDC from ignition switch.
c. ignition coil control voltages from PCM are various different colors for each coil pack.
Cyl 1 = Purple
Cyl 2 = Purple/white
Cyl 3 = LT Blue
Cyl 4 = Dk Green
Cyl 5 = Dk Green
Cyl 6 = Lt Blue
Cyl 7 = Red
Cyl 8 = Purple

Bill Curlee

 

Checking the plug will confirm that a particular cylinder isn't firing. To make sure the problem is the coil and not something else, try switching the coil to another cylinder. Then if that cylinder stops firing, you know you've found the problem.

Sometimes you can tell if a cylinder isn't firing by checking the temp of each exhaust manifold right at the head, but this has to be done shortly after starting the car. This may save you some time.