Cylinder 2 Misfire, Driver Freaking Out

Went to Universal Studios: Islands of Adventure with my buddy and on the way home my check engine light came on. I thought "Oh it must be that damn O2 sensor again, that little rascal!" Then the CEL started blinking.

"Oh shit, that can't be good.."

My buddy grabs my OBD2 out of my glove box and I quick plug it in at a stop light. Just as I get it plugged in, my stick shift starts shaking like an angry rattlesnake. So I keep driving along and I can now hear the engine sounding like it's got more power than it's 4 cylinders can do and it's not getting up to speed as quickly as I'd like.

So I just pray that I make it home without having to call Triple A. On the ride home a big paint mixing bucket flies off the back of some flatbed truck and starts bouncing and blowing all over the highway and when I turn to avoid it it gets blown back in front of me and gets caught under my truck. So I punch the hazards on and pull onto the center shoulder, and the bumps on the side manage to pull the bucket out from under my truck...

So I finally manage to make it home check engine light blinking the whole time.

I don't yet know what kind of damage may have been cause by the bucket but I need to know how to fix a misfiring cylinder, and estimates on how much it will cost...

Ideas?

 

Are you getting come kind of code? By knowing the code someone one here can help you out.

 

wait, so is this about the misfire or the paint bucket? It sounds like today was a cluster fuck for you!

 

could be just a bad wire or a bad plug. Don't freak out just check the simple stuff first.

 

was it also raining at the time

 

P0302 (Definition: Cylinder 2 misfire detected), the interesting thing about the code was that my reader said that there were two codes. But it was the P0302 twice.

 

Someone might chime in with a better answer, but my two cents worth is might need new sparkplugs and wires. Just my two cents.

 

Check sparkplugs, switch them with another to see if it clears. Maybe coilpack i 1st gens have them or if it has a distibutor then maybe the humidity or rain got into the distributor

 

yeah usually misfires are caused by bad spark plugs. that would be my first place to check. how long has it been since they have been replaced? i hope its as simple as that and will be an easy fix. good luck!

as for the bucket, it probably didn't do anything if it was plastic, but it doesn't hurt to visually inspect for scrapes and leaks

 

It might not have been twice.. I know my reader keeps two logs, one of past codes, and one of current codes in alarm right now. That might be where your seeing two codes from.

 

Its unlikely the paint bucket would do any damage if it went under the vehicle unless it hit something with the cooling system. Just look under there and see.

As mentioned, the code could be as simple as a plug or plug wire. If Im not mistaken, a fuel injector can also cause a misfire.

 

Right so I changed all the Plugs because they're cheap and so they're all the same for continuity and OCD reasons. Took it for a test drive and got the same rattling happening and the CEL came back on. I checked it just to be certain and it was the same code as before.

Popped the hood and took off the boot for the 2nd cylinder spark plug and it came out looking like fubar.

Where do you guys recommend purchasing wires that also has 1 day delivery. I have 1 day to get this fixed before I have to head to orientation for a new job and I CANNOT miss it!

 

Have you tried an automotive parts store?

 

most auto parts store should have wires. They might be cheapies and not last long but they'll get you down the road for now.

 

When I changed my sparkplugs, I changed the plug wires at the same time. Saved me time and money in one trip instead of taking two trips.

 

I just had a cyl 4 misfire. changed plugs (denso plugs) and wires (ngk wires) both from advanced auto and it cost me $71 i think? cheap fix really.