2.4L misfire problems

[pbortell]

1996 SE with 2.4L 108000

While driving the other day I noticed a change in the engine and the CEL started flashing. I was able to limp it back to work and checked the engine code. P0300. And I already new it was misfiring from the way it was driving. Got to love the scan tools. Naturally I thought that it was a bad coil. But both coils check out. And plugs 1 and 3 were really gas fouled. The coil case is dirty but I don't see any signs of arcing. Replaced the boots and plugs. I checked the voltage at the Camshaft PS and it seems to be working fine.

The car will not start now it is miss firing so bad. Any suggestions or help would be appreciated. I don't want to keep throwing money and parts at it.

Anybody live close to Canton, MI. it would be nice to have a donor car that runs well that I could swap my parts onto to make sure they are working.

[rixGAphx]

You're probably flooded, from a faulty Fuel Pressure Regulator.
Try cranking the engine while flooring the gas pedal, to open the throttle plate and allow massive airflow thru the Intake Manifold for evaporating the puddle of fuel.
Might even take several 20-second 'cranks' of the starter motor to evaporate all the fuel that the fuel pump has pumped thru the faulty FPR and into the Intake Manifold.

See my post to R-D in his thread about 'gasoline smell' about flooding in an FI engine.

Flooding causes a mixture so rich that the cylinders can't fire, and the PCM indeed reads this as a 'mis-fire' and reports as such.

Hope this helps,
-Rick

[pbortell]

Thanks for the reply Rick,

I was almost ready to call a tow truck. But before I did that I wanted to try the coil housing sense I had already bought it. Replaced it and cleaned the contact area for the EICM, regreased, reinstalled and it is running again.

That problem is fixed but during all the wild idling and misfiring. The exhaust has worked itself loose from the hangers and is hanging dangerously low. I need to get under it and hang it back up. Need a new catalytic converter too.

Thanks for the help

[urweak]

I see you fixed the problem, but for future reference just about any misfire problem on the 2.4L is going to be related to ignition parts. The coil pack housing, coil packs, and Ignition control module are prime suspects. The housing tends to crack resulting in arcing that causes the misfires.

Ive replaced about 3-4 housing covers in probably the last 7 years.

[Matt95GT]

Ive replaced about 3-4 housing covers in probably the last 7 years.

Good lord... the original stock one I recently pulled off (to install one modded for my MSD box) was still in good condition when removed.

[2K SE]

Mine is still the stock cover with over 131000 miles. Only misfire code I ever got was when I bounced off the rev limiter in the 1/4 mile.

[rixGAphx]

I've replaced about 3-4 housing covers in probably the last 7 years.Are you buying new Delco, or off-brand (IMO, AutoZone electrical stuff is crap), or salvage yard :eek: ?

And be very wary of overtorquing plastic parts.

Don't know if these are your problems or not, might help others.

[urweak]

Are you buying new Delco, or off-brand (IMO, AutoZone electrical stuff is crap), or salvage yard :eek: ?

And be very wary of overtorquing plastic parts.

Don't know if these are your problems or not, might help others.

most were ACdelco, i will buy nothing else now. But i did have an off brand that i replaced, to only have it go bad like 2 months later.