How to Detect and Fix a Misfire: Common Problems, Solutions, & More

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Everything you need to know about DIY diagnosis and repair
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An engine misfire happens when one of the cylinders in your engine fails to function properly. When you have a misfire, the engine will run off balance, creating a powerful vibration through the body of the car, and the amount of power the engine can produce will drop significantly. To determine the cause of the misfire, you might have to try a few different methods before you find your answer. But once you identify the problem, the solutions are usually very simple. And luckily, in this article, we’ll teach you how to do both!

Things You Should Know

  • Low or inconsistent fuel pressure is a common cause of engine misfires. Test your fuel system to determine if this is affecting your vehicle.
  • A broken vacuum line is another common culprit for engine misfires. Look around the engine bay for any severed or damaged rubber lines that need sealing.
  • A spark plug that looks black or carbon fouled at the end means the engine was running rich (too much fuel) and may be the cause of your misfire.
  • Fixing a misfire can be dangerous or require in-depth repairs, so you might need a pro. Still, if you identify the issue before going into the shop, you'll save money.

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Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Identifying an Engine Misfire

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  1. The check engine light on your vehicle’s dashboard will tell you when the computer identifies an engine operation issue. While you usually need an OBDII scanner to read the error codes that prompt a check engine light, a misfire is the only thing that will make the light flash on and off. [1]
    • The check engine light will flash as the engine misfires, but it may also stop if the misfire stops.
    • If your check engine light is not flashing, but you see other signs of a misfire, the engine may still be misfiring.
  2. Once you’re confident your vehicle has a misfire, try plugging an OBDII code scanner into the port beneath the dashboard on the driver’s side. It will look like an open trapezoid-shaped plug with rounded edges. Turn the key to the accessories setting on the ignition and turn on the scanner to read the engine’s error codes . [2]
    • The scanner will give you a code that’s made up of numbers and letters. If it doesn’t provide an English description, you can find them in a vehicle-specific repair manual or on the manufacturer’s website.
    • The scanner will give you an error specific to a cylinder misfiring or a generic misfire error across all cylinders.
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  3. Engines are designed to be balanced as they run, so the engine’s balance will be thrown off if a cylinder stops firing. During a misfire, the engine will begin to shake violently, and often, that shaking will translate to vibrations throughout the rest of the car. [3]
    • Misfires don’t always happen consistently, so the vibration may come and go under different driving conditions.
    • If it feels like the engine is misfiring, note what kind of driving you were doing at the time (sitting at a stoplight, driving on the highway, etc.).
  4. A bad misfire can sound a lot like your vehicle is going to stall, and in some cases, it may. Sputtering sounds coming from the engine or the exhaust pipe of your car is a solid indication that 1 of the cylinders is misfiring. [4]
    • Sputtering alone can mean other issues aside from a misfire, including a loss of fuel or airflow into the engine, so look for these signs of a misfire as well.
  5. If a cylinder in your engine isn’t working, it may run unspent fuel through the exhaust. That not only means a loss of power but also reduced fuel economy. If you’ve noticed that your vehicle’s gas mileage has suddenly gotten much worse, it’s likely a sign of a misfire. [5]
    • Reset the trip odometer on your dashboard when you fill up your gas tank to see how many miles you make before you need another fill-up. Divide that number by the number of gallons you put in to get your mileage.
    • Compare your calculated mileage to your vehicle’s mileage rating in the owner’s manual if you’re unsure what it typically is.
  6. If scanning the error codes didn’t help you identify which cylinder is misfiring, you can also check by using an infrared thermometer to see cylinder temperatures. Your engine's exhaust manifold(s) will have a port coming from each cylinder. Point the temperature meter at each individually with the engine running and write down the temperature readings. If 1 cylinder is not firing, it will be much cooler than the others. [6]
    • This test has a wide range of acceptable temperature readings, so what matters most is identifying the cylinder that stands out as not as hot as the others. For instance, if 3 cylinders read 190 °F (88 °C) and 1 shows as 80 °F (27 °C), the low one is the issue.
    • This will only work while the engine is misfiring. If your misfire comes and goes, make sure to do this test while it’s happening.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Fixing Air and Fuel Misfires

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  1. When you use a code scanner to see if there are any cylinder-specific error codes, you might also see some others pop up. These may not relate to the misfire, but some certainly could. Suppose an error code appears regarding fuel delivery (injectors, pump), the mass air flow sensor, or the oxygen sensor. In that case, those may be from issues that are causing the misfire. [7]
    • If the misfire is not specific to 1 cylinder, it’s likely because the engine is not getting enough air or fuel to run properly. That could be because of a failing part of the fuel system.
    • If the mass air flow or oxygen sensor fails, it could give incorrect data to the engine’s computer, causing a misfire.
    • Take note of any error codes that pop up to help you as you move forward in diagnosing the problem.
  2. Find and seal any vacuum leaks . A broken vacuum line can cause fuel-injected motors to misfire, so look around the engine bay for any severed or damaged rubber lines coming from the engine’s intake manifold (usually near the top of the engine with the intake leading into it). [8]
    • Replacing a bad vacuum line may resolve the misfire or help the engine run better.
  3. Disconnect the fuel injectors one at a time and look for a change. If you’re still having trouble finding the misfiring cylinder, disconnect the power to the fuel injectors one at a time to see its effect on the engine. Locate the connector where it attaches to the back of the fuel injector. If you need help locating the fuel injectors, consult your repair manual to help you find them. [9]
    • If the engine starts to run worse with 1 injector disconnected, reconnect it and move on to the next.
    • If you disconnect a fuel injector and the engine’s behavior doesn’t change, the cylinder isn’t firing and is the source of your issue.
  4. Test your fuel system if the injectors seem fine. Attach a fuel pressure gauge to the fuel pump test fitting at the end of the fuel rail on the engine. Find the appropriate pressure specifications for your vehicle in its repair manual and then compare it to the readings you get when the engine running at an idle and then at the RPMs specified in the repair manual. [10]
    • If the fuel pressure is low or inconsistent, the fuel system prior to the fuel rail is causing the misfire.
    • If this is the case, you’ll need to either replace the fuel filter or the fuel pump.
    • Replacing the fuel pump might require removing it from the fuel tank, so assistance from a professional mechanic may be necessary.
  5. Connect a test light to the negative terminal of the vehicle’s battery, then press the probe into the wire leading into each fuel injector. If the test light comes on, power is flowing to each injector. If not, there’s an electrical issue somewhere that will need a professional technician to address. If you got an error code specific to your fuel injector, replacing it should solve the problem. [11]
    • You may be able to clean your fuel injectors instead of replacing them by pouring fuel system cleaner in with a full tank of gas.
  6. If your code scanner indicated that there were problems with the mass air flow sensor or oxygen sensor, they might be the cause of your misfire. The mass air flow sensor is located on the intake pipe, usually just past the air filter. Oxygen sensors, on the other hand, are found on the vehicle’s exhaust, usually before the catalytic converter. [12]
    • Remove the mass air flow sensor by removing the two screws that hold it in place on the vehicle’s intake and disconnecting the wiring pigtail that leads into it.
    • You can remove the oxygen sensor by disconnecting the wires and unscrewing it with an oxygen sensor socket.
    • Make sure to connect the new sensors using the wires you unplugged from the old ones, then secure them in place using the same mounting hardware.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Addressing Electrical or Mechanical Misfires

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  1. Inspect the spark plugs for signs of damage. Once you’ve determined which cylinder is misfiring, disconnect the plug wire going into that cylinder’s spark plug. Use a spark plug socket to remove the plug to get a good look at it. The damage you see will help you determine the cause of the misfire. If the spark plug is just old, replacing it may solve the problem. [13] Make sure to replace and properly gap new spark plugs.
    • A spark plug that looks black or carbon fouled at the end means the engine was running rich (too much fuel).
    • A plug wet with gasoline or oil means the fuel regulator may have failed or there are serious internal issues inside the engine block.
    • If the plug looks fine, check the gap between the metal sticking out of the end of the plug and the base. Compare that gap to the specified gap in the vehicle’s repair manual. If the gap is too big, it may be preventing the air/fuel mixture from firing.
    • You may also need to replace the wire that delivers the spark from the ignition coil to the spark plug. [14]
  2. Use an Ohmmeter multimeter to test your coil pack. Spark plugs ignite the air and fuel mixture using current transmitted from the coil pack, so a faulty one can result in a misfire. Many vehicles will provide a specific error code if a coil goes bad, but you can test a coil by disconnecting the spark plug wires and connecting an Ohmmeter (multimeter) to the top two pins. Compare the resistance you see on the Ohmmeter’s readout to the resistance for your specific vehicle. If it doesn’t match, the coil pack needs replacing. [15]
    • You can find the correct resistance rating in your vehicle’s repair manual.
    • Find the coil packs by running your hands along the spark plug wires, moving away from the spark plugs.
    • If the coil needs replacing, disconnect the rest of the wiring and unbolt it from the bracket. Insert a new coil and reconnect it like the old one. [16]
  3. Do a compression test if air, fuel, and spark seem to be in order. Pull out the fuse that powers the fuel pump (use the owner’s manual to locate it if you’re unsure). Then remove 1 of the spark plugs and screw a compression gauge into its place. Turn the key and let the engine turn over four times, then check the reading on the gauge. It will stay at the highest point it reached. [17]
    • Repeat this process for each cylinder. Make sure to reinsert the spark plugs after you remove the gauge every time.
    • Like the temperature test, all cylinders should have similar figures except 1, if a lack of compression is causing the misfire.
    • If the numbers are the same across the board, the misfire is not compression related.
    • If numbers are low across two cylinders near each other, it likely means the head gasket is bad in that area. You will need to remove the cylinder head from the engine to replace the head gasket.
  4. Replace the head gasket if nearby cylinders don’t have compression. If the misfire is happening in two cylinders near each other, it’s probably caused by a blown head gasket. Other signs of a blown head gasket include finding coolant in your oil (bright green or pink translucent fluid), bluish exhaust smoke color, and an oil leak where the cylinder head (top half) of the engine meets the block (bottom end).
    • Replacing a head gasket is a pretty involved job that requires specialized tools in many applications.
    • If you believe your cylinder head gasket has failed, take the vehicle to a certified repair technician.
  5. In extreme cases, an engine misfire can be caused by failed piston rings or even damaged cylinders or connecting rods. If your spark plug is covered in oil, it might have be because the piston rings have failed, allowing the oil to move freely past the cylinder and eliminating compression in that cylinder. If this is the case, the crankshaft, connecting rods, and cylinders will need to be removed from the engine to replace the damaged components. [18]
    • Rebuilding the bottom end of an engine is a complicated and difficult process best left to professionals.
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    Why is my engine misfiring?
    Hovig Manouchekian
    Auto Repair & Design Specialist
    Hovig Manouchekian is an Auto Repair and Design Specialist and the Manager of Funk Brothers Auto, a family-owned business operated since 1925. With over 30 years of experience in the automotive industry, Hovig specializes in the process of auto repair and maintenance. He is also very knowledgeable in common automotive issues and needs including engine repair, battery replacement, and windshield accessory and maintenance. Hovig's knowledge and hard work have contributed to Funk Brothers Auto winning Angie's List Super Service Award for five consecutive years.
    Hovig Manouchekian
    Auto Repair & Design Specialist
    Expert Answer
    The most common culprit for an engine misfire is lack of spark—usually because the spark plug needs to be replaced. Another common reason would be the spark plug wire, which delivers the spark from the ignition coil to the spark plug, and then the coil itself, which generates the electricity that's sent through the wire into the spark plug. Those are the three most common causes. More extensively, there may be combustion issues inside the engine.
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    Not Helpful 16 Helpful 22
  • Question
    What if an engine is putting the compression into the sump?
    Ryan Bacigalupi
    Community Answer
    This is likely due to weak rings. You can use a leak-down tester to check this theory. Hook up the tester with the piston at the top, dead center and listen at the oil fill, coolant reservoir, tailpipes and exhaust. If you hear air coming from the oil fill, then the rings are not sealing properly. Full disassembly would be needed to determine the exact cause and extent of damage.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
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    Not Helpful 8 Helpful 10
  • Question
    How much does it cost to fix an engine misfire?
    Drew Hawkins1
    Community Answer
    It depends on how old your car is and what the actual issue is that's causing your engine to misfire. For instance, if you have a problem with one of your ignition coils, it could cost you around $300 USD for a mechanic to fix it. But if you have a newer model vehicle, it could cost you $400 USD to fix the same issue because of the price of the parts that need to be replaced. Usually, fixing a misfire is a pretty straightforward repair. However, there could be a deeper issue causing it, so it's always a good idea to have a professional mechanic look under your hood.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.2carpros.com/articles/engine-misfires-or-runs-rough
      2. ↑ http://www.myautorepairadvice.com/p0300.html
      3. ↑ https://www.motortrend.com/features/1805-shop-class-how-to-diagnose-an-engine-misfire/
      4. ↑ https://youtu.be/w_bsVAiySGw?t=30
      5. ↑ https://www.motortrend.com/features/1805-shop-class-how-to-diagnose-an-engine-misfire/
      6. ↑ https://www.2carpros.com/articles/engine-misfires-or-runs-rough
      7. ↑ https://www.dmv.de.gov/VehicleServices/inspections/pdfs/dtc_list.pdf
      8. ↑ https://www.2carpros.com/articles/engine-misfires-or-runs-rough
      9. ↑ https://www.2carpros.com/articles/engine-misfires-or-runs-rough
      1. ↑ https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-fuel-system-pressure-and-regulator
      2. ↑ https://youtu.be/hEIP9ZYnnRc?t=45
      3. ↑ https://youtu.be/1ZBjHy76Pwc?t=102
      4. ↑ Hovig Manouchekian. Auto Repair & Design Specialist. Expert Interview. 23 February 2021.
      5. ↑ Hovig Manouchekian. Auto Repair & Design Specialist. Expert Interview. 23 February 2021.
      6. ↑ https://youtu.be/eM7w3NiHuZc?t=256
      7. ↑ Hovig Manouchekian. Auto Repair & Design Specialist. Expert Interview. 23 February 2021.
      8. ↑ https://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/how-to/a8520/cars-101-how-to-do-a-compression-test-14912158/
      9. ↑ https://www.motortrend.com/features/1805-shop-class-how-to-diagnose-an-engine-misfire/

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      If you have mechanical experience, you might be able to fix an engine misfire at home. Plug in a code scanner under the dashboard on the driver's side to help you narrow down what the issue is. If any codes pop up on the scanner, write them down then cross-reference them with your car's manual to see what the problem is. If you don't have any error codes, look for leaks in the vacuum line, which could be causing the misfires, and seal them. You should also disconnect the power to the fuel injectors one at a time to see how it affects the engine. If you disconnect a fuel injector and the engine doesn’t change at all, you’ll need to replace that cylinder. Inspect your spark plugs for signs of damage and replace any that look broken. For more mechanical tips, including how to test your vehicle’s coil pack, read on!

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