What are the symptoms of a misfiring cylinder?
2 Answers
The symptoms of a misfiring cylinder include: unstable idling, abnormal engine shaking, noticeable power loss, difficulty starting the vehicle, engine prone to stalling, and black smoke from the exhaust pipe. A misfiring cylinder refers to an engine malfunction that results in insufficient or no power, where one or a few cylinders are not functioning properly. The causes of a misfiring cylinder are: 1. Severe burning of the contacts in the distributor cap of the ignition system, causing cross-firing; 2. Malfunction of the ignition coil; 3. Damage to the cylinder wires; 4. Carbon buildup in the fuel injector or clogging of the injector filter, leading to imprecise injection and atomization; 5. Excessive carbon deposits on the spark plugs.
Last time I was driving, I encountered a cylinder misfire issue, and the symptoms were particularly obvious. The engine was shaking violently, especially when idling at a red light—it felt like the entire car body was swaying, which was very uncomfortable. There was a severe lack of power during acceleration; pressing the gas pedal would rev up the engine, but the speed wouldn't increase, and even climbing a small hill was difficult. Fuel consumption increased significantly—previously, a full tank could last 500 kilometers, but now it barely reaches 400, and frequent refueling has cost me more money. The yellow engine warning light on the dashboard often stayed on, and the engine noise sounded rougher than usual, like a drumming rattle. After inspection, I found out it was a cylinder misfire caused by a faulty ignition coil. If not repaired promptly, it could worsen the wear on the catalytic converter, leading to higher repair costs and even affecting driving safety. It's recommended to visit a professional shop as soon as these abnormalities are noticed—don't delay for too long.
