What are the symptoms of a misfiring cylinder?
3 Answers
The symptoms of a misfiring cylinder include: 1. Increased fuel consumption and black smoke emission; 2. Loss of power, reduced horsepower, and inability to accelerate the vehicle; 3. Severe shaking and increased driving noise. A misfiring cylinder is highly detrimental to driving safety, especially when starting on an incline. The engine load increases in vehicles with a misfiring cylinder, making the body shake more noticeably and increasing the likelihood of sudden stalling. The primary causes of engine misfiring stem from the ignition system and fuel injection system. If the contacts on the distributor cap of the ignition system are severely eroded, it can lead to spark jumping, often occurring between corresponding terminals on the cap. This results in erratic idle speed, significant power loss, and the vehicle feeling as if it's experiencing a severe asthma attack.
When the engine is misfiring, it shakes violently, making the car feel like it's being vigorously jostled on a massage chair, as if it could fall apart at any moment. The acceleration is particularly weak, with the speed not increasing even when the throttle is fully pressed, and climbing hills becomes even more difficult. The idle is unstable, with the RPM fluctuating when stopped at a red light. Fuel consumption noticeably increases; previously, a full tank could last 500 kilometers, but now it might only go 450 kilometers. The exhaust pipe sounds abnormal, often making popping noises, and sometimes there's a burnt smell. Warning lights, such as the Check Engine light, stay on constantly. I once encountered this situation during a long drive, but luckily I went to a repair shop in time. They found out it was a bad spark plug, and replacing it fixed the issue. Regular maintenance and checking the ignition system can help prevent this problem.
The most common symptom of a misfiring cylinder is severe engine shaking, where the vibration can be clearly felt inside the car. Acceleration becomes sluggish and weak, making it difficult to climb hills. Idle speed becomes unstable, fluctuating when parked. The exhaust sound from the tailpipe becomes abnormal, resembling hiccups. Fuel consumption increases compared to normal, with the same amount of fuel covering fewer miles. The check engine light on the dashboard may illuminate. Last time I helped a friend diagnose this, it turned out to be caused by aged and short-circuited wiring. Get it fixed promptly, as this issue can damage the engine's lifespan.
