What does engine misfire mean?
2 Answers
Engine misfire refers to the failure of the spark plug to ignite. The reasons for misfire are: 1. Poor contact or excessive resistance in the ignition coil corresponding to the cylinder, or damage to the ignition coil; 2. Leakage or open circuit in the cylinder's distributor wire; 3. Excessive or insufficient spark plug gap, or carbon deposits between the electrodes; 4. The vehicle's insulated wires and cables do not meet the vehicle's own environmental requirements; 5. Insufficient wire fixation strength and unreasonable wiring; 6. The powertrain control module detects lower than normal air flow and sensor output, resulting in an excessively lean air-fuel mixture; 7. Air in the intake system bypasses the air flow sensor, leading to an excessively lean air-fuel mixture.
Last time while driving on the highway, I suddenly felt the car shaking violently like it had hiccups. After checking, I found out it was an engine misfire. This means one or several cylinders in the engine failed to ignite, leaving the fuel unburned. There are many possible causes: for example, old spark plugs with heavy carbon deposits, leaking high-voltage wires, insufficient fuel supply from the fuel pump, or even issues with the ECU adjustment. At the time, my fuel consumption skyrocketed, the exhaust smelled foul and pungent, and driving became extremely difficult, especially when accelerating—it felt sluggish like a snail. If left unchecked for a long time, it can easily damage the catalytic converter, and worse, it might cause loss of control during sharp turns, which is very dangerous. Later, I made sure to regularly maintain and inspect the ignition system, and after replacing the spark plugs, the problem was resolved. I recommend everyone not to ignore minor vibrations and to get repairs done promptly for safety.
