Engine is misfiring?

Tiny
EVANSCOURTNEY53
  • MEMBER
  • 2010 NISSAN ALTIMA
  • 2.5L
  • 4 CYL
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 202,350 MILES
I took my car to Pepboys for a tune up, they tell me a lot oil got into the spark plugs shaft, and that the valve cover gasket was cracked. So I replaced the valve cover gaskets and got new spark plugs and now my car is jerks like it doesn't want to drive and slow acceleration as it does that smoke comes out my exhaust pipe and from under the hood. It jerks for a little second and then the car drives normal but it always happens after I come to a complete stop. What could be the problem?
Monday, September 28th, 2020 AT 11:53 AM

23 Replies

Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
Good afternoon,

It sounds like a spark plug problem this guide can help us fix it.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/engine-misfires-or-runs-rough

If the plugs are not gapped correctly, it will do this.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-change-spark-plugs

Was the oil cleaned out of the wells?

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/engine-surges

Please run down these guides and report back.
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Monday, September 28th, 2020 AT 1:50 PM
Tiny
EVANSCOURTNEY53
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
It turns out one of the spark plugs was cracked, thanks for the guides they helped me.
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Monday, September 28th, 2020 AT 9:00 PM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
Nice work, we are here to help, please use 2CarPros anytime.

Roy
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Tuesday, September 29th, 2020 AT 1:06 AM
Tiny
2CP-ARCHIVES
  • MEMBER
  • 4,540 POSTS
  • 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA
  • 70,000 MILES
My car was put on the machine and advised that it has random multiple misfires. Could you tell me the problem?
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Thursday, January 21st, 2021 AT 10:49 AM (Merged)
Tiny
BLAZE45
  • MECHANIC
  • 380 POSTS
If it is misfiring, the machine that told you it was having issues should be able to tell you which systems are having a problem. Sounds like the MAF needs to be replaced
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Thursday, January 21st, 2021 AT 10:49 AM (Merged)
Tiny
DAQUAWN FULLER
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA
  • 2.5L
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 90,000 MILES
I replaced two ignition coils and all spark plugs and engine keeps sending misfire code.
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Thursday, January 21st, 2021 AT 10:49 AM (Merged)
Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 13,463 POSTS
Misfires can be a real problem to track down. They can be caused by ignition problems, fuel problems (dirty or failing injectors) intermittent wiring faults, bad crankshaft position sensors, rodent damage or mechanical problems like a sticking valve or low compression.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/engine-misfires-or-runs-rough

As a quick rundown this guide will give you some tests to run to track it down.

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Thursday, January 21st, 2021 AT 10:49 AM (Merged)
Tiny
SBASTOLA
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA
  • 115,000 MILES
I have a nissan altima 2006 2.5s with 115kmiles on it. Car is slightly shaky in drive mode than in park mode. Service engine light for the misfiring cylinder 3 is on. Is there any correlation between these problems. What could cause these problem and what would be the approx repair cost for this problem?

Thank you
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Thursday, January 21st, 2021 AT 10:49 AM (Merged)
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
Yes, it is the issue.

Miss fires come from bad plug/wire/coil. It could also be a vacuum leak, bad injector or wiring. Compression is also a possibility

Roy
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Thursday, January 21st, 2021 AT 10:49 AM (Merged)
Tiny
NICOLE579
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA
  • 115,000 MILES
Hi, I would really appreciate any suggestions on what could be wrong with my car. So it all started couple weeks ago. Started my car to go to work, was fine, stopped at gas station to get gas. I was on E for a little while now. So I got some gas (not much I was already in a rush so figured I'll get more later) so I only got 1/4 tank of gas. As soon as I started the car at the gas station to leave, I noticed something was not right. Car was shaking hard and it smelled like smoke from inside. I was actually scared to drive to work wasn't sure if it was safe to drive. But I ended up driving it. It was down the street from gas station. A friend brought over seafoam and put it in the gas tank. He said I could have got bad gas or sucked something up from being on empty? (When I started it before he even put in seafoam, it was running fine now) this was fifteen minutes after parking at work. So anyway, he put in the seafoam and drove my car to gas station and filled up the tank to full. Drove around, said it's fine now. It was good for a couple days, then issue started happening again. Car shaking when turn it on, sounds very rough like it's about to break down, sputtering sound, worse when I change gear to drive from park. Engine light blinking. No smell. So I took it to a mechanic to get checked out, but it wasn't acting up for them so they couldn't diagnose the issue. They said they drove it around couple times and it's running fine. No engine light on, no shaking, etc. Took the car home. Was fine again for a while. Then started happening again! Now more frequently but still only sometimes. Now I'm realizing it is usually like this: I start the car in morning, and it's running fine, then I drive for about ten to fifteen minutes. Car is off for either couple hours or few minutes, then go to start car and the issue comes up. So it seems like it's happening after the car is fully heated up and I start it. When I change gear to drive, the shaking and noise gets worse and engine light is blinking. Sometimes the issue goes away after I continue driving for about ten minutes. But now I am not driving my car anymore because I am scared I'll make it worse and I don't feel safe! Any idea what could be the issue? Thank you!
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Thursday, January 21st, 2021 AT 10:49 AM (Merged)
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 47,640 POSTS
Hello,

It sounds like you have a blown head gasket. but to be sure lets run down this guide to confirm the issue.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/head-gasket-blown-test

and

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/white-smoke-or-steam-coming-from-the-exhaust-pipe

Please run down these guides and report back.
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Thursday, January 21st, 2021 AT 10:49 AM (Merged)
Tiny
WASEEF
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA
  • 2.0L
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 275,000 MILES
Hi, I have the listed above model. When I start the car it cranks sometime during self start. The car pick up is really slow when accelerating. If I drive the car more than 100 kms/hr, the car misfires and jerks or say vibrates. Also, when I stop car it jerks and shakes too much until I make the gear on N. And again if I put the gear on D, it jerks and misfires and picks up real slow. Sometimes it just sops when I put the gear on D and starts after five minutes. I had changed coils and spark plugs and battery as well three months back.
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Thursday, January 21st, 2021 AT 10:49 AM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,747 POSTS
Hi and thanks for using 2CarPros.com.

If the check engine light is on, have the computer scanned to determine diagnostic trouble codes. Here is a quick video showing how to use a scanner. If you do not have one, most parts stores will do it for free.

https://youtu.be/YV3TRZwer8k

Next, if the check engine light is not on (and based on the description it should be), I suggest checking for engine vacuum leaks, a plugged catalytic converter, and if the mileage listed is correct, check engine compression. Rings/valves may be worn causing low engine compression. Here are links that show how to do each of the aforementioned tests as well as symptoms:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/symptoms-of-low-compression

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-test-engine-compression

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-use-an-engine-vacuum-gauge

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/bad-catalytic-converter-symptoms

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-test-a-catalytic-converter

I hope this helps. Let me know if there are trouble codes stored and what they are. It will help me to focus you in the right direction.

Take care,
Joe
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Thursday, January 21st, 2021 AT 10:49 AM (Merged)
Tiny
HEATHERFRANKLINMORGAN
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
  • 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA
  • 120,000 MILES
2004 nissan altima 2.5L jerks with acceleration, then runs fine for a few seconds then jerks with acceleration. Idles fine until you give it gas car will then rev up for a few seconds then idle fine then ev again, no check engine light. It all started when I stopped on the highway in traffic. Went to give it gas and started jerking. Any idea's?
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Thursday, January 21st, 2021 AT 10:49 AM (Merged)
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
This sounds like you have a coil or spark plug failing but to be sure here is a guide to help.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/engine-misfires-or-runs-rough

Please run down this guide and report back.
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Thursday, January 21st, 2021 AT 10:49 AM (Merged)
Tiny
HEATHERFRANKLINMORGAN
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
But wouldn't you get a code froma misfire?
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Thursday, January 21st, 2021 AT 10:49 AM (Merged)
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
Not always I have had plenty of times where there was never a codes set.
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Thursday, January 21st, 2021 AT 10:49 AM (Merged)
Tiny
HEATHERFRANKLINMORGAN
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
There are no plug wires there are only individual coil packs. The car idles perfect until you press the gas
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Thursday, January 21st, 2021 AT 10:49 AM (Merged)
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
There is still a short boot/spark plug wire that connects the plug to the coil they do go bad sometimes as well. Do a fuel pressure test a back pressure test on the exhaust wouldn't hurt ethier.
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Thursday, January 21st, 2021 AT 10:49 AM (Merged)
Tiny
BIGWIL32
  • MEMBER
  • 13 POSTS
  • 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA
2003 Nissan Altima 4 cyl 127000 miles

The engine service light is flashing which indicates a misfire, I took the car and had it scanned and it scanned to confirm this. I have changed the plugs as the first step, I am starting to think that the ingintion pack or individual Direct Ignition systems are bad. Is there a way to test these packs to determine which one is bad?
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Thursday, January 21st, 2021 AT 10:49 AM (Merged)

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