Hi,

This is kind of long but I feel like the story is needed for proper diagnoses. quickly, the car is 2003 74kmiles, originally from NM but now in OH, old lady owned it for 62k of the 74k on it now. When I got it started doing oil changes every 3-4k with mobil 1 synthetic (I know people say switching is bad but is there any credible source with data that can prove this to me?) Anyway, about 5-6 months ago, I started having a misfire on cylinder #1. I then ran a couple bottles of fuel system cleaner (as recommended in the "master" misfire thread) and changed the plugs. It then went to misfire on cyl #1 and #3. So next I took the coils from 1&3 and put them in cyl 2&4 thinking if the misifre follows the packs then replace the packs. CEL comes back on with misfire on 1,2, and 3. What? next moved onto Compression and Leak down test. Here's where the plot thickens.

Cyl's 2,3, and 4 are rockstars, but #1 is out of spec low for compression. Leakdown same result. While turning the crank for 2,3, & 4 I couldn't even get it to TDC with 100psi and a giant breaker bar because those things are practically vaults. #1 I could spin the crank (manually with a 3/4" 2 foot wrench) all day. So next my friend and I measured where TDC for #1 was and applied pressure. We listened for a leak and nothing from the tailpipe, intake, dipstick hole, or radiator. However, air could be noticeably felt and heard coming from the spark plug tube! So we put all the plugs back in and the spark plug can be easily torqued to OEM spec which ensures the threads aren't stripped. Anyone have experience with it still leaking?

Anyway, misfire on all 4 ensues, and last night replaced the injectors with a set of 20k ones that a local member sold me that worked perfect on his car before he went to boost. Car ran like a champ last night, no codes. This morning going to work, stop at a stop sign with the A/C Defroster on and light pops up. So far only cyl #1 though. AHHH!!!

Any thoughts? Btw, car runs perfect everywhere in the RPM band all day long except idle. Freeze data for codes is always at idle. I've checked retainers and their perfect. I've also done a valve adjustment, cleaned the IAC, map whack (no idea how to tell if a person's done this correctly), checked TPS voltage, and all electrical things outlined in service manual.

Can you guess why I'm lost at this point? Thanks for any help, ideas, and/or gestures of sympathy. Regards.

 

Oh and 1 more thing that might offer a clue. If I'm sitting at a light with the A/C on I'll sometimes get a blinking CEL. I figured out (by accident) that by holding the engine at about 1500rpm while waiting for green makes the CEL stop blinking.

Thanks!

 

I think if the cel is blinkin that means its a very seriouse issue with the car, have u taken it to a shop or dealer?

 

I've read that with misfires the CEL blinks because the fuel vapor that isn't combusting is bad for the CAT. Well I've now tried new injectors and swapping coil packs with a friend and no luck.

I'm really thinking it's linked to the spark plug hole phenomenon. Anybody have experience with this? I might be pulling the head soon. I am out of ideas other than that. I am open to suggestions...so fire away!

 

What are the comp results?