Brand new problem (scary!)

NikFu S. · #1 05-12-2015, 10:53 AM

So I was driving home last night, car has been running really well for a little while with the occasional hesitation. I figured one of the coils was on its last legs.
So last night while driving I was cruising along, and I put the pedal down just a bit and I accelerated for a moment but quickly lost a lot of power. At this point it seemed as if I was missing a cylinder, but the last time I was missing a cylinder it ran a bit different. Last time it sounded like a 4-banger, this time it sounded like a motorcycle, and not a very fast one.

So I limp home, I'm barely able to keep it above 1500rpm and park it overnight.
This morning it won't start, cranks "OK" but I can tell it's having some kind of cylinder issue. Last time it had a bad coil I could still start it.
So I crank it for a few seconds and here is the scary part, it didn't even catch and yet I got the loudest backfire I have ever heard. My head still hurts.

Any ideas?

fasteract7 · #2 05-12-2015, 11:07 AM

Unburnt fuel pooled that got a spark..? A shot MAF maybe on the list. As you noted, a coil out shouldn't completely disable the motor where as a 100% gone MAF will. Some say that disconnecting the MAF will allow the car to start/run albeit poorly. My experience has been it will start but stall unless the accelerator pedal is pumped. Your night before experience mimics what I have had with my 3 MAF failures. Fuel regulator hose intact...?

92snowmachine · #3 05-12-2015, 01:04 PM

you may have jumped time. does it turn over really fast or buck the starter while you are cranking?

NikFu S. · #4 05-12-2015, 02:15 PM

I checked the timing last night. The marks seemed to line up alright as far as I can tell, though granted I couldn't get the cover under the upper rad hose completely off.

I'm not sure what you mean by buck the starter, but it's not turning as smoothly as it should.

NikFu S. · #5 05-12-2015, 04:26 PM

I just tried starting it with the maf unplugged and it didn't make any difference.

The churning felt a bit smoother than before but still a little wrong.

92snowmachine · #6 05-12-2015, 08:44 PM

bucking the starter is when it turns freely for a while and then slows down because the engine is out of time and fighting the starter. generally when you jump time it will crank fine for a second then fight back.