21 replies to this topic

[SySTeMaT1c]

i have a '96 3.8 birdy, and the service engine light is on and whenever i power wash it or we get a medium to heavy rain, i start it up, and the car starts shaking and it doesnt run right for about 30 seconds, and whenever this happens the service engine light blinks, then after about 30-60 seconds, it just runs normal again, does any1 know what's going on? thank you.

[FBN Firebird Nation]

I would pull the codes from the PCM and start there.

[SySTeMaT1c]

i already did, it says cylinder 4 misfire, but it only does it wen the car gets a heavy rain or power wash.

[FBN Firebird Nation]

i already did, it says cylinder 4 misfire, but it only does it wen the car gets a heavy rain or power wash.

Did you check the plugs and wire for that cylinder? I would start by fixing that problem first.

[84ta406]

Sounds like a bad plug wire? or coil?

[SySTeMaT1c]

alright, ill check that later afternoon, im on break right now, ill repley later and let you know. thank you

[84ta406]

To check if its the coil you can swap it from cylinder #4 to a diffrent one and if the misfire follows thats your problem.

[SySTeMaT1c]

you mean swap the spark plug from #4 to a different cylinder, and this may sound stupid, but, where are the spark plugs located on the '96 v6 bird? sorry, i need a shop manual...

[84ta406]

On a 96 there should be coils that go to the spark plug wire. If you swap the coil itself to a diffrent cylinder and leave the plug and wire and the misfire swaps to that other cylinder then thats the issue.

[SySTeMaT1c]

thanks for the help, but the only time the misfire happens is when it rains or power wash, so how am i supposed to check it?

[84ta406]

I would check for split wires and stuff then, look around for anything that looks bad. water could be getting in there so thats why I would check the plug wires.

Coil packs are on the driver side, right above the valve cover. Sounds like you have a bad wire. Check those first. You can trace the #4 from the coil pack closest to the firewall.

[96v6bird]

yeah my car and my dads truck. its something to do with the spark plugs as previously stated.

[SySTeMaT1c]

hey guys, thanx for the help, it was a bad wire from the coil pack, i cleared the warning codes, and it hasnt had the problem since, thanx for the help! i love this website!

[styeattes]

Well, I am having this problem now as well, its probably why they sold the car. But thanks to all of you on here I know exactly what to do. The good thing is im just getting the code for a missfire in cylinder #3, its hardly noticable. So the first thing im doing is putting on an MSD performance wireset and figured while I was at it I would go ahead and change the plugs to the Ngk-Ix-Iridium / Spark Plugs. I will let you know if it solves the problem, or if I have to keep going to the coil and so on.

[FBN Firebird Nation]

Good luck Scott, let us know how it goes.

[styeattes]

Haha, well I ordered the MSD performance wireset from autozone, and got back to the house and decided to take a better look at the job ahead of me and while doing that I went ahead and pulled off the wires from each of the coils starting at 1 and working back. Well sure enough, the second coil plug on the first coil from front to back which for those who dont know is going to the #3 cylinder was covered in like a brown grease of some sort. So i got a piece of really fine sand paper and gently rubbed the corrosion until it was clean and then did the same with the boot. I checked the rest and they all looked good so I took it for a 30 min drive and at first the SES light was still on and I could tell there was still a misfire, but at some point during the trip back home I guess the computer finally reset itself and Pheonix is running great again. Since I ordered the 8.5 mm wireset and paid for them I guess I will still go ahead and put them on when they get here tomorrow but I will make sure to get the heat shields and all that before then just to be on the safe side since we know the high heat does cause problems.

Check your coil or your plugs.... alot of the time when your car gets wet and you have a bad coil or a loose plug the coil/plug will arch creating misfires and through that your computer will send a code telling the MIL or check engine light to turn on...

Blake,

[SySTeMaT1c]

Check your coil or your plugs.... alot of the time when your car gets wet and you have a bad coil or a loose plug the coil/plug will arch creating misfires and through that your computer will send a code telling the MIL or check engine light to turn on...

Blake,

Thanks Blake, but i have already fixed the problem, it was a cracked plug wire, thanks for repleying though!

[Maesrj]

I have a '97 Firebird with 3.8 engine, I'm having a problem with engine misfire after warm up. It runs fine at start up. I was getting a code, so I replaced the evap canister purge valve and switch, then I found a broken rubber elbow at the throttle body that connects the hose to the evap canister purge valve and I replaced the elbow. Now I do not get codes and it runs fine at start up, but it starts missing after it's warmed up. I have new coils and I replaced the spark plug wires a few years ago. I'm thinking it could be something in emissions, since it's fine when cold. I can hear something making noise near the driver side head lamp, is there a pump there ? I looked through some troubleshooting and did a check on the EGR valve. There is no vacuum hose to the EGR on the V6, so I'm not sure if I'm doing the right test. The instruction was to jump pins 5 & 6 on the OBD2 connector, and turn the key on. I can"t tell that anything happens at the EGR valve when I do that. Is it possible the EGR Valve has failed, and would that cause misfires after engine is warmed up ? I'm confused about the PCV valve, on the 3.8 there is a plate held on to the intake manifold with 2 bolts, and that plate is marked PCV. Is that the access plate for the PCV and could a bad PCV cause missfires ?
Any help would be appreciated.