Irractic idle out. Came from nowhere

[Jo060]

My MSP has been running fine, parked it last night then jumped back in it the next evening and the engine is idling (and sounds) like a misfire. If I hit throttle it still happens. The CEL did blink a few times but never stayed illuminated.
I'm pretty sure it is the plugs but it's dark and cold out and I haven't had a chance to check it out yet. I'm posting just out of boredom and curious as to whether anyone thinks it's anything else other than plugs/wires/coils.

EDIT: I did take the plugs out about 3 days ago to check them and they looked fine.

 

[BRIAN_MP5T]

Blinking is a Misfire Warning,

Normally caused by an Ignition Problem,


An Irratic Idle is normally caused by anything from a Vac Leak, to bad Gas, Puel Pump... Disconnected or Malfunctioning MASS AIR, A Disconnected TPS, Fouled or Malfunctioning O2 Sensor...

 

[Jo060]

I went to try the turn the car over today and it wouldn't have it, it would barely turn...the battery has been on its way out which could explain the bad idle. I took the plugs out and the gaps are wider than they should be but not too bad they are all between 40 to 45. All the plugs are soaked in gas from trying to turn the engine over. I'll try swapping batteries from my girlfriend Camry maybe that will narrow some things down. Anyone else have any ideas?

 

[hornsfan10609]

No need to swap batteries if you have jumper cables. Could be a weak coil or bad wire, cleaning the MAF won't hurt.

 

[Jo060]

Alright. So I'm thinking that maybe the engine starting after jumping the battery was a fluke. I tried starting it tonight after the engine had sitting for almost 24hrs and it started misfiring. I tried jumping it and still had no luck. I went to walmart and bought a new battery and the engine definitely turned over much faster than with the old battery but still had the misfiring problem. When I leave it run I get a strong smell of gas. The wires are new and the plugs have about 13-14k on them. Anyone have any ideas? I'm out of them.
Maybe alternator?

I'm getting a -.50 (hkPa) Pascal on the Blitz dual TT which I believe is around -7.26 PSI which would make sense if not everything is firing but I figured I would include that info.

It is just strange to me that all day yesterday it would start and run just fine.

 

[Flspeed]

Coil Pack. Listen to hear which cyclinder is misfiring. Replace that coil pack.

 

[Jo060]

Coil Pack. Listen to hear which cylinder is misfiring. Replace that coil pack.

Alright. I appreciate the help.
I tried new plugs (before I read your post about the packs) and still no luck. Here's the weird part I let the engine run and pulled the wire from cylinder 1 and there was no change. I pulled cylinders 3 & 4 and there was a change in sound/rpm then I pulled cylinder 4 and there was no change. Weird. Do you still think coil packs?

Also. The rubber on the coil pack that surrounds the spark plug of cylinder 2 somehow came off of the bottom of the coil pack and is stuck around the top of the plug (but doesn't seem to be affecting that cylinder. I have NO clue how to get that piece of rubber out of there.

 

[hornsfan10609]

Both cylinders 1 and 4 use the same coil pack, so yeah I bet it's that coil. Swap them, make sure they are plugged in and the wires are securely in there but it sounds like the coil is bad. I have had the $27 Autozone coils for over a year now with no problems.

Oh and the plug boots and wires always come apart on my car when I remove them, I just try my best to get them out without damaging them. I have some long needle-nose pliers that pull them out but you can remove the VC if you cant get to them.

 

[Jo060]

Both cylinders 1 and 4 use the same coil pack, so yeah I bet it's that coil. Swap them, make sure they are plugged in and the wires are securely in there but it sounds like the coil is bad. I have had the $27 Autozone coils for over a year now with no problems.

Oh and the plug boots and wires always come apart on my car when I remove them, I just try my best to get them out without damaging them. I have some long needle-nose pliers that pull them out but you can remove the VC if you cant get to them.

Ohh ok that make sense. I didn't know 1&4 were powered by the same pack.

I'll give it a try.
Thanks so much for the help!

 

[Jo060]

I am starting to have the same problem again just not as severe. *I've replaced all four spark plugs and both coils and also installed a new battery. It wasn't having this problem for about a week now it's starting again. Every once in a while when I start the engine whether it's hot or cold it will slightly stumble and sometimes I can feel it fall on its face while I'm driving

 

[bdahl2]

do you have the unichip in your car at all?
if so check the ground on that cause my car did the exact same thing yours is doing i replace both coils wires plugs and crank sensor and it wouldnt change anything. my battery even died the day before all of it started happening. then i remembered there was that stupid chip in my car so i took it out and bam its been fine for 6 months now besides my EGR and IAC going bad.