2004 Saturn Ion misfiring
blueshark1230
08-31-2009, 04:42 PM
Hello all. Again, I need the advice of my fellow Saturn owners/technical advisers! Up to now, the engine of my 2004 Ion-3 sedan has been running perfectly. Then about 2 weeks ago, it very briefly misfired while driving on the highway. Later on, after stopping the car for about an hour, I re-started it and the engine ran rough for about 3 or 4 seconds. Then everything was fine. On the way back, it misfired again in the same way while going up a slight hill. Most of the time that it misfired after that, it was when the engine had to give out a bit more power.
I didn’t think that the problem was fuel related, since I had been using brand-name fuel only. I decided to change the spark plugs since the current ones were about 60k km. old. I probably didn’t need to change the first set at 60k km. two years ago, but I changed them anyway. So again, because of the excessive cost, I didn’t use the manufacturer’s recommended spark plug (A/C Delco), but instead, I installed double-platinum champion plugs model 7981.
However, the random misfiring continued. :mad:
I’ve been browsing this forum and others for similar problems and can see that many times, fingers are pointed at either the ignition coils or ICM (Ignition Control Module). These parts aren’t cheap to replace! I was wondering if they can be cleaned with an automotive electric contact spray cleaner? In the U.S.A. the Autozone stores apparently test these parts for free, but, there are no Autozone stores in Canada (Ottawa, ON area).
I know that I can’t ignore the problem, but I don’t want to spend a fortune on repairs either; I’ll be shopping around for a new car as soon as I fix it.
Thanks!
I didn’t think that the problem was fuel related, since I had been using brand-name fuel only. I decided to change the spark plugs since the current ones were about 60k km. old. I probably didn’t need to change the first set at 60k km. two years ago, but I changed them anyway. So again, because of the excessive cost, I didn’t use the manufacturer’s recommended spark plug (A/C Delco), but instead, I installed double-platinum champion plugs model 7981.
However, the random misfiring continued. :mad:
I’ve been browsing this forum and others for similar problems and can see that many times, fingers are pointed at either the ignition coils or ICM (Ignition Control Module). These parts aren’t cheap to replace! I was wondering if they can be cleaned with an automotive electric contact spray cleaner? In the U.S.A. the Autozone stores apparently test these parts for free, but, there are no Autozone stores in Canada (Ottawa, ON area).
I know that I can’t ignore the problem, but I don’t want to spend a fortune on repairs either; I’ll be shopping around for a new car as soon as I fix it.
Thanks!
saturntech
09-08-2009, 01:17 PM
Do you know if it misfiring on just 1 cylinder all the time, or is it randomly on all the cylinders??? If it is just on 1 cylinder its usually the ignition coil, if it is randomly its the icm. Once these parts fail there is no way of fixing or cleaning them, they need to be replaced. Another thing, I would be getting rid of those champion plugs and putting in what is supposed to be in.
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