Dead Cylinder 01 2.4L Pontiac GA

So i have a dead cylinder. Not sure which one as of yet. I pulled the spark plugs and all looked normal with the exception of one. Three were brown the other didn't...had minimal carbon almost looked newer than the other three...hard to describe. There is no oil/coolant on any of the plugs nor the smell. Thinking it may be bad ignition coil or housing. Is there any way to test the coils on the 2.4L?

start engine, remove spark plug cable for cylinder 1, listen for the rpm, then put it back, remove #2 and again listen for the rpm, put it back again and do this for all 4 cylinders. The one where you noticed smallest rpm change is your bad cylinder. Then switch coils, and lets say that first time it was your cylinder #3 after switching coils when you do the same test if you bad cylinder is other than number 3 then you will know that it is coil. If not, then you could have injector issues. (clogged, shorted/open injectors or injector wiring) or shorted or open icm.

The I4 has a different setup than the V6 in that it has a coil over setup as opposed to the coil/wire/plug of the V6. There are a couple of different parts to the coil over...spark control module, coil housing, and two coils inside the housing. I do not know which coil controls which cylinder and its a PITA to pull spark boots and t/s that way (Turn off car, disconnect lead to spark module, remove four bolts from coil over assy, remove cover, remove boot, replace cover, rebolt housing [otherwise it'll bounce around and possibly ground out against the valve cover], reconnect plug, start car). I'm looking for possibly a multimeter test (test for resistance) across the individual coils to test them that way. Alot easier and accurate that way. Thanks for all the help thus far.

try going here, view each coil to find yours, or if you have part number search it and it will tell you specs..good luck.

http://www.wellsmfgcorp.com/ds_coils.php?showall=yes

also you can learn many good things from this nice site.

So i have a dead cylinder. Not sure which one as of yet. I pulled the spark plugs and all looked normal with the exception of one. Three were brown the other didn't...had minimal carbon almost looked newer than the other three...hard to describe. There is no oil/coolant on any of the plugs nor the smell. Thinking it may be bad ignition coil or housing. Is there any way to test the coils on the 2.4L?hey...you broke the plug putting it in...you have a bad wire or wire is grounding to block thus no spark...bad cap or corroded cap that is cross grounding...but that plug is getting no spark right...take care hope i responded right to this post...uncle darryl...bremerton...it is not the coil...believe me....its a wire or you broke the porceline putting it in and it is sparking to block before it hits the electode....do not go buy new coils etc...switch plugs and wire from one cylinder that is working and you will see what i mean...unc d...the one that looks new is the culprit...forget coils and testing etc

No need to test coils. I pulled the coil housing out (this time when i had light outside) and bam theres the problem...huge crack in the coil housing...$46.99 and a trip to advance auto parts and she's back up and running again. Thanks again for all the help.