2000 ls misfiring problem?

[Sickls00]

hello, i have a 2000 ls v8 with the sport package and about 105k. recently the check engine light came on for no apparent reason, but then i notiiced the car hesitates while doing approx 40-60 mph and at idle (misfiring). this has happened once before and i had a coil pack replaced (for about $400). i am aware that this is a symptom of the larger problem of the valve cover gaskets,and i do not wish to be raped by a mechanic (or god forbid the dealer), so i have a few questions

1. how can i read the codes without a scan tool and how do i inturpurt the blinks/pauses and such?
2. can i do this job myself (the coil packs and the valve cover gaskets), do i need any special tools?
3. where can i find a website or something that will tell me how to change the coil packs and valve cover gaskets?

any help would be appreciated. thanks.

[shorod]

Your 2000 LS is an OBD-II car (anything sold in the US after 1996 is OBD-II) and therefore the codes cannot be read out without a scan tool. Most chain auto parts stores will read the codes at no charge.

Depending on your skills, tools, and bravery, you can do the job yourself. You'll want to get the updated valve cover gasket set though which is less prone to leaking.

Details on the proper gasket set as well as how to do the job have been posted many times. Use the "Search this Forum" utility from the LS forum main page to search for "valve cover gasket" and you should get a bunch of hits. Some of those hits will point you to the procedure to replace the gaskets.

-Rod