I have a 1997 saturn station wagon i just purchased i put it on my code reader it comes back with multple misfire and cylinder head 3 misfire i put new plugs and wires on it and it still shows misfire and it wants to idle low enough at stop signs to die but when drivin the rpm always gets to 3 or 4 grand before shiftin and it is consuming a lot of gas

alex metro

• 364 Answers
• Posted on Oct 15, 2008

SOURCE: Cylinder 4 misfire: lacks compression

the things that would cause lack of compression are:

• bad headgasket
• damaged piston rings
• valves not sealing- could be exessive carbon build up, bad valve spring, bent valve

SOURCE: 2001 Saturn SL No. 1 Cylinder Mis-fire

Solved my problem: After more internet searching and consulting with my mechanic we determined it was the intake manifold gasket folding over into the #1 cylinder. This is common on Saturn engines. The gasket folds over leaving a leak in the vacuum system which causes the car to run lean. Check for a leak by spraying carburator cleaner around the #1 cylinder intake and you will hear the idle change if there is a leak. I had gasket replaced for $450 and car runs like new. My car is a 2000 saturn SL 1 with 60000 miles on it. Hope this helps someone.

Testimonial: "Thanks it really worked."

SOURCE: 2002 Saturn SL1 rough, sputtering idle - cylinder #1 misfiring

spray some carb cleaner on the passeger side of the intake manifold, right behind the alternator. it is very common for those to leak there and cause those exact problems

SOURCE: 99 cougar v6 P0352 misfire cylinder 3 and 4 replaced igntn coil..

Had the same problem, car was misfiring on cylinder 3 and 4. replaced wires, plugs, and ignition coil. still misfired on the same cynlinders. turned out the main engine wiring harness plug in was coming loose. spent well over $150 on the unneccesary repairs and ultimately fixed the problem wit a $3 bag of wire ties to hold the plug in...

SOURCE: code p0302

Look at the wire and plug to cylinder 2, for cracks or damage, if nothing is found run a compression test need 100psi min, and then check the injector, you need to meshure resistance with a multimeter, and compare to other injectors something like 12 to 15 ohms would be good i think.