Car problems...anyone know? esp mechanics.?

Question

My friend has a 2002 or 2003 Kia Spectra and her engine check light recently came on and she got it tested and it says missed fire. Her car is a 4 cylinder but were guessing thats its only been running on 3 cylinders because its running very badly. Shaky, and when she presses all the way down on the accelerator and it barely goes past 35 and dont try to go up a hill the fastest it goes is about 20 miles per hour. She knows shes needs to take it in to the shop but shes wondering if anyone has an idea of what might be wrong with it? and if you do how much will it cost her? She said she only has about $300 she can use towards the car so shes wondering if it might be something super expensive.

Answer 1

She will need a set of spark plugs, and a set of wires. If the dealer, wants to sell her a fuel injector cleaner so NO THANKS. The plugs and wires and testing will cost about 150.00   Now before you go to the dealer, go to WALMART, and go to the auto section, and buy a bottle of...GUMOUT FUEL INJECTOR CLEANER, it is about 5.00 get the one that says CONCENTRATED on it. Put it in the gas  tank, and just drive it. Beside the plugs, and wire you may also have a partially clogged injector, and the cleaner will take care of that. GOOD LUCK  

Answer 2

First, pop the bonnet, then find the leads going to the plugs.

once you recognise them your half way there.

just be carefull take one off at a time and put each one back on where you take it off.

second, start the engine, take the lead of the first plug. if the engine dies out more it means num 1 is ok.

do that with all 4.

when you take one off and notice no difference then thats the problem one.

its most likely the plugs but it could be a lead.

next if you noticed that the engine revs didnt change when you took one off thats the dodgy cylinder so swap that lead with another one. in other words if num 2 is the suspect then take that lead off completely making sure to mark it and remember exactly how its fitted then completely remove any other lead and fit it to the number 2. now recheck them.

same problem then get the 4 plugs changed.

buy the plugs from a motor factors for half nothing and get a local mechanic or anyone with a plug socket and half a clue to replace them.

job done.

Answer 3

plugs and wires.easy fix that even a girl can do on that motor.go buy 4 spark plugs and a set of wires at the parts store.once you look at the new parts they will explain themselves as to where they go.remove one plug wire at a time and install the new plug replace the wire with the new one and so on for the other three.

Answer 4

Misfire code means just that... one of the spark plugs is misfiring. With the car exhibiting the symptoms you have described, sounds like your friend needs to have a new set of plugs installed. The plug wires (if used in that car) may be bad. If that Kia has a coil pack over each plug then one of the coil packs might be bad. In any case, one of the plugs is NOT getting any spark.

  A new set of plugs and installation will run about 60-100 dollars. A new coil pack for the misfiring plug could run between 100-175 dollars plus labor. The problem you describer isn't a major thing thing fix.    

Answer 5

I would guess if you have been running on 3 cyl. for a long period of time that you have plugged up the catalytic converter. Go to a muffler/ exhaust shop and have it checked. The misfire could be just a spark plug or something more expensive. Stay away from dealers and maybe ask a friend for some help to find an honest shop.