'03 mystery problem - cylinder coil?

[whoanelly]

I have had my '03 Vibe in and out of the shop for 2 weeks. My mechanic can't figure it out. The "check engine" light comes on, the engine stutters and stalls and I have to turn the car off. It will start again and run (poorly) about 25 miles an hour to get where I need to go. The mechanic ran the diagnostic test and it indicated a problem with the coil on the #4 cylinder, BUT, the check engine light goes off and it runs fine. He moved the coil from the #4 cylinder to the #1 cylinder. It ran fine for a couple of days and then did it again. The diagnostics said it was the #4 cylinder again. Then it quits and runs fine. The mechanic put a new coil on the #4 cylinder and it ran fine for a day, but stalled again today. We were too far from home to drive it home so we called the tow truck--- by the time we got it to the garage the check engine light was off again. Any ideas? Is it time for a new mechanic?

[Herb]

It might be a fouled up spark plug. When was the last time you had them changed?Also check the cable connecting to the coil pack to make sure it's secure as well.Are you running any engine modifications?

[whoanelly]

The same mechanic gave it a tune-up about a month ago. I'll mention the connection to him. Thanks.

[lovemyraffe]

See if you can get the CEL code from your mechanic.

[djkeev]

You need a new mechanic.Switching out a suspected bad part to a different location with a known good part is a good diagnostic tool that involves very little money. Good move.BUT.......The "new" part in the new location indicated the same failed code so he purchased a NEW ONE AND PUT IT INTO THE SAME # 4 SPOT!!!???!!!?? What is he thinking? He just verified that is IS NOT THE #4 COIL!!!!Look for another cause as has already been suggested. He wasted your money, ask for the old coil to be installed, remove the new one and he can eat the cost of it.Now, go find a mechanic who knows how to fix cars and not just switch out parts for new ones in the hope that it will run better!Look for poor grounds, bad wires, bad related parts but don't go replacing the symptom looking for the cause!Did he pull the spark plug (best done on a cold engine so you don't screw up the threads in the head) and check it out? Did he run a compression test? Are the injectors firing as they should?The list goes on and on and on of things to check, he apparently doesn't know what to do or check.This mechanic is simply taking your money while he guesses at what is wrong, move along, he's incompetent.My 2xDavePS did I mention That I have a great dislike and distrust for mechanics as a whole, I used to be one, I know the game, I got out for I can't steal people's money and sleep at night!

[bodhi_tree777]

x100000 ..I have a real problem being charged for parts that ultimately aren't necessary to the repair, and it also sucks to pay $40-70 an hour to have a mechanic replace perfectly good parts while he plays the guessing game. Whatever you do, once you sort it out I'd ask for a very specific breakdown of the bill and only agree to pay for parts and services that were actually needed. Please post up when you hear any info!

[cptnsolo77]

3X.....I have been there as well. How well are you with working on cars? Sometimes its better to get a service manual & take matters into you own hands.

[whoanelly]

Just to clarify... my mechanic has not charged me a penny so far. He's really perplexed by the problem too.

[djkeev]

Quote, originally posted by whoanelly »Just to clarify... my mechanic has not charged me a penny so far. He's really perplexed by the problem too. Congrats on that, now go find a mechanic who will not purchase new parts to replace confirmed good parts!He doesn't know what he is doing....obviously.So sorry to run him down, I don't even know him but he may be great at other things but diagnosing an intermittent problem such as this he apparently cannot do. Sadly he seems simply to be part of that new generation of mechanics, a parts replacer, not a true mechanic capable of actually fixing and diagnosing issues.Dave

[joatmon]

The mechanic ran the diagnostic test and it indicated a problem with the coil on the #4 cylinder

It seems as if it was a general misfire on cylinder 4, he wouldn't jump to assuming it was the coil, so (assuming a lot) the CEL probably wasn't P0304 for a general #4 misfire because although that can cause a misfire it covers a lot of other things. Since the mechanic jumped to the coil, it was probably a P1315, Igniter Circuit Malfunction #4.

I attached the procedure associated with a P1300/P1305/P1310/P1315 for reference if anyone wants to see what Toyota recommends doing for those CEL codes

if it was P0304 and the mchanic jumped to the coil, then yeah, maybe its time for a new mechanic.

See if you can get the CEL code from your mechanic.

+1

[djkeev]

Quote, originally posted by joatmon »It seems as if it was a general misfire on cylinder 4, he wouldn't jumpt to assuming it was the coil, so (assuming a lot) the CEL probably wasn't P0304 for a general #4 misfire because although that can cause a misfire it covers a lot of other things. Since the mechanic jumped ot the coil, it was probably a P1315, Igniter Circuit Malfunction #4. I attached the procedure associated with a P1315 for reference if anyone wants to see what Toyota recommends doing for P1315if it was P0304 and the mchanic jumped to the coil, then yeah, maybe its time for a new mechanic.+1Excellent helper !!!! I have this in my Pontiac Gm Service manual but not scanned it.Good Play!!You're better than me, just criticizing his mechanic!!! Dave