Help guys! Car girl here in need of help.

[Christina]

Kudos to the man that can help me here!

I own an 2001 Infiniti i30 and am having some problems with it that just elude me. I just bought my own house so I don't want to take the thing to CarX to get a overblown estimate for things I don't need. So I'm hoping some car stud can help me out.

Symptoms: First, I have a Service Engine and ABS light on. Second, when I decellerate/accellerate, the engine seems to shudder and wants to die. The car idles under x1000 but feels like it is not a strong idle and it want to conk out.

I took it in to AutoZone and this is the note they gave me (my brother says that there should be more numbers on it, but this is what they gave me):

TROUBLESHOOTING N/AOEM Brand: INFINITI

DefinitionBBNumber 2 cylinder misfire detectedProbable causeBB1. - Fuel system malfunctionBB2. - Ignition system faultBB3. - Large vacuum leakBB4. - Engine mechanical condition

Does this make any sense? I'm hoping that somebody here can give me a description of what to attack first. I am going to assume if I take it in to a shop that they are going to over estimate the work - I feel that way ever since '05 when I paid over $900 to get a simple O2 sensor put in that my friend would have done for $50.

Somebody please help me!

Christina

[jltibbs]

Welcome to NICO.

On the misfire issue, there are basically three things involved: spark plugs, coils, and injectors. Cylinder 2 is on the front left of the engine (If you are facing the car). In order to narrow the issue down there are a few things you can do (Or have done). Take cylinder 2 coil pack off and trade it with cylinder 4 coil pack (directly to the right of 2), and see if the code changes to cylinder 4 misfire. If it changes cylinders, then you know the coil is bad. If not, then next in line would be the spark plug. You can swap it with #4 and see if the code changes. If so, its the plug, if not, it's the injector.

[MinisterofDOOM]

For the ABS light, it could be a few things.

It's either a relay, a fuse, a sensor, or the control module. Each wheel has an ABS sensor that the control module uses to compare wheel speed to detect slip. If any of them are off, it throws the system off. If the ABS fuse is dead, it'll kill the system. And if the relay is dead, same thing.

Check the ABS fuse and relay under the hood (should be well labeled in one of the underhood fuse/relay boxes...I'm not sure exactly where though.

Diagnostics by a Nissan or Infiniti dealer may show better detail on the ABS error. They can diagnose individual systems more accurately than the check-engine code readers at autozone and the like.

[Christina]

OK, this talk of coils jogged my memory and made me do some looking thru my records. About a year ago I had a bad #4 coil (I'm assuming cylinder 4?) and had it replaced by CarX for about $360.

Now, this routine that you explained makes perfect sense, but is there a engine diagram that I can refer to identify each part? Also, is there a thread that explains how to remove coils, plugs, etc. I'm assuming that a coil is not a spark plug wire, right?

I will be proceeding with this on my own. Never done it, but right now my family/social/financial situation is forcing me to do this myself. I don't even have tools, ugh! Yeah, so if there is a diagram or something that can get me through this visually, I'll be happy to go confidently onward.

Christina

[MinisterofDOOM]

Coil replacement itself is pretty straightforward. Each coil sits directly on top of a spark plug. They're held in place by screws. You just have to remove the plastic vanity cover on the front bank to get to them.

Cylinder numbers work like this:2 14 36 5Where the even numbers are at the front, near the radiator, and the odd numbers are at the back, near the firewall.

And yeah, you're on the right track with the coil vs plug wire thing. (Most) modern engines don't have spark plug wires since the ignition coils sit directly on the plugs.

[jltibbs]

[NJ 666]

A misfire will set an engine check code in ABS. Probably just needs a coil(S)

[Christina]

OK, so I changed the plug and coil - which was really easy - and the car runs better! However, the Engine Service lamp is still on.

Does it take awhile to go away?

[Kompresshun]

If you want to get rid of the code, unhook your battery for a few hours and it will reset, or some of your local auto parts stores(if you have an Advance Auto Parts in your area I know for sure they have one) they should have a code reader that they can clear the code with for free.

[AZhitman]

^ ...and THAT is why we're #1.

Christina, welcome aboard. Guys, thanks a TON for some great diagnostic advice.... Nicely done.

[Christina]

Without a doubt fellas, this was top notch help. I know I could not have done it with out your advice.