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Multiple cylinder misfires on 2013 car seemingly out of nowhere? What to look for?

418 Views 11 Replies 6 Participants Last post by  gtokaralina
Summary: Sudden bad idle, CEL light, multiple misfire codes

41k miles car.
Recently: Alternator went toast, was replaced with a new OEM unit along with all new 8 intake manifold gaskets. A new air filter was also installed. Seems like the car was put in better condition than it was. Was running great. No more battery light. Alternator putting out correct charging. So that's fixed.

3 days later ... drove it to my mom's for Mother's Day....seemed to drive fine. Hours later, I try to leave, after starting it up....it sounds and feels bad. Like cam loped (but a really bad sounding ..)and car shaking like a 9.0 earthquake. Seconds later I get dash beeping warnings and flashing CEL lights.....of course..something was obviously wrong.
..did not drive it but a little to put it in their garage since I wasn't going to try and drive it home.

I will attach an image of the codes I scanned, but it's P050B, P0571, P0301, P0308, P0307, P0305, P0300

The intake seems to be on fine? If there was a vacuum leak after fixing the alternator surely it would have been noticeable immediately ??

I will take it to a shop, but I would like to know what possibilities this could be for my own general knowledge ? Since it is affecting cylinders on both sides of the engine. I have had varying input from techs and racecar mechanics I know, but wondering opinions from people on here as well who might have some thoughts.

It just seems so immediate. Some people are swearing it's spark plugs but seriously? Do 4 go bad all at the same time?.That just does not seem right at all and yet multiple Ferrari owners have this same story and the fix was just plugs?? If plugs foul that badly that quickly is there not surely an underlying issue then too ? I can check them and wouldn't mind replacing them and maybe the coils. I just doubt highly that is the issue.........it would be nice if it was.....however.....easier than other issues....such a sudden change, wouldn't we assume some electrical components??

Thanks for any thoughts. It's not my daily driver so I am not in a panic over it.


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It just seems so immediate. Some people are swearing it's spark plugs but seriously? Do 4 go bad all at the same time?.That just does not seem right at all and yet multiple Ferrari owners have this same story and the fix was just plugs?? If plugs foul that badly that quickly is there not surely an underlying issue then too ? I can check them and wouldn't mind replacing them and maybe the coils. I just doubt highly that is the issue.........it would be nice if it was.....however.....easier than other issues....such a sudden change, wouldn't we assume some electrical components??
Sounds a bit like the issue I had earlier last year. See below thread. Frankly, doesn't hurt to check the plugs...It'd be the cheapest trial-error solution. Speaking from personal experience, I haven't had the issue come up since I replaced the plugs.

I may be totally off here, but aren't those nearly all indicating over voltage? Simple to check...

C
I am going to replace the spark plugs, but I am not sure that will solve my issue, but might as well. Plug for cyl 8 (one of the 4 misfires) was pulled today:

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I am going to replace the spark plugs, but I am not sure that will solve my issue, but might as well. Plug for cyl 8 (one of the 4 misfires) was pulled today:

View attachment 149674
Looks burnt.
All that oil on it, Cam Cover gaskets leaking?
You have a lot of oil deposits on that spark plug like the car is using oil...They don't normally look like that...Is the car overfilled with oil and filling up the intake manifold with engine oil? Jason
You have a lot of oil deposits on that spark plug like the car is using oil...They don't normally look like that...Is the car overfilled with oil and filling up the intake manifold with engine oil? Jason
Hey Jason, thanks for the response.....there was actually some oil when the intake manifold was removed to do the alternator work but it didn't seem like an extreme amount....I will keep that in mind. When the oil was checked 2 months ago (have not driven it much...because...alternator went out etc) the oil color and level seemed ok. ... The oil was fully changed last May (2022). I have not put many miles on it but I do know oil degrades over time.....have not done a change yet... (for reference I bought the car in June 2022) ...

Current goal is, I have new plugs (the same OEM ones) ordered, and can have that done.
Whether that fixes the immediate misfire issue or not...I don't know...until I try and see... .... but will keep this thought in mind about overfilled oil...
All that oil on it, Cam Cover gaskets leaking?
I hope not.....but know that's a super super common issue. The other car I was looking at needed to have it done. Did not buy that car (that was a 2009 GT S, F1 trans....and was all sorts of messed up during the PPI...) .....

I do realize I will need these gaskets replaced at some point whether now or later
So...Coil 4 & 5 are extremely difficult to remove....anyone have any tips ?? They seem stuck compared to the other 6 coils. How to pull them out ??
New spark plugs in.....started the car, started fine at the obviously very cold start.....sounds normal...smooth....check engine light goes out at about 15-20 sec or whatever it is for system check........about 30 seconds in total , car idle goes rough, car starts shaking , sounds terrible..........and beeping flashing CEL comes back on.....so that didn't solve the issue.......but the spark plugs needed to be done......so no regrets..
I will just have to tow it in and have it diagnosed further to find out the actual root cause of the problem......aside from ignition coils, which I think are okay, ....sensors issue ?? keep in mind cylinder misfires are on both sides/banks of the engine.,... how many other things can go wrong considering this car isn't tracked, abused, overheated, or anything like that. Has not had flood damage. ... I can't imagine it could be something too catastrophic,..
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