Got this code as I left for school today. CEL came on pretty much as soon as I left the underground parking, I drove about a block, stopped, checked the code and then drove back home.

Supposedly the spark plugs were changed less than a year ago by the previous owner right before I bought the car. No idea about the wires, but I guess I should replace them both.

Any other ideas for what the problem could be? And should I try to avoid driving it completely? Or am I fine to drive it a nominal distance to an auto parts store?

 

Fuel injector maybe?
Besides a lack of horsepower it should be fine
Willing to bet its a fuel injector

 

Any reason you're favoring that over the ignition system?

 

Fuel injector? huh?

I'd definitly replace plugs and wires. Cheap enough to do and helps the process of elimination. Or atleast pull the plugs out and check the gap on em'. Twist the wires and look for signs of cracking.

Many have had problems with coil packs as well, there is a resistance test that you can do on them. You can use the search feature and find out how.

Have a spark tester? I would think this is intermittent because you didn't say anything about the car running like a bag of ass...or is it?

 

Alright, this is kinda weird.

When I first got the CEL, I didn't notice any problems with the engine running like crap or anything like that, but I just kinda coasted back to my parking spot opening the throttle as little as possible. I then reset the code.

Now I just went out for a short drive with no problems at all. The engine light didn't come back on, and everything sounded/ran fine.

The only thing I can think of is the first time I went out, when the engine light came on, the car didn't start very smoothly. I'm not sure how best to describe it, but it took slightly longer to the engine to start and didn't sound quite as healthy as a normal start would. I didn't think anything of this because it happens from time to time, I'm not too sure why. Maybe the battery needs to be replaced?

 

Wouldn't think much of it at the moment if its not a recurring thing. Something as simple as washing your car can cause a misfire with water getting into places it shouldn't with a little bit of bad luck.

Its never a bad idea to pull the plugs and test the wires just to check. 30 minutes of work.


If the misfire reoccurs than you have something to worry about, as that isn't something you want happening.

 

spark plugs and wires first, then go to coil pack

 

+1 to spark plugs and wires. Had the same problem.

Since we only have 1 coil pack and IF the car still runs when it happens it wouldent be that.
I say replace you plugs and wires if it happens again.

 

I had the same problem when I bought my tib it was over a year parked, I used Lucas fuel inyector cleaner two times and never had the same problem since a year ago...