Ignition System
WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2003 Chevrolet Corvette. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.
- Soak the secondary ignition system with water from a spray bottle. Soaking the secondary ignition system may help locate damaged or deteriorated components. Look and listen for arcing or misfiring as you apply water. Monitor the Misfire Current Counters while driving the vehicle in the conditions that the misfire occurred. If a misfiring cylinder can be located, use DTC P0300 for diagnosis. See DTC P0300: ENGINE MISFIRE DETECTED in SELF-DIAGNOSTICS - 5.7L CORVETTE article.
- Test for proper ignition voltage output with the Spark Tester (J 26792).
- Remove the spark plugs and check for the following:
- Correct Heat Range
- Wet Plugs
- Cracks
- Wear
- Improper Gap
- Burned Electrodes
- Heavy Deposits
- An improper spark plug gap will cause a driveability problem. Gap the spark plugs using a wire gauge gap tool.
- Determine the cause of the fouling before replacing the spark plugs.
- Inspect for loose ignition coil grounds.