Easiest Misfire fix ever? *Knock on Wood*

[NutBucket]

On Monday the older WRX popped a CEL as my wife left for work. Flashing CEL...as in STOP DRIVING! She turned around, parked it and took another car.

Anyway, felt like a misfire to me and I got around to checking it out this morning. Pulled a code for #3 misfire. Decided to do the obvious check and swap #1 and #3 coils. Clear the code, start the car and voila, no misfire. Hopefully it was just a flaky connection or something. Really hopeful that the problem doesn't come back!

I'm not asking for help but I guess to be complete:

2002 WRX Wagon, 4EAT, 107k miles, BONE STOCK.

 

[ViviTheMage]

that old? coil wires....

 

[Black2na]

WRX is coil on plug and I bet the coil is failing so it has a occasional fault. I would keep an eye on that your.also due for timing belt and water pump service I highly recommend doing that. Along with plugs if your mechanicly inclined you can do.it.over a weekend. Cost is about.400 for.parts

 

[NutBucket]

Already done the belt. Didn't bother with the water pump since I'm not planning on keeping it past this year. I the guy I bought it from purchased it used in '05 from a Subaru dealer and it looked to me like the belt was replaced at that time too.

I've never heard of an intermittent coil though. In my experience they just fail.

 

[mike2fix]

Intermittent coil fairly common these days, Northstars use similar type setup and bad solder joints in the coil packs are very common. Solder joint reconnects from thermal expansion once they heat up.

 

[NutBucket]

Good to know. Well, so far so good so we'll see.

 

[andylawcc]

"my wife"? you are married now Nutbucket? shit, gtfo. you don't belong here /foreveralone

 

[NutBucket]

LOL! Its been a long time Andy!

 

[manimal]

Intermittent coil fairly common these days, Northstars use similar type setup and bad solder joints in the coil packs are very common. Solder joint reconnects from thermal expansion once they heat up.

this is crazy common these days.