Hey there guys... This is a bit off the diesel topics but it's still a Dodge in trouble...

My Mom's 1996 Dodge (Sig below) is getting a intermitant miss. It will light the check engine light and I get flash codes of...

12 - Battery been disconnected in the last 50 key turns.
45 - Open / Short on ignition coil
55 - End of Codes

on a ODB II reader I get...

P0306 - Engine Miss on cylinder #6

What's been done...
Less than 3K on all listed parts.
New Cap, New Rotor, New Wires, New Spark plugs (NGK's)

Compression test for all cylinders. (1,3,5,7 - 125-135 PSI) (2,4,6,8 130-145 PSI)

Vacuum @ Idle 20 In/Mg and steady (No valve problems...)

Never uses any oil ever! Change the oil and it full till next change!

I had this problem before and it went away for about 6 months and it's back again... I'm starting to think it's a fuel injector going south on me...

The truck runs great and starts easy cold or hot. Got good power other than the miss at idle.
Can someone give me a clue what to do with this...

 

check your distribter cap for a crack, also check your spark plugs and leads. Make sure the lead ends are secure and not missing the metal clamp for the spark plugs. let us know if that results in anything

 

Ok.. to add to the information on this...

When first started the engine doesn't miss... Checked at the tailpipe. (Hand over the end - smooth blowing air). As it warms up for a minute or two it starts the miss. Put my hand over the end of tail pipe and air is pulsing with a even dead spot. Now once the engine gets to full temp (210*F) then the miss is gone. smooth blowing air out of the exhaust.

Current Mileage 128,906

127,105 - Distributor Cap & Rotor replaced
127.105 - Spark plugs replaced
127,105 - spark plug wires replaced

These item were replaced the last time I had this problem. The problem continued for another 7 days. Then it went away by itself... It's back!

I pulled all plugs out to see how it's burning and the plugs are all nice and white. Very clean and the gap is still good at .035 inches. All wires are separated, not crossing, and in there keepers on the valve covers.

I don't think it's going to be a spark problem...

 

I'd try running some injector cleaner through it and unplug and clean all injector connectors and check the cabling to the injectors.

HTH

AlpineRAM

 

If it was a spark problem, you would have one or more plugs that are darker (richer) than the rest. If the code consistently says that the miss is the #6 cyl. I would just go ahead and swap that injector. If you don't want to start throwing parts at it, move that injector to another cylinder and see if the problem follows...

 

Any suggestion on which brand is better for this job? I heard the Techron Injector cleaner is the best... What do you think?

I trying to get ahold of the ODB II scanner again from my neighbor to check it again. But if the same cylinder come up again (P0306) I will try your idea of moving the injector to another position.

Q: how hard is it to swap injectors? Never done it before on a Dodge... I assume it just lift the fuel rail and pull the injector out of the block and move them... The reverse to assemble again... Let me know if there is something to watch out for...

 

They're just as simple as any other SEFI engine. Just as you said... I think an injector runs around $70 at the local parts store...

 

I don't know what injector cleaners you can get on your side of the pond.
About injectors: I usually look for them at http://fiveomotorsport.com/

HTH

AlpineRAM

 

I'm thankful to the help given so far...

I haven't had the chance to try the swap.... I been working hard of finishing the guages in my diesel to find out the LP is going to take a dirt nap on me... So as for the miss project is kind of on hold for the time...

But as soon as I can get a ODB II read and check the code again... I will move the injector and retest to see if the error move too... Thanks for the idea...

Sometime the answers are the easiest ones...