When the Engine Misfires, Transmissions May Get Blamed ! 

Sometimes, it goes the other way -- a transmission issue which gets seat-of-the-pants diagnosed as an ignition drop-out. My 1993 was hiccupping occasionally. Bridge expansion joints also caused the issue. I originally thought it a power or ground issue with the ECM. 30 year old vehicle... Wiring decay is *always* first and foremost in my mind when encountering problems. So, I start going around inspecting and replacing the various grounding lugs to the body and frame. And although there are hints of the green crusty monster, I find no obvious smoking gun. Eventually, I jack up the truck and tackle the rear running lights ground. After finishing up with the rear tail lights ground refresh, I decided to put my hands on the transmission's snap-on electrical connector. It was barely connected. Finely! An plain-as-day smoking gun! The plastic retaining fingers of the transmission's connector had broken off (not unusual for a 30 year old heat cycled plastic part) allowing for the connector to be pushed inside of the transmission housing. The permanent fix was to drop the transmission's oil pan, replace the internal wiring harness. I also replaced all the solenoids and installed a few Sonnax goodies into the 4L60E automatic transmission.

Probably not a highway driven car. Needs a long interstate run to clear out some soot. I'd check the exhaust for obstructions too. Good video. Keep wrenching, Kenny!

Love your videos im a mechanic aswell but you make great videos your teachings are very accurate

Good video, I like this stuff. It reminds me of when I used to work in the automotive repair industry here in California/Central Valley.

Enjoyed the reference to ‘Mrs Wrenching’ In general I refer to my better half as ‘my client’

Kenny, that wasn't a frog in your throat, it was just a sympathetic misfire, you're channeling the engine's illness! 🫡

Let's see the guy apparently can't install spark plugs but he's going to fix a broken plastic radiator. It will be interesting to see how that goes. As of the cold air intake I like quiet vehicles. I would like to know if you recommend using dielectric grease on plug boots. Keep the good stuff coming Kenny.

Many years ago I had a 85 Caddy Sedan deVille. All of a sudden under hard acceleration, it would slam hard and downshift. I couldn't feel a misfire, but on a hunch I took it out to a dark place, opened the hood, let my eyes adjust to the darkness and looked at the plug wires. I saw shooting sparks all over the wires. I changed them out and the problem was solved until the new set of wires went bad, but then it was a no brainer fix. I guess the misfire got the input to the computer jacked up or something.

Yeah, in the 90's I had a 1982 El Camino, was acting stupid like that hard shift at times. I thought it felt like tranny problem for weeks. Talking to our driveability guy at Ford dealer I worked at, he said probably my plug wires.....Sure enough, I replaced my wires, along with cap & rotor problem solved lol.

sounds good bro that hot air intake

Good diagnosing again Kenny. It sounds like it runs good to me. After 200k it is bound to lose a little power. Me don't like the cold air intakes either.

The wire boot is as I see it the main culprit in this case. And that's what happens you get when you get dirt in them or the rubber gets old. Old rubbers creates misfires and runts. But the spark plugs were quite bad too. Another cause for misfires is a too narrow valve clearance.

What a power house. Good video.

my old 199 F150, I was sure the trans was going out. But it was a coil, skipping when you hit OD. Changed coils and it was good. Until a week later, when it burned to the ground. ford and there fires.

my 2005 f150 5.4l no codes. Severe bucking from tranny between 50 and 65 mph. Turned out to be engine misfire. With 170K, replaced plugs and coils. Problem fixed.

Not a fan of the cold air intake either. Good vid

Enjoyed the video 👍👍👍

Good eye man. Arc tracks ard often missed by the average mechanic.

Thank s

The 5FZE 3.4 only has about 190HP. but they last forever if taken care of.

I kinda like the sound of it but it could have a deeper grow as it needs better exhausts on it

Was the other way around for me. I had a misfire and did the plugs and wires. The plugs were obviously bad. Still had what felt like a misfire and spent way too long trying to find out what was wrong. Then I realize the transmission was going out when it started lurching. When it rains, it pours.

Lack of power, maybe the mis fire caused the catalytic converters to plug up, just a guess from a Chrysler technician

I blame society..!

Somebody used a good timing component kit

😂Ooo Toyota 3400 same as my T100😍

K&N and the other oiled filter elements sure dirty up the MAF sensors with oil vapor.

Not much power you say. I had a 99 taco with the same engine but 5 speed trans and 4wd. That engine was only rated 190 HP. Feels more powerful with the manual trans then the auto. I had similar misfire on it and it was one wire that went bad . Auto zone special. got replaced under warranty. Then in 09 Toyota bought back due to rotted frame here in MI. That was the end of that.

Excelent

Say Kenny a quick question is it normal to have 15 volts coming from the alternator to the battery? No code no battery light and with everything thing on the volts never drop from 15 volts. After about 3 days of not driving the vehicle the battery is about 12 volts but will not start. Thanks for any info.

I wonder if the "cold" air induction is the reason it's slower. I wonder if putting it back in may return to normal.

Probably run better with the stock intake, that is annoying.

For clarity Kenny, did you change all 6 spark plugs or only the three on that side? Logically, they should all be in about the same condition so likely require changing out.

Can you explain why you don't like the cold air intake

I just got finished fixing a large leak on a 2013 ford edge 3.5l v6 awd, what thought was the fuel filler neck turned out to be a evap canister problem that had gas in it due to over filling gas tank.

The lack of power to the trans will have an effect. Poor shifting, lack of power and lower fuel economy can happen, along with more

you said it completely wrong that is a HOT AIR intake only time its cold is in the winter on startup

Kenny, did you consider the air cleaner element, or the MAS to see if that is what’s causing the vehicle to be doggy?

i have two toyotas with the 3.4 the only w ires that last are the factory wires l1 master car and truck here denso wires and the blue very pretty ngk are junk

Not a cold air intake. Cold air intake sucks in cold air from OUTSIDE the engine bay. Sucking more air in with a RAM air intake does you no good if the air is warmer because the air is less dense. There are two parts to making horsepower, the first us air volume per cylinder, the second is density. Now more volume may certainly increase throttle response if coupled with sn upgraded exhaust because the vehicle can get air in and exhaust out quicker but it does not make more power. To make more power you need colder air from outside thr engine bay and something like a turbo or supercharger to compress it improvihg tte air density in a cylinder. Then you need more fuel and a hotter spark.

When telling us what you’re working on, tell us where, house or work. Gives us an idea of what to expect tool and action wise.

You don't like it because you are old lo😅😅