Hi Guys,
So I got this code for a Miss Fire in Cylinder #1, so I took YellaJAC to Pop Boys as I always do for Problems in "The Cold Winter Months!" And as always, I told them I have a miss fire and I think it is Either a bad plug or bad wire. And This all started when the outside Temp dropped close to 0 degrees.Well they have a new "Master Mechanic"? He read my symptoms and put the car on the lift, Saw the Gash in my Resonator and preceded to tell me that the Miss Fire was being cause by the Lack of Back Pressure in the exhaust Because of the crack.
What??????
We run cars with OPEN Headers and we don't get a Miss Fire in any cylinder! He then told me that he would not work on the miss fire until the Resonator was replaced.

So I broke out my Winter Mechanics Hat and this is what I found:


This is from cylinder #1,
When I tried to remove the wire, it slid right out of the Boot with no great effort. I the took the boot off and removed the plug. As you can see, Not only is it covered in residue but there is a Crack in the Ceramics around the Electrode! I Google, Causes of a Cracked Spark Plug, it told me that Extreme Temperature Change will cause Cracks and that the residue is from Unburned Fuel. This will cause a Miss Fire!

I replaced the Wire and the plug and now my YellaJAC Purrs like a Kitten!
So Now I have a Gripe with Pep Boys. Or at least, Their "Master Mechanic"!
How can one Claim to be a master mechanic and not know that;
1) Motors run without Exhaust, like when you Build a Motor or you are Racing, and if you get a miss fire you check your timing!
2) He Doesn't Know Me! He Thought: "I can get a Good commission out of this guy, he don't know Noting About cars!" I'm not the one! So, After I fixed it I called Pep Boys and spoke with the guy who normally handles my repair scheduling. (Hans) I told him I will continue to bring my car to them, But this guy Is going to have to Prove himself to me before he gets to work on MY BABY again. 34 yrs I've been working on Cars. I still don't know EVERYTHING but I'm not Stupid?

I Replaced the Plug and Wire. Fixed the Problem. Got Rid of the C.E.L. code. Saved some Good $$$$$.

I also went ahead and ordered a Dynimax Resonator for $63 from Summit. It was $95 threw Pep Boys! I need it anyways. Had it sent Directly to Hans at Pep Boys. I still TRUST them. And if I choose not to let their "Master Mechanic" to work on my Baby, That's My Prerogative!

Just thought that you guys would get a Kick out of this seeing as to how I am always Singing the Pep Boys Praise Song! Lol
It just goes to show, Nothing Is Perfect!!!!!

 

Oh yeh, I forgot.
The guy who took my order at Summit Racing, Owns a Yellow 02 Monte SS. He lives in Reno and travels to Las Vegas every w/e. He says he gets 40 MPG out of the car and can make the Round Trip on a tank of gas in a car with only a K&N air filter and 180,000 miles on the car. I want That!!!!!!

 

JC:
Nice catch! You definitely are 1 smart cookie in my book!

We don't have a pep boys here in my area so, I cant speak on them....

However, I'm curious...
Why replace the resonator? Just pipe it and run without one...
That's what I would do...IMO its not worth replacing.

 

should have saved yourself some money took resonator out and that funky bend and ran a straight pipe to the mufflers and but a bung in to raise the O2 so it won't pull a code

 

I took resonator and catty off mine and it does just fine.I do need to get one of those plug in things for the o2 sensor(can't remember what they are called)so it turns the cel off.

 

Well guys, the going price for a strength pipe in my area is $125 to 200. And they all just want to Clamp it in. The resonator is less expensive and it's a direct fit. It is Also tuned for a deep sound.
Plus I am tired of waking up the Neighborhood at 6:30am.
It seems like everyplace I've gone gives me a retarded look when I say I want a pipe to replace the resonator! I think I live in the wrong part of Jersey for that. Plus I'm kind of in a rush. Inspection is due in Apr and I want to take it to the State inspection station So I don't have to pay for it. And I still need to get my trans done.

 

So, if I go for the free state inspection, they inspect all exhaust parts. If I go to a private place they can charge up to $200 for a 2 year sticker but it still can't have Any C.E.L. codes.

 

Sorry to here YellaJac had another mis-fire issue. But I am happy to hear that despite the crap weather, you were able to do what the master mechanic should have done for you.

It's amazing. Sure, you have a problem with a res, tons of these cars do. The shame is, someone probably would have looked at this and said "geez, that res is bad. You think that's my problem, go ahead and change it". Then when the problem is not resolved... Now what??

 

Well done JC...... It never ceases to amaze me what we categorize as a specialist...... That's why I always try to find a small performance shop that has real car guys and is reasonably priced and honest... Not easy to find, but I have found 2... One when I was living in Toronto and now one here in BC... These local non national chain guys tend to care more and do more at a fair rate...

 

My exhaust broke off one inch from the manifold, drove it 160 miles and no codes for misfire lol. My car hasnt had a cat since 2002(current motor actually has never had a cat hooked to it) and the only time it ever pulls codes for o2 is if its REALLY cold and i have bad gas.