Common Symptoms of a Dead Cylinder in Your Car Engine

Having a dead cylinder in your engine can cause serious problems if left unchecked. But how do you know if one or more cylinders are not firing properly? There are some common symptoms to watch out for.

Signs You May Have a Dead Cylinder in Your Vehicle

If you notice any of the following symptoms, you may have a dead cylinder that requires diagnosis and repair:

Loss of Power

A noticeable lack of power when accelerating or loss of speed and momentum when going uphill are telltale signs of a potential dead cylinder. You may find the engine strains more than usual when trying to pass other vehicles or merge into traffic. This happens because the dead cylinder is not contributing power, so the engine has to overcompensate with the properly firing cylinders.

Rough Idling

Pay attention to how your engine runs at idle. If you notice pronounced shaking or the RPM gauge fluctuating up and down erratically while stopped at red lights or stop signs, this indicates one or more cylinders are likely misfiring. The uneven power pulses make the engine run extremely rough.

Misfiring Sound

Strange popping or loud knocking noises coming from under the hood are Giveaways of cylinder misfires. You may also hear muffled backfiring sounds coming from the exhaust as unburned fuel ignites. These sounds signal combustion issues.

Increased Fuel Consumption

If an engine’s cylinders aren’t combusting fuel efficiently, more fuel is required to keep the engine running. That translates to decreased miles per gallon and the need to refuel your car more often. Carefully track your fuel efficiency using trip meters to compare MPG.

Excessive Vibrations

Mismatched power pulses from a dead cylinder also increase vibrations. You’ll notice this through an excessively shaky steering wheel, vibrating seats, or whole vehicle shakes, especially when accelerating. The vibration tends to intensify the faster you drive.

Check Engine Light

Modern vehicles have onboard computers to monitor engine performance. If they detect cylinder misfires, you’ll see the check engine light illuminated. You can use an OBD-II scanner tool to pull any diagnostic trouble codes related to cylinder misfires so a technician can properly diagnose the root cause.

Next Steps for Diagnosis & Repair

If you suspect a dead cylinder in your car, don’t delay diagnosis and repairs. Take your vehicle to a professional mechanic for thorough testing to determine where the issue originates. Often a bad ignition coil, spark plug, or fuel injector causes the dead cylinder and simply replacing those components resolves the problems. Ignoring symptoms of a dead cylinder risks further engine damage or failure down the road.

Ask your mechanic to explain the issue, verify it’s a cylinder problem, and outline repair options if your diagnostic tests confirm a dead cylinder. With prompt repairs, you can get your engine running smoothly again.

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