Q: Car stutters in gear and stopped, the check engine light is on

asked by on May 24, 2016

My car has the check engine light on and it stutters when it is in gear, while the car is stopped. I got it checked and it turned out to be misfiring of the cylinder 2. I had it replaced along with the spark plugs. But, the check engine light came on again. The stuttering is very noticeable when I stop the car but keep the air conditioning running. Eventually, the car turns off completely. Do you have any idea what could be causing this? Thank you.

Car is hesitating and bucking Inspection $94.99 - $114.99 Get a Quote

Hello. I would need to know what you replaced to try and diagnose this issue. If you replaced the spark plug and the ignition coil then you may have an internal engine problem. Most of the time this is caused by an internal valve issue that will cause low compression.

To diagnose this, I would start by doing a compression test to see if the engine is fine. If the compression on that cylinder is low then the cylinder head will need to come off and be rebuilt. If the compression is fine, then it may be a bad fuel injector. If you want to have this repaired, consider having a certified mechanic diagnose your Check Engine Light and find the fix for the stutter issue you’re experiencing.

The statements expressed above are only for informational purposes and should be independently verified. Please see our terms of service for more details

Get an instant quote for your car

Our certified mechanics come to you ・Backed by 12-month, 12,000-mile guarantee・Fair and transparent pricing


Experienced Mechanic?

Earn up to $70/hr

What others are asking

Vehicle has lost hydraulic clutch pressure
Hi there. If you are loosing pressure in your clutch system without a loss of fluid, then your clutch master cylinder has internal seals that are leaking and your master cylinder has to be replaced (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/clutch-master-cylinder-replacement). If your vehicle is...
Delay between second and third gear in 2002 Lexus GS 430
Basically, change the filter and fluid and see what happens. Use should also use a Toyota fluid - it works better on those things than a Lexus Toyota fluid. Don't use the aftermarket fluid. As they get that old, they...
Check engine light is on after replacing battery
Manually resetting the Check Engine Light on modern vehicles requires a diagnostic scan tool. Any automotive professional can do this for you. However, battery replacement should not have caused your Check Engine Light to come on. There may be an...
Camaro iroc z sat for 17 years... Won't start
The fuel in the tank is bad from sitting so long. The entire fuel system may need to be flushed and the carburetor rebuilt. This means that the fuel tank should be removed and cleaned. The fuel pump should also...
With new rear brakes, car still won't spin on its own
Hello. After looking into this problem, I do not see where your vehicle has rear calipers but only drum brakes. For drum brakes (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/adjust-drum-brakes), if the adjuster was not retracted enough the shoes will drag too much. If your vehicle...
What does the"car rising visit workshop"mean?
Hello there, thank you for asking about your 2005 Mercedes-Benz E500. It appears that there are two separate messages happening in your case. The first one is the message that reads "Visit Workshop!" which simply just means that it is...
Misfire - 2003 BMW 320i
Hi there. Typically when a professional mechanic is trying to diagnose an engine misfire, the first thing they'll do is download any OBD-II error codes (https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/how-to-read-and-understand-check-engine-light-codes-by-jason-unrau) to pinpoint the source of the ignition issue. Without knowing those codes, telling you...
my car makes. a loud thumping noise when I step on the gas
Hi there. It is possible that you may have damaged a CV joint or steering system component when the pole was struck. It is also possible that the wheel was bent which could cause this type of thumping noise as...
The leak is coming from the left side if the engine if u r standing in front of the car.As soon as the engine is shut iff the leak
Using a small, articulated (flexible) inspection mirror (just an inch or so of mirror is all you need), and adequate bright lighting, attempt to view the weep hole (about 1/8 inch diameter hole) on the bottom of the water pump...

Related articles

Symptoms of a Bad or Failing Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) Valve
Common signs include engine performance issues like decreased power and acceleration, rough idle, and the Check Engine Light coming on.
P2106 OBD-II Trouble Code: Throttle Actuator Control System Forced Limited Power
P2106 trouble code definition Throttle Actuator Control System Forced Limited Power What the P2106 code means P2106 is an OBD-II generic code...
P0738 OBD-II Trouble Code: TCM Engine Speed Output Circuit Low
P0738 means that the PCM is unable to receive a signal from the engine output speed sensor due to a faulty engine or transmission sensor, or low fluid