i second this suggestion. when it happened to me, it was hit and miss, off and on, and then it kept getting worse until i figured it wasn't going to fix itself. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />

it seemed less of a problem cold than warm/hot.

after replacing plugs and wires, pretty much the same.

diagnosed with one of those cheapy neon(?) plug wire short-detecting tools, and found the short in the coil (1 of 3) that was bad by holding the tool in-between two of them. the fact it was intermittent made it more fun <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

a good clue is: each coil is for two cylinders; so if you pinpoint the problem to two cylinders that work off one coil, you've probably getting it narrowed down.

I also used a timing light on the plug wires to help spot non-firing plug(s).

even warm, the problem was still intermittent, but diagnosable. you can also try it in the dark, but maybe without the lightning <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />.

i could have replaced just one coil, but didn't know any better at the time, and replaced the thing as a complete unit, which is fine, 'cause now i have to backups for when they decide to stop supplying parts... <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" />

if i had known, i probably could have switched coils around to see if the problem followed.

hope this helps. and thanks for the adventure story, though i'd guess you'd prefer that it'd been smooth...


bc

BTW the same thing happened to me with the water pump and timing belt and timing belt cover...almost immediate shutdown equaled zero impact (well learning how to do my first water pump/timing belt/tensioner/crankshaft pulley removal etc actually had a big impact -- it got me here to 4x4wire isuzu -- and put a dent in the wallet for the helms manuals--worth it to me--i suggest you get the updates too because i remember there were a couple of significant changes that even alldata didn't show)

i was also surprised at how rugged those timing belt covers really are, and the fact that it got cut though made me wonder if i hadn't had the problem with the belt partly off for awhile and was just oblivious

anyway, hope yours turns out equally non life-threateningd