My daughter's 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe with a V-6 and 186,000 miles on it has developed an intermittment misfire on cylinder #2.

She called me this past Friday night and I drove up to her place, hooked up my Auto Tap and was told that cylinder #2 had a misfire. I opened the hood, shut the engine down and was about to remove the engine cover and check the spark plug wire and spark plug.

Prior to doing that, I wanted to clear the codes, so I reached in started teh engine up and it was smooth as glass. I checked and the cylinder #2 misfire was gone.

This morning my daughter called and said it was 'running bad' once again.

Now, this morning is cold (we're in Florida so 'cold' is a relative term) at about 45 degrees. On Saturday it was nice and warm and sunny, about 70. I'm king of wondering if I need new spark plugs and also wire as they might be holding moisture and causing the misfires.

Anyone else have anything similar?

Thanks for the response.

 

Have the plugs or wires ever been changed?

 

I'm not sure. However that is where I was going to start.

Does the 2003 2.4 V-6 have spark plug wires or plug and coil technology?

I need to pick up a manual to find out. I'm heading there later today.

 

The 2.4L engine is not a V6, it's an in-line 4-cylinder. So what do you have, a 2.4L 4-cylinder or a V6 (2.7L or 3.5L)?

And all gasoline engines have "plug and coil" technology. What I think you are trying it ask is if it has a remote coil with plug wires or "coil-on-plug" technology (aka direct ignition).

Manuals are available online here http://www.hmaservice.com but based on your posts, I'd suggest going to a qualified mechanic.

 

I know for sure that it's a V-6 engine. I'm going on what my daughter told me about the engine size. However I have been looking for parts and they all list the 2.7, so I'm assuming that she was incorrect.

Not long ago, I had replaced the serpentine belt on the car and that's how I know it is a V-6 as I saw a lot of underhood time during that.

My son is buying a manual this AM, so I should have some reference material to go by.

From what I saw on Saturday, it looks like I need to remove the intake plenum to gain access to the rear spark plugs. Is that true?

My 'Foreign Built Car' was a whole lot easier to work on. A 1974 Dodge Colt that I put a 372 cubic inch Mopar small block into with W-2 heads. A few Dzus fasteners and the entire front clip could be removed.

 

That is correct. The upper half needs to be removed and I'd suggest replacing the gasket.

 

Any other gaskets?

I would hate to induce another 'issue' with a vacuum leak!