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Can spark-plug-coil-misfire kill the PCM?

5 messages,  Last post on Mar 13, 2009 at 7:02 AM

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#3 of 5 Re: Naive Diagnostics by vic777 Mar 15, 2008 (12:49 am)
Thanks for your reply. I don't think the misfire kill the PCM either. But Mazda will not pay for the new PCM unless we change all 6 coils. So, we paid and the car was fixed. They told us the old PCM was dead. They could not read anything out of it. After the new one was put in, they started the car and hooked it up to their diagnostic system. The system showed misfire on all 6 of the coils randomly, intermittently. But the worst and the most consistent is from #2 and #4. They changed out the 6 coils, test drove and hooked it back up to their system. The misfires were gone.   When we get the Tribute back, it starts immediately (1 second) instead of 2 or 3 seconds as always before. And it feel a little stronger and smoother than before.   I think the old PCM has always had a small defect from the start from the factory. It just finally died after 3.5 years. And the misfires were just a common problem with this model. But that is hard to prove.   Again, thank you for your reply. Replies to this message: bhut (May 20, 2008 6:29 pm)
#4 of 5 Re: Naive Diagnostics [vic777] by bhut May 20, 2008 (6:29 pm)
Replying to: vic777 (Mar 15, 2008 12:49 am) My wife and I just picked up her 05 V6 Tribute from the dealer tonight for this exact problem, but luckily it was repaired under warranty (43K miles). We were told a TSB exists on the spark plugs which can cause the coil packs to malfunction, ultimately this led to the PCM dying. At least that's the theory. Our Tribute has always been slower to start in my opinion, pretty much matching your experience prior to the repair. Our truck has never performed well in the mileage department, so I am hoping this improves that end of it. I've been working on vehicles as a shade tree mechanic (for fun no less) for the better part of 20 years, and had never heard of spark plugs causing PCM failure. On the other hand, I spent 8 years working in electronics and saw how sensitive some components can be, particularly to operation outside of their intended range. In my opinion, either the plant got a really bad batch of plugs in 2005, or the coil packs are too sensitive to impedance/load variations. Whatever the case, you may be able to petition Mazda about the coil costs, since a TSB apparently exists for the spark plugs and their potential for damage to the coils.
#5 of 5 Check engine light by beargiel Mar 13, 2009 (7:02 am)
My 2002 Tribute will spit and sputter, not accelerate like it should and check engine light comes on ONLY when it is wet outside. Once it sits in a dry location/weather for a day, it runs fine. Do you know?

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