# Cylinder 1& 4 r weak what can I do? **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [April 15, 2008, 11:45pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/cylinder-1-4-r-weak-what-can-i-do/12924 "2008-04-15T23:45:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![rio2009](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9de0a6/32.png) [@rio2009](https://community.cartalk.com/u/rio2009)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2008, 11:45pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/cylinder-1-4-r-weak-what-can-i-do/12924/1 "2008-04-15T23:45:11Z")
I have a cavalier 96 4 cylinders,automatic 3 speeds and the mechanic told me my scanner says that cylinder 1 and 4 are weak;therefore,I’d like to know what to do? the car in the highway runs excellent, but when I’m waiting to get green lite and I have the brakes applied stars to shake like if it was misfiring. ---
**Author:** ![admitted\_amateur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/94ad74/32.png) [@admitted\_amateur](https://community.cartalk.com/u/admitted_amateur)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2008, 12:26am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/cylinder-1-4-r-weak-what-can-i-do/12924/2 "2008-04-16T00:26:16Z")
Did the you tell this to the mechanic and in response you were told that it is because those cylinders were weak? There are a very large number of things that could cause this many of which are very simple. I would take it to some other mechanic (ask around for one you trust), explain the problems as clearly as possible and someone should be able to tell you more than that. ---
**Author:** ![ok4450](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ok4450](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ok4450)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2008, 12:50am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/cylinder-1-4-r-weak-what-can-i-do/12924/3 "2008-04-16T00:50:16Z")
“Weak” could have several meanings. A “weak” cylinder should mean one that is low on compression and in this case a compression test should be run. I have no idea if they’re using the weak terminology to mean an ignition problem or not. What codes are being thrown, how many miles on the car, etc.? ---
**Author:** ![hellokit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6a8cbe/32.png) [@hellokit](https://community.cartalk.com/u/hellokit)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2008, 1:50am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/cylinder-1-4-r-weak-what-can-i-do/12924/4 "2008-04-16T01:50:42Z")
It may be misfiring while sitting in DRIVE, with your foot on the BRAKE, engine at idle… The next time you are sitting at a stop light, let off the foot brake, and apply the Parking brake. Results? ---
**Author:** ![mmsamma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ed655f/32.png) [@mmsamma](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mmsamma)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2008, 1:56am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/cylinder-1-4-r-weak-what-can-i-do/12924/5 "2008-04-16T01:56:03Z")
1/4 weak from a scan tool check.NOT. 1/4 do have a common intrest in the fireing process. find a new tech. ---
**Author:** ![rio2009](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9de0a6/32.png) [@rio2009](https://community.cartalk.com/u/rio2009)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2008, 1:32am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/cylinder-1-4-r-weak-what-can-i-do/12924/6 "2008-04-17T01:32:03Z")
yes you’re right I’m gonna take it to a different mechanic and tell me do you think if I replace the head gasket could help? ---
**Author:** ![rio2009](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9de0a6/32.png) [@rio2009](https://community.cartalk.com/u/rio2009)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2008, 1:35am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/cylinder-1-4-r-weak-what-can-i-do/12924/7 "2008-04-17T01:35:15Z")
I’ve been doing that and it turns a little bit smoother, but it’s good apply parking brake as I need it I mean in every stop lite. ---
**Author:** ![hellokit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6a8cbe/32.png) [@hellokit](https://community.cartalk.com/u/hellokit)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2008, 1:40am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/cylinder-1-4-r-weak-what-can-i-do/12924/8 "2008-04-17T01:40:43Z")
rio2009 Why would you want to replace the head gasket? No one said anything about replacing the head gasket. If the brake power booster is leaking vacuum, it will affect the way the engine runs when you are sitting at a stop light, the transmission in DRIVE, and your foot on the BRAKE PEDAL. When you use the PARK brake, and release the foot brake, the power brake booster should stop loosing vacuum, IF if has been. ---
**Author:** ![rio2009](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9de0a6/32.png) [@rio2009](https://community.cartalk.com/u/rio2009)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2008, 1:45am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/cylinder-1-4-r-weak-what-can-i-do/12924/9 "2008-04-17T01:45:04Z")
totally agree but if a replace the head gasket what do you think? ---
**Author:** ![admitted\_amateur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/94ad74/32.png) [@admitted\_amateur](https://community.cartalk.com/u/admitted_amateur)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2008, 1:58am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/cylinder-1-4-r-weak-what-can-i-do/12924/10 "2008-04-17T01:58:17Z")
Indeed. Where did the idea of replacing the head gasket come from. You likely have a far simpler and far CHEAPER problem. ---
**Author:** ![Caddyman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/caddyman/32/23_2.png) [@Caddyman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Caddyman)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2008, 2:03am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/cylinder-1-4-r-weak-what-can-i-do/12924/11 "2008-04-17T02:03:12Z")
Mileage on car?? Find a real mechanic with a real compression tester and have him do a real compression test. Post back with the PSI figures for each cylinder. ---
**Author:** ![researcher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/edb3f5/32.png) [@researcher](https://community.cartalk.com/u/researcher)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2008, 7:17pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/cylinder-1-4-r-weak-what-can-i-do/12924/12 "2008-04-17T19:17:27Z")
Modern OBD II PCMs can evaluate the torque contribution of each cylinder. An capable scanner can pull up freeze frame data to see what the computer is reading. The problem of weak cylinders can be anything from a compression problem, a misfire problem, fuel injector clogging, valve cam problem, etc. on and on. This might be happening at road speed but the speed of the engine might be hiding it. Someone is going to have to do a full diagnosis to zero in on the problem. ---
**Author:** ![keith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/keith/32/5518_2.png) [@keith](https://community.cartalk.com/u/keith)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2008, 1:59am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/cylinder-1-4-r-weak-what-can-i-do/12924/13 "2008-04-18T01:59:46Z")
Does this engine have a distributor or coil packs? If coil packs, then the mechanic could have been referring to a weak spark from the 1/4 coil pack. ---
**Author:** ![mmsamma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ed655f/32.png) [@mmsamma](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mmsamma)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2008, 2:02am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/cylinder-1-4-r-weak-what-can-i-do/12924/14 "2008-04-18T02:02:34Z")
NO