# DIS misfire isn't plug or wires. What now?

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/dis-misfire-isnt-plug-or-wires-what-now/32872>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Created:** [July 4, 2009, 9:23pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/dis-misfire-isnt-plug-or-wires-what-now/32872 "2009-07-04T21:23:06Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Zumkopf](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/zumkopf/32/5227_2.png) [@Zumkopf](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Zumkopf)\
**Post date:** [July 4, 2009, 9:23pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/dis-misfire-isnt-plug-or-wires-what-now/32872/1 "2009-07-04T21:23:06Z")

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I have a 2004 Dorf Freestar, 130k miles, with a rotorless “DIS” distributor/coil system. It started experiencing a rough idle and reduced power. I put an OBDII scanner on it, and it read “misfire cylinder one”. So far so good; I figured it was maintenance, and replaced all the sparkplugs and plug wires. The old sparkplugs looked fine, and the symptoms persist. Any experience as to what I should try next?

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**Author:** ![ok4450](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ok4450](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ok4450)\
**Post date:** [July 4, 2009, 11:23pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/dis-misfire-isnt-plug-or-wires-what-now/32872/2 "2009-07-04T23:23:04Z")

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Anytime an engine performance problem exists a compression test should be performed; especially on vehicles up in the high 5-digit mark or more in mileage.  
While a 130k miles motor normally should not have any mechanical faults it’s always a possibility. You weed that out right off the bat.

After that you might consider the possibility of a failing coil or injector fault.  
With the engine running you might listen to the injector with a mechanic’s stethoscope or long handled screwdriver serving as one and determine if you hear the injector clicking or not.  
If you hear the injector clicking then a look at the coil pack might be in order. Hope that helps.

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**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\
**Post date:** [July 5, 2009, 3:35pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/dis-misfire-isnt-plug-or-wires-what-now/32872/3 "2009-07-05T15:35:06Z")

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It could very well be that the coil pack has failed for cylinder #1.

Tester

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**Author:** ![Rod-Knox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a183cd/32.png) [@Rod-Knox](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Rod-Knox)\
**Post date:** [July 5, 2009, 4:13pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/dis-misfire-isnt-plug-or-wires-what-now/32872/4 "2009-07-05T16:13:23Z")

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You might try reversing the #1 wire with the adjacent wire on the coil, #5 I bellieve, to see if the miss changes to that cylinder.