Got a prob. here and looking for some help. I was driving my car and everything was fine till i shut it off. I started it back up 5 min. later and it was shaking like crazy and the engine light was flashing. brought it to auto parts store and got the code reading engine misfire. I am figuring this is either ignition controll module or the coil pack. I am leaning toward the ICM. Any thoughts on this from anyone? Both parts are relativly cheap, just seems like a 50/50 shot to me. Any suggestions on which to buy first? Thanx for any help.

 

Neither.

Check plug wires and plugs first.

If the engine code was a misfire specific to a cylinder, most of your homework is done.....

 

I changed the spark plugs and boots but this did not fix my problem. So with my 50/50 chance i bought the ICM for $76.00 and got lucky. Engine code is gone and car is back to smooth operation

 

Plug wires ............... what plug wires

 

clearly I've never been under the hood of an ion -- I had assumed they haven't done away with such simple things...please send me an Ion manual so I can answer the ion questions right.

Derf: 2 demerits.

Glad to hear you are up and running -- my apologies for the misguided guidance.

 

I don't know about other Saturn models, but the 04' Ion doesn't actually have spark plug wires. The Coil pack which is one unit with the ICM screwed on top of it sits above the spark plugs on the center of the engine. Instead of actual wires there r boots that connect from the coil towers down on top of the plugs. no wires, just boots.

 

no prob with any misguided guidance. A tune up never hurt any car as far as i know. Thanx for the help