Recurring enging coil misfire in rainy/damp weather
Thread Starter
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New Member
Joined: Jun 2022
Posts: 6
From: Boston, MA
Recurring enging coil misfire in rainy/damp weather
Dear Fit Gurus,
My 2013 Fit with around 137K miles has had a long history with engine coil issues.
35,750—Engine coils and spark plugs replaced around 35,750 because of engine coil misfires. Under warranty.
57,150—Engine coils and spark plugs replaced again. Honda Corporate agreed to cover.
110,00—Engine coils and spark plugs replaced again (Dec 2022). Haven't had a chance to discuss with Honda due to elderly parents.
Since Dec 2022, I've had about six incidents when the engine coils misfire in rainy or really damp post-rain weather, the blinking check engine light of death appears, and stress is high. I don't get very far from home, so I turn around and let the car sit until it's not rainy and the sun is out. No engine light and I'm good to go. A mechanic I trust said I didn't need to worry about damaging the catalytic converter and such if I could quickly get the it back home and try driving it later on.
I've tried to read through other engine coil misfire threads on this forum, and I share everyone's frustration! I can add that I'm not hearing a click when this happens.
Do you think the last time the spark plugs were replaced in 12/22 that they were not installed at the proper gap spacing and so more reactive to really damp or rainy conditions? I'm taking the car in to a Honda dealer tomorrow, but I'm hoping to get a jump on the diagnosis and not rack up a big repair bill. I'll follow up with what they say.
Thanks for any insights and expertise you can throw my way!
Kind regards,
Ms.Tessie
My 2013 Fit with around 137K miles has had a long history with engine coil issues.
35,750—Engine coils and spark plugs replaced around 35,750 because of engine coil misfires. Under warranty.
57,150—Engine coils and spark plugs replaced again. Honda Corporate agreed to cover.
110,00—Engine coils and spark plugs replaced again (Dec 2022). Haven't had a chance to discuss with Honda due to elderly parents.
Since Dec 2022, I've had about six incidents when the engine coils misfire in rainy or really damp post-rain weather, the blinking check engine light of death appears, and stress is high. I don't get very far from home, so I turn around and let the car sit until it's not rainy and the sun is out. No engine light and I'm good to go. A mechanic I trust said I didn't need to worry about damaging the catalytic converter and such if I could quickly get the it back home and try driving it later on.
I've tried to read through other engine coil misfire threads on this forum, and I share everyone's frustration! I can add that I'm not hearing a click when this happens.
Do you think the last time the spark plugs were replaced in 12/22 that they were not installed at the proper gap spacing and so more reactive to really damp or rainy conditions? I'm taking the car in to a Honda dealer tomorrow, but I'm hoping to get a jump on the diagnosis and not rack up a big repair bill. I'll follow up with what they say.
Thanks for any insights and expertise you can throw my way!
Kind regards,
Ms.Tessie
New Member
Joined: Sep 2023
Posts: 7
From: Minnesota
I would like to know what the dealer had to say. My best guess is that water or moisture is getting someplace it should not be. I doubt it is the electrode gap because I think if it were causing problems it would cause them all the time and not be affected by moisture. There are older threads where some people have said that it is essential to set the electrode gap to about .044 inch, so it would not hurt to have that checked. I would first check to see if moisture is getting into the connections between the ignition coils and the ignition system wires. These are behind the engine and below the plastic cowl trim below the windshield. It seems likely that water or moisture from the air could get these wires wet enough to cause electrical issues. Another possibility is moisture getting into the ignition coils and interfering with the connection between the coils and spark plug tips. I would definitely suggest having the coils and plugs inspected for moisture or corrosion. It might help to have someone apply dielctric grease to the connections. This will help keep moisture out and prevent corrosion.
Member
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 1,325
From: Metro Atlanta, Georgia
There's a dude on here named @cutsheal5 who addressed repeated ignition coil failure but.. It was a technical job involving getting the car's computer serviced by an electronics repair person.
You can check his profile for his threads -- I don't think he has many he started himself.
Besides the route of ECM repair (which repeat failures make me suspect), it seems strange that water would cause your fault. Does your car still have a splash guard under it? And uh.. Might check the connectors for the coils to make sure they have intact rubber gaskets in them to keep water out. Maybe besides that, back-probing between voltage going to a given coil and chassis ground with a multimeter, to check for continuity? Does that sound like something people do? my hands have been full with home repair, the auto stuff is falling out of my ears.
You can check his profile for his threads -- I don't think he has many he started himself.
Besides the route of ECM repair (which repeat failures make me suspect), it seems strange that water would cause your fault. Does your car still have a splash guard under it? And uh.. Might check the connectors for the coils to make sure they have intact rubber gaskets in them to keep water out. Maybe besides that, back-probing between voltage going to a given coil and chassis ground with a multimeter, to check for continuity? Does that sound like something people do? my hands have been full with home repair, the auto stuff is falling out of my ears.
Thread Starter
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New Member
Joined: Jun 2022
Posts: 6
From: Boston, MA
Recurring ignition coil misfires in rainy/damp weather
Thanks for the helpful responses. The dealer suggests adjusting the valves based on some codes. Apparently system is injecting too much fuel, if I heard correctly.
What I don't understand is when they replaced the ignition coils and spark plugs at the end of 2022, they didn't also recommend or as part of needed service also adjusting the valves then. From my understanding from another thread:
"To adjust the valves, you need to remove the valve cover.
To remove the valve cover, you need to remove the coils.
To change the spark plugs, you need to remove the coils."
The fact that I continued to get ignition coil misfires after the 2022 work tells me the dealer really didn't address the cause of the ignition coil misfires then.
Edited to add:
***I looked back again at repair records and saw that they did also replace the ECM card under warranty back in 2016 around 37,750 miles.
And in fact, they did adjust the valves under warranty at that time as well.
Also, I remembered that I used a fuel injector cleaner in February 2023 when the ignition code failure initially occurred again, and I think that has kept me in good shape until the last two months. Wish I had remembered that detail to try out another fuel injector cleaner, but sadly my mother passed last year, I'm still helping out my Dad, and I wasn't able to get back to the dealer until now.***
And so it goes.
What I don't understand is when they replaced the ignition coils and spark plugs at the end of 2022, they didn't also recommend or as part of needed service also adjusting the valves then. From my understanding from another thread:
"To adjust the valves, you need to remove the valve cover.
To remove the valve cover, you need to remove the coils.
To change the spark plugs, you need to remove the coils."
The fact that I continued to get ignition coil misfires after the 2022 work tells me the dealer really didn't address the cause of the ignition coil misfires then.
Edited to add:
***I looked back again at repair records and saw that they did also replace the ECM card under warranty back in 2016 around 37,750 miles.
And in fact, they did adjust the valves under warranty at that time as well.
Also, I remembered that I used a fuel injector cleaner in February 2023 when the ignition code failure initially occurred again, and I think that has kept me in good shape until the last two months. Wish I had remembered that detail to try out another fuel injector cleaner, but sadly my mother passed last year, I'm still helping out my Dad, and I wasn't able to get back to the dealer until now.***
And so it goes.
Last edited by Ms.Tessie; Mar 15, 2024 at 04:40 PM. Reason: valves were also adjusted under warranty/misspelling/more data
Member
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 1,325
From: Metro Atlanta, Georgia
Valves are every 30k miles I thought.. Eh, maybe they were just "as needed". I do 'em when they're louder.
Sorry to hear your car has been problematic. I'd love to take a look at it myself if I could. The recommended inspection points I offered are still relevant for what it's worth.. you could also try running a different brand of coil. To really get to the root of your problem would require some data logging and time (unless there are other misbehaviors with your car's performance that have gone unmentioned?)
I don't have the technical expertise for such things as of yet.
A thing like this would fall under the jurisdiction of one "Scanner Danner", but he's a teacher, not a forum member, and I haven't taken his courses or read his books. Much ado about thorough electronic diagnostics. Not commonplace among techs and mechs.
I can assure you your problem has a solution
I think you're in need of a diagnostician in the right frame of mind or with more time on their hands than is normal
Sorry to hear your car has been problematic. I'd love to take a look at it myself if I could. The recommended inspection points I offered are still relevant for what it's worth.. you could also try running a different brand of coil. To really get to the root of your problem would require some data logging and time (unless there are other misbehaviors with your car's performance that have gone unmentioned?)
I don't have the technical expertise for such things as of yet.
A thing like this would fall under the jurisdiction of one "Scanner Danner", but he's a teacher, not a forum member, and I haven't taken his courses or read his books. Much ado about thorough electronic diagnostics. Not commonplace among techs and mechs.
I can assure you your problem has a solution
I think you're in need of a diagnostician in the right frame of mind or with more time on their hands than is normal
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