While driving last thursday I got a major power loss with some sputtering and burning smell. After looking under my car I realized it was the catalytic converter so my step-father, who does oil and tire changes and small repair work, volunteered to fix it. He removed the catalytic, deflooded, and put in new plugs. But now hes saying that only 2 of the plugs are firing. I had him switch the ignition coils, still nothing. Its an 04 GT, 6-sd, with 59k. Please gimme some suggestions.

 

There are only three things in the ignition system, coils, wires and plugs. Many people have problems getting the wires seated properly on the plugs too.

Have you checked for error codes in the ecu?

 

I checked it when the cat first went bad but not since then. Guess that should be my next action. I just gutted the cat rather then replacing it, would that have any effect?

 

The gutted CAT will throw a specific CEL for the CAT but it will not have any relation to your ignition. Take an hour or two and read these threads:

Congratulations, you got an 8!
New and Potential Owners START HERE!
Suffering a misfire, START HERE!

 

Okay so I went and checked it out today and the error code received was "cylinder 1 misfire P0301" I made sure the plug wires were on snug, the leading/trailing plugs were installed correctly and tried deflooding procedures. Could flooding possibly be the problem? I took the plugs and fuel fuse out then cranked it around 10 times at 5 second intervals and noticed fuel spraying out each time but still nothing. Its a good solid crank but it's firing up. What do you guys think?

 

When I say I switched the coils I dont mean I changed them btw, but rather just switch the order of them. I bought the 8 2 years ago, rebuilt, with 33,000 on it; it now has 58,000. I thinking I need to order some new coils and plug wires. Think that'd make it fire up? I realize it needs to be done soon regardless.