Could an ignition coil cause a miss fire in my engine?

Question

I have a 1999 saturn sc1 it's running terrible!
It has 60k on it .
The check engine light kept coming on so, I hooked it up to a computer at autozone and it said it was the spark plugs .
I've changed the oil ,plugs, wires and filter. When it idle's in drive, the light on the radio dims and it acts like it wants to die, so I toss it into nuetral and it's fine.
I asked someone about it and they say it sounds like a miss fire in my engine and I should check my ignition coil, but I thought that was only for starting the vehicle and the vehicle starts fine .
Maybe it's a fuel filter, but when its in nuetral its it feels normal.
I really don't have the cash to get it diagnost and then fixed ..
Please help.

The code I got was P0302

The code I got was P0302

Answer 1

Coil could be putting out low spark.
Crank position sensor would cause a misfire.
Dirty fuel injectors would register as a misfire. (fuel not vaporized properly would not ignite)

Answer 2

There are no codes for spark plugs. Get the code and post it here so we can find a possible problem. You may have a misfire code but usually there are more codes along with the misfire. If it runs smooth in neutral it is likely not ignition but a sensor that controls the ignition. I would check the alternator output and battery for proper voltage. If voltage is low it will affect the computer and cause it to malfunction.

Answer 3

there is not any way a plug can get into the sump and there is not any way a plug could be blown INTO the engine as there is not any path it may go by utilising except there's a hollow interior the piston which might account for the misfire, the main possibly rationalization for a misfire in this variety is a defective crankshaft sensor uncomplicated 10 minute restoration for £20 you're being spun a line here yet i can not see why

Answer 4

there are many things that could cause this situation but the most likely would be a bad fuel injector does the car chug or sputter when you accelerate away from a stop? if so it probably an injector....does it seem to crank a long time before starting when its hot ? if so it could be the fuel pressure regulater this would also make your mileage go way down

Answer 5

It could be a bad coil but first check the idle air control valve it regulates your idle. did you change your spark plug wires that happened to me a couple of times

Answer 6

You should have it checked for vacuum leaks. Could be as simple as a bad vacuum hose. A lot of the single cam Saturns have a broken intake manifold gasket for the #1 cylinder.