My car started sputtering the other day along with a check engine light. pulled the codes, 71,72,73,74. each cylinder is misfiring. I'm trying to narrow down the reasons as to why. Im assuming the distributor is bad. It starts like ****, it takes maybe more than 6 seconds to start, and when it does i can smell gasoline pretty bad. Is that a sign its running rich? Im assuming its running rich because its getting insufficient spark and thats also causing it to sputter?

I'm not that great on diagnosing, so any help is much needed/appreciated

 

Whens the last time you've done a full tune up: cap, rotor, plugs and wires? Check those first if you haven't. Then check here to diagnose parts in the distributor:

http://techauto.awardspace.com/ignition.html

 

cap and plugs just a few months ago. wires are under two years old. the problem shouldnt be there

 

What about the rotor? I think the rotor was mentioned in post #2 as well.

 

no not the rotor. i replaced my distributor with another used one yesterday. the sputtering and misfiring is gone, but when i start the engine it still takes longer than normal. and when it does start, the rpms jolt from 1,000 and then settles at 1,500rpm

 

Check the timing?