Question: I experienced the symptoms of a misfire while I was driving my car yesterday, so I brought my car to the repair shop as soon as possible. How much will it cost to fix an engine misfire?
Answer: Fixing an engine misfire can cost less than a hundred dollars, or it can cost thousands of dollars, depending on the vehicle you drive and what’s causing the problem. Unfortunately, it’s difficult to nail down a more accurate estimate without knowing the specifics of the issue.
What is an engine misfire?
When your engine is working properly, the combustion chamber draws in the correct mixture of air and fuel. The mixture is then ignited by the spark plugs, which creates enough power to push down the cylinders that move the engine’s crankshaft.
If any part of that process fails, your engine will experience an interruption in power—otherwise known as a misfire.
To the driver, that might feel like decreased power or a jerking or vibrating feeling when accelerating. You might also hear a loud backfiring noise.
Causes of an engine misfire
Here are some common reasons you might have a misfiring engine, along with the average cost to fix each:
Bad spark plugs
If one of your spark plugs is worn out, it may not effectively ignite the air/fuel mixture, so there won’t be enough power to move the cylinder that powers the crankshaft.
Replacing your spark plugs will likely cost somewhere between $80 and $320 if you have it done professionally. If you have a little mechanical experience, you can replace them yourself and save on labor costs.
Failing ignition coil
If your spark plugs are in good shape, but they don’t seem to be firing correctly, the problem could be with your ignition coil, the part that powers the spark plugs.
Replacing ignition coils typically costs between $150 to $800 per coil. It’s more expensive in vehicles with more advanced ignition systems. Most vehicle engines have four (V4), six (V6), or eight (V8) cylinders, and you may have either one coil for each cylinder or one coil for every pair of cylinders.
Improper air/fuel mixture
Your engine needs a specific ratio of air and fuel for combustion to occur properly. A malfunctioning fuel system or air intake system can lead to the engine receiving too much air and not enough fuel—which can cause engine misfires.
Depending on the reason for a lean air/fuel mixture, the fix could range from around $100 to repair a hose to more than $1,500 to replace your fuel pump.
Worn timing belt or chain
As the name suggests, a car’s timing belt or timing chain helps ensure all of your engine’s components move when they should. If the belt or chain is worn or out of place, it could throw off that rhythm, which could lead to a misfire.
Replacing your timing belt usually costs somewhere between $300 and $500. If your vehicle has a timing chain, it may cost as much as $2,000 to replace.
Expert insurance writer and editor Amy Bobinger specializes in car repair, car maintenance, and car insurance. Amy is passionate about creating content that helps consumers navigate challenges related to car ownership and achieve financial success in areas relating to cars. Amy has over 10 years of writing and editing experience. After several years as a freelance writer, Amy spent four years as an editing fellow at WikiHow, where she co-authored over 600 articles on topics including car maintenance and home ownership. Since joining Jerry’s editorial team in 2022, Amy has edited over 2,500 articles on car insurance, state driving laws, and car repair and maintenance.
Alice Holbrook is an editor with more than a decade of experience covering personal finance, including car insurance. She\’s passionate about creating easy-to-understand content that demystifies intimidating topics for readers. Previously, she worked for NerdWallet, and her work has been featured by Newsweek, The Washington Post and the Associated Press, among others.
