I pushed my 2004(ish can't remember if its a 2004 or 2005) s-type to the limit a couple weeks back in terms of accelerating and stopping. Ever since then theres been a weird smell (not quite burning oil smell) and the car will shaking randomly while sitting still. Occasionally It will happen while in motion and the car will slow down a bit.

My question is what could be causing this? I'd like to have a ballpark figure of ow much its going to cost me and the correct place to take it.

2004? S-type v8 4.0 sport 122k miles on it

 

Can't be a 4.0 at the era. 4.2 or 3.0. It matters (the faults are very different), so which?

At a guess, unrelated to the driving but has a misfire (bad coil or air leak).

 

Go to Advance Auto, Autozone, or Oreilly's and get the OBDII fault codes read. Then post the code numbers here (not the descriptions) for more accurate help.

 

My bad it's a 2002 4.0 v8 I must've been thinking of my last car. Anyways the code is p0301

 

Codes PDF is free download from stickies as is JTIS. Best to get and look up but that's a misfire cyl 1. Likely bad coil but check nothing bad in plug well. JTIS tells you which is cyl 1.

 

How hard would it be to fix myself and how much would it cost to take to a mechanic?

 

Read existing posts and JTIS as all explained multiple times.

 

Pull the spark plug and it will tell you what is wrong....ie if it smells of fuel than you got no spark and you will need a new coil that you can pick up on rockauto.com on the cheap!

If it does not smell of fuel than it can be the injector!

How hard? Novice for spark plug/coil intermediate for injector removal inspection and replacement!

 

Thanks! I did end up smelling fuel so i went ahead and ordered a new ignition coil and spark plug. Mechanics and engines have never really been my thing (I'm a It computer guy) but i'd be interested in getting into if it keeps my repair costs low . What kind of tools would you recommend for general repair and for this specific repair? Will I be needing imperial or metric?

 

Get yourself a metric toolset (Sears Craftsman is good quality for the money). You will not regret it.