this is my first post here, so hopefully this isn't a dumb question. this morning when i went to start my '96 4runner (3.4L V6 engine) it started running very rough (it was fine the last time i drove it). i drive it about 2000 ft, and it was running so badly i was going to turn around. it then started running properly, but the check engine light came on. i went to autozone and had a scan done (thanks to whoever posted here that autozone does scans for free!) and got a code of P0306 (misfire in cylinder 6). the car has not had a full tuneup in probably 40,000K miles, but when i took out the spark plugs (ok, so my dad took them out, but i was standing there) the plugs looked fine, so we put the old ones back in. at the same time, we replaced the starter contacts. to do that, we had to remove the air intake hose (which has the MAF sensor at the end). i also put a can of 44K in the gas tank. since then, i have driven maybe 200 miles in about 3 weeks.
any tips on where to start troubleshooting?
one more thing (may not be related) the engine is giving off a smell that to me smells like burnt oil, to the guy at autozone smells like a burnt clutch (although the truck is automatic). i think it's due to a slight leak in the bottom seal and oil dripping on the exhaust manifold. i don't think it's related, but who knows?

 

So Im guessing that the plugs didnt fix it... Your post gets a little unclear there...

I would start by checking for spark output on cylinger 6... is 6 a coil or a wire?? It could also be an injector, comperession issue... many many options

chances are good its going to be ignition related, so that is a good place to continue on...

How many miles on the runner???

 

we actually just put the old plugs back in. the 4runner was running fine until this morning. it has 162K miles on it.

 

does 6 have a coil on it? or a wire going to it?

 

Wire.

 

That would make sense that a wire is breaking down at 160+K miles... if they are original thats a good place to start!

 

this is probably a really dumb question-but you mean the spark plug wire, right? can i just replace one wire or do i need to replace all 6?

 

This same thing happened to me. I went to autozone and had the same error code. He told me it was probably the spark plugs. I ended up just getting a tuneup and changing the plugs, fuel filter.. and other normal things that are done at a tuneup.
forgot to say it went away right after

 

will autozone reset the check engine light/sensor thing for me? (once i get the problem resolved)

 

they did it for me on the spot. he asked, i said sure.

 

1st off, there are only 3 wires as the other three have coils that feed the others. Second, just replace all three so the other two don't go bad soon after. Not even sure you could buy just *one* anyways.

hupptoy