No answers yet, but it is amazing how many have very much the same problem!
Besides the obvious cleaning of the fuel system, plugs, and wires, it seems there are a few popular causes...
I have heard the possibility of the coil going, and wasn't able to check it myself due to a non-functional Ohmmeter. They are in the $100-$150 range, not unreasonable if I knew it would fix the prob, but a possibility.
Another issue I have heard is the pre-cats burning up, or falling apart and clogging the main cat. That could lead to high back pressure and some of the slight backfiring i think i hear. Unfortunately, this is apparently a $1K+ fix, at least to do it Right...
Weak fuel pump is another possibility.
I have a code reader that seems to do a good job, at least it finds codes when the CEL comes on, but the CEL is not coming on. I had thought maybe diagnostic equipment at a dealer or good mechanics shop would be able to better detect a specific problem with the coil or pump. Can shop diagnostic equipment isolate things like individual injectors or the coil and at least rule these out?
I will keep all updated if I manage to miraculously fix this one!
