i have a stock(except for the cd deck) 2000 V6 3.8L automatic camaro. i've had it for a month & it started idling real rough & the service engine light came on. now my step dad who is an expert machanic pulled codes & got a random misfire reading. since he's never worked on a chevy before let alone a camaro(cuz he specializes in mustangs) he told me we should start with the little thigs 1st so i got my oil changed yesterday & he's gonna change the wires & plugs later on this afternoon. i was wondering if anyone here could help me out & give me ideas on what it might be. note that im not a car buff. thats why my step dad is helping me out cuz i dnt know what's what under the hood. thanks in advance

 

He's making a good move. Especially if the coil wires where never changed since new. That's basically 10 years worth of crack and electrical bleed that might give off that random spark.

I'd take a dark night or a semi closed garage with the exhaust headed outside. I'd use a water mist sprayer; spray the coil wires and distributor as the car idles. You want to see the water pull the spark, find the phantom spark in the mist.

Then you can tell if the wires were the spark draw or the distributor cap?!?!?

Note: Check it out ^^^ Not one "IS" in a sentence!

 

Multiple random misfire is usually due to a lean fuel mixture, which may be the result of low fuel pressure, a bad MAF, air leak between the MAF and throttle body, or anything else that may be restricting fuel delivery, or allowing unmeasured air into the engine. However; it is always important to check out the ignition first, such as plugs, wires, ignition control module, coils, etc. and take it from there. Also make sure to pull all the trouble codes.

 

Thanks guys for the helpful answers. I'll take them into concideration if the light comes back on. We changed the wires out and the plug and mar car idles fine now. A few of the wires were rubbing each other real bad which he says was causing the misfire since the wires were 10 years old.