Posted on 1/30/2026
A misfire can start out feeling like a tiny hiccup, then suddenly the check engine light starts blinking, and your confidence drops fast. The car may shake at idle, hesitate when you merge, or feel like it lost a chunk of power for no clear reason. At that moment, most drivers have the same question: Is this a simple tune-up issue, or something more complicated hiding behind it? The clues are usually there, you just have to know what to pay attention to before the problem gets worse. What A Misfire Feels Like In Real Driving Misfires do not always feel dramatic. Sometimes it is a subtle stumble when you accelerate, especially uphill or when the engine is under load. Other times, the engine shakes at a stoplight, then smooths out once you are cruising. You might also notice the exhaust sounds uneven, or the car feels like it is working harder to do normal things. Pay attention to consistency. A steady rough idle that never goes away can point toward a persistent ign ... read more