Stratford Auto Repair

An engine can have fuel, spark, and plenty of battery power and still run badly if one cylinder cannot build enough pressure. You might notice a rough idle, weaker acceleration, hard starting, or a misfire that keeps returning even after ignition parts have been checked. Compression problems are different from a bad spark plug or dirty injector because they involve the engine’s ability to seal each cylinder during combustion. Sometimes the repair is fairly focused. Other times, low compression points to internal wear that requires a bigger decision. What Low Compression Feels Like From the Driver’s Seat One weak cylinder can make the engine shake at idle while still allowing the car to move reasonably well. If several cylinders are low, the engine can feel noticeably weak, crank longer before starting, or struggle more when climbing a hill. Common clues include: Rough or uneven idle Repeated misfire codes on the same cylinder Hard starting Loss of p ... read more