My friends 97 GSX misfiring

[Jonnyblaze]

Hi, recently my friends '97 GSX started misfiring heavily above 3.5-4k RPMs. He got a check engine light and it gave us a code for a bad idle control unit. He replaced his spark plugs and the problem persists. The car has a 16g turbo and ran fine at 14psi before the misfiring started. The car is driveable, but when he hits the gas it loses basically all power and probably wouldnt be able to outrun even a Civic. Would replacing the idle control solve this problem? Are there any other causes for this? Thanks

 

[redyute1]

other posibilities wires, coil pack,dont think what he did has anything to do with the mis fireing

 

[Jonnyblaze]

So you think the bad idle control is another problem altogether?

 

[booostedGSX]

Like redyute1 said, coil pack, plug wires and the power transitor unit can all cause this.

 

[95eclipseSlow]

replace the idle control because you obviously need a new one. Timing could possibly be off too.

 

[Jonnyblaze]

Alright, we'll check those out.. Another thing, would a blown headgasket cause it to misfire?

 

[Defiant]

You'd have many more symptoms from a head gasket.
Make sure he's running only NGK BPR6ES plugs gapped at .028", and replace the plug wires.