Why is my Dodge Stealth misfiring or running on only some cylinders?

Short answer: Before you buy injectors, check the spark plug wires and boots. One 1992 Stealth owner replaced all six injectors and still ran on four cylinders; the fix was a plug boot with a hole burned through it, letting spark jump to the plug tube. Another 1993 owner's rich-running misfire stumped his shop for two months until a second shop found the timing belt had jumped a couple of teeth.

Symptom: The engine shakes and feels down on power because some cylinders aren't firing, even after new parts. Or it runs rich (too much fuel), misfires and may idle rough.

What to check first

1. Pull the code with an analog voltmeter on the diagnostic connector (these are pre-OBD II cars). Parts-store scanners usually can't read them.
2. Inspect each spark plug boot for burn holes near the top of the plug, especially the hard-to-reach rear bank.
3. Replace plugs and gap them correctly. Worn, wide-gapped plugs can cause boots to burn through.
4. Have the timing belt alignment checked if it runs rich and misfires after everything else checks out.
5. Check the fuel pressure regulator vacuum line for liquid fuel.

Likely causes

1. Burned-through spark plug boot or bad plug wire. The confirmed fix in the 1992 threads.
2. Worn or wrongly gapped spark plugs. A member said these can cause boots to burn.
3. Timing belt jumped teeth. The cause another shop found on the 1993 SOHC car.
4. Leaking fuel pressure regulator. Checked and ruled out on the 1993 car, but a common rich-running cause.

What it usually costs

No owner posted prices. Plug wires and plugs are cheap; reaching the rear plugs means removing the intake on these V6s.

Is it safe to keep driving?

A misfiring engine wastes fuel and can overheat the catalytic converter. A jumped timing belt can fail completely. Don't put off diagnosis. Verify with a mechanic.

DIY or shop?

DIY for front plugs and wires and reading flash codes. Rear plugs, timing belt and fuel work are often shop jobs.

Recalls, bulletins and complaints in plain words

• Recalls: NHTSA lists no recall for misfires or the fuel or ignition system on the Dodge Stealth for these model years (checked 2026-10-26). Other recalls may exist for your car, so check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If your car is part of a recall, the dealer fixes it for free.
• NHTSA complaints: 130 keyword-matched complaints for Dodge Stealth 1991–1996 (of 241 unique complaints queried, NHTSA complaints API by model year, queried 2026-10-26; keywords: misfire, miss, rough, cylinder, spark, plug, injector, rich, idle, stall, power). This counts complaints that mention these words. It is not a defect finding.

What owners report

• In This week's riddle is a 1992 Dodge Stealth DOHC V-6 running on four cylinders on Car Talk, an owner who bought a 'dead' Stealth cheaply found it ran on only four cylinders. Members noted it's really a Mitsubishi 3000GT underneath so Chrysler's key-on code trick may not work, and suggested swapping suspect injectors to see if the miss follows. He bought a used set of injectors.
• In Well, that didn't fix my 1992 Dodge Stealth on Car Talk, the same owner replaced all six injectors and the rear plugs and still ran on four. A member explained how to read the flash codes with an analog voltmeter and said to look for holes burned through the plug boots so spark jumps to the plug tube. Wrapping the suspect wire got that cylinder firing again; another member said old or wide-gapped plugs may be the root cause.
• In '93 3.0 V6 SOHC Dodge Stealth. PLEASE HELP! on Car Talk, a 1993 Stealth ran very rich and misfired, and his mechanics checked compression, timing, throttle body and fuel pump. A member suggested the fuel pressure regulator, which checked out. After two months the owner had it towed to another shop, which found the timing belt had jumped a couple of teeth.

Quick tip

Six new injectors didn't fix that Stealth; a roll of electrical tape found the problem. Start with the cheap ignition parts and read the codes before spending real money.

Vehicle focus: 1991–1996 Dodge Stealth (3.0L V6, SOHC and DOHC).

Safety / mechanic note

Don't drive hard on a misfiring engine; a jumped timing belt can fail without warning. Verify with a mechanic.