Tapping, puff puff, misfire.

[hotmilk400]

So,

I have been having some issues and after checking the threads, i cant find any definite answers.

The history just encase.
About 1 month ago, we had a heavy snow storm and then a sudden cool off which caused the air to be very very wet. I attempted to start the car, but the gauges went crazy and would not start (it was a no start, but the rpm and mph gauges jumped to random positions)

I figured the air was so wet that something was shorting out and i left the car go. A few days later i went to start it and the battery was dead. charged it and it seemed okay and drove it about 4 blocks.

Okay, so i left it sit for the last few weeks, and the battery was dead again. I have been using my truck since we have been getting heavy snow.

The Problem:
So after i got it started, i drove it on a very cold day. (it was below 5 F and the real feel was -35F)

I was having an issue going up the hill, it felt like a loss of power so i dropped into third gear (about 4k rpms) and floored it to get up the hill. The CEL started to blink and i had a slight loss of power getting up the hill. I figured it was related to the cold temps. I coasted down the hill and felt the car shaking and the RPMS were jumping from 500 - 1100 rpms. )


What I did so far:
Left the car sit until today. Plugged in my code reader and had cinder #1 misfire codes (2 of them stored).

Checked the sparkplugs, the first one was very oily, 2nd one was oily. 3rd one looked black and burnt, and 4th looked okay. these are semi-new, 4 prong spark plugs (maybe less than 5k miles?)

I cleaned the plugs and reset the code on the car. Started it up but noticed the car was still running rough but slightly better at idling. I noticed the engine making a loud tapping sound (like maybe a value tapping, but i'm no engine profession) and the motor was making more of a puff puff puff sound. I cant remember if that had happened before i cleaned the plugs, i assume it was doing it before too. car is also still shaking pretty bad, and you can really feel with your hand on the shifter.

Keep in mind that i have been hearing a tapping sound and puff puff puff sound for years, but it was never as bad as this. No CEL (yet) but i didnt drive it. no idle issues right now, but i am too scared to drive it.

I DO Have a code reader that can give me live data on any sensor, but i would not know where to even look for issues and what ranges things should be in.

Beyond that, i know my way around the electric systems of these cars but nothing about motors.


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Car is a 98 with 179k miles, 5sp.

[hotmilk400]

As an update, i drove the car to the store to add fresh gas and an addtive to the fuel. The car still had a very rough idle and loud tapping sound. No CEL untill i put my foot down on the gas pedal. CEL went on and it feels like 70% of my normal power. I checked and its the same misfire code.

It drives fine besides the power loss, no flat spots when it accelerates, just slower at all RPMS.