Howdy Leemillerjr,

Can someone describe the difference between a misfiring engine and a slipping transmission?

A misfire occurs when a cylinder fails to ignite the air/fuel mixture. When the same cylinder always misfires you can call it a "skip" or a "miss". If all cylinders misfire randomly you can say "rough running".

A slipping transmission will cause engine RPM to be higher for a given road speed.

Are there any tried and true tests for either of these problems?

I think Goatman and SpazMan have given you solid information and you are probably by now trying to figure out why the engine is running rough. Use SpazMan's experience; replace the vacuum lines. It is just regular maintenance on an older car.

Speaking of FAQs, there should be a jargon FAQ for people like me.

Cataloging a lexicon of automotive phrases and terms would be a time consuming process. But luckily for us others have already undertaken the task. Just Google the phrase "automotive definitions". Hours of reading enjoyment will ensue.

*RANT*
I don't think it is necessary to know much jargon to explain what the car is doing or not doing. Instead, explain the symptoms of the problem to the best of your ability. Any gaps or incongruities will be addressed as counter-questions.

In elementary school I was taught that all inquiries into the facts surrounding an unknown should have the same elements: who, what, where, when, why, and how. Those elements are second nature to me. Apparently how to investigate facts is no longer taught.

So many people will request help in such vague and general terms it is impossible to answer. "My car won't start. What should I look for?", will get zero helpful responses because the question is impossible to answer. Surely no one can expect a respectful response to such a vague question. (I have actually seen that post on the Brickboard.)

WHO are you? This is important because an answer to a 50 year old master mechanic will have a much different tone and generate different suggestions than answers to a 16 year old student or 77 year old grandmother. You don't have to give personal information. But you do have to at least let the board know your abilities when it comes to troubleshooting automotive problems.

WHAT car are we dealing with? When reporting a problem always state the year and model of the car. There are drop-down choices to do that. Mileage, general condition, changes or modifications, automatic or manual, and a bit of service history are always welcome in the description of the problem.

WHERE are you located? Temperature, humidity, and elevation are sometimes important elements in a problem. Others here can sometimes point you to local shops or parts sources that you may not know exist. The cars were different in different markets too. BTW, if this information is in your profile you won't have to add it to every request for information.

WHEN does the problem occur? Always? Sometimes? Only when cold? Only when wet? Only on the first Monday after a full moon?

WHY do you think the problem happened? Did the problem happen after someone worked on the car? Have you ignored maintenance? Did you just fill up with gas? Gremlins?

HOW does the problem present itself? In other words, describe the symptoms with a bit of detail. For instance, change, "My car won't start" to, "My car won't start. There is a click when I turn the key but the starter does not engage." Or to, "My car won't start. The engine turns over normally but will not run." Anyone should be able to understand the differences between those two NO START conditions. The troubleshooting routines are different. Report observed differences in the behavior of the car. Additional information concerning different behavior may well lead someone to give you the exact answer to the problem rather than asking, "Is it doing this too?"

Not every problem is going to be easy to describe or even easy to put your finger on. But most problems well described will be common to someone else on the board and soon an answer will be posted.
*/RANT*


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Mr. Shannon DeWolfe -- I've taken to using mister because my name misleads folks on the WWW. I am a 53 year old fat man. ;-)