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Keeping your car in good running condition is important. Paying attention to unusual noises or issues your car may be having is essential to diagnose a problem with your vehicle before it develops into a serious repair job. Engine misfiring can be the result of any number of factors, from faulty wiring to the engine not running on all cylinders. If you notice any of these signs of misfiring, take your car into a mechanic immediately to get it checked out.

Engine Problems

Since misfiring often indicates a larger problem with your engine, issues that come from using the engine in your car are often a clear sign. Difficulty starting your car and getting the engine to turn over are a common symptom of misfiring. The engine may also stumble or hesitate while you drive. While accelerating or decelerating, the engine might buck or speed up suddenly.

Shudders and Shakes

One of the most commonly noticed indicators of misfiring is a shudder passing through the vehicle. Shaking and shuddering can range from small vibrations that only you notice, or full-on shaking throughout the car. Often, moisture and humidity can exacerbate the problem, and you will noticed increased shuddering on rainy or overly humid days. Shuddering and shaking can happen during driving or when the car is sitting idle, so pay attention to any unexpected movement within the car regardless of your speed.

Slow Acceleration

Difficulty accelerating and decelerating is another potential sign of misfiring. Often, the engine will stall out during a fast accelerating, or suddenly jump and accelerate more quickly than you intended. It also might take more effort than usual to get your car to accelerate, and when it does, the acceleration will happen much more slowly than normally.

Flashing Check Engine Light

Although this may seem an obvious symptom, the "Check Engine" light on many cars indicates different things depending on its behavior. A flashing or blinking "Check Engine" light can specifically indicate a misfire. Take your car into a trained mechanic for a check-up if you notice the light flashing, and he should be able to diagnose the cause through the diagnostic code provided by the cars computer.

The alternator in a vehicle takes gas and converts it into power that the vehicle can use. According to Mister Fix It, the alternator is vital to keeping a vehicles electrical system running at optimal performance. When the alternator bearings on a vehicle are not working properly, the alternator does not turn properly and thus the alternator does not work.The alternator bearings turn the alternator so it can convert power from gas to electricity for systems like the air conditioner, radio and headlights. The symptoms will show different problems with the alternator bearings and other issues in the vehicle. Once the symptoms are identified and the problem is known as an alternator problem, fixing it is possible.

Progressive Squealing Sound

A progressive squealing sound, or a sound that gets louder and makes a squealing noise, is a sign of alternator bearing problems. Usually, the bearing is loose when this occurs. The mechanic should rule out other potential problems that come with similar symptoms, such as timing belt problems. Once it is determined that the alternator bearing is loose, replace it because a loose bearing gets damaged.

Dim Lights

Alternator problems cause dim lights. If the alternator bearings are not properly turning the alternator, the lights will not work properly because they are only getting power from the battery and not from the gas. Dim lights alone, without other symptoms, are usually caused by dirt or old bulbs, but if other explanations are eliminated, the alternator is a potential cause.

Car Lights Come On

Alternator problems or issues with the alternator bearing cause the warning lights to turn on. The "Batt" or "Gen" lights are the most common lights that come on when there is a problem with the alternator. These do not always come on, especially if the battery has plenty of charge, but when these lights come on there is a good chance the alternator or alternator bearing is the problem.