P0302 code

[ccreddell]

So Friday, I start my truck and pull it around to the front of the building and park it. It runs fine. In fact, I remember enjoying how smooth it ran. Come out at lunch, start it up and it sounds like its dropping a cylinder and my check engine light is flashing. So I drop by the local parts store and have them pull the code-P0302, misfire cyl 2. So I buy a set of plugs-no change. Today, I put in a cap and rotor-better, but still running rough. Went back and got a set of spark plug wires-same thing;slightly better but still rough. Its a 96 C1500 5.7 Vortec, with 1820000mi. Has run flawlessly until friday. Any ideas? anything Im overlooking? Is it possible to break a rocker/spring/valve/pushrod and not hear any sound of it? If it was a burnt valve wouldnt it get progressively worse instead of all at once?

Thank for any advise.

 

[Wwildman]

If replacing the cap,rotor, plugs,and wires did not help . I would start with the basics
1.Check static and dynamic(Running) compression
2.Check fuel pressure

 

[TruckinAin4Sissies]

While not the same exact (single cylinder) issue I swapped out the distributor due to a stripped drive gear, and the coil and all was well.

 

[ccreddell]

Fuel pressure will cause a single cylinder to drop? Would that be a regulator problem or a fuel pump problem? I can hear the FP light off and it appears to run well. Every other time I have had problems with a FP it didnt do that.

 

[Wwildman]

I have seen ones that are weak and they cause problems as well fuel pump

 

[ccreddell]

Well, after further research, it appears to me that its the spider. It fires off immediately at the turn of the key, so I dont think the FP is the problem. It just seems like the no. 2 cylinder isnt firing. Im going to pop the V/C off just to make sure its not a rocker or spring or valve, but I am highly suspicious of the spider-seeing as how the truck has 185000mi on it.