How to use a multi meter?! Trying to diagnose different misfire codes

[Sylvester]

Ok, I feel like this is a stupid question, but internet searches aren't always the most helpful. A little long. Sorry.

 

I'm trying to check my Coil pack. The primary resistance is supposed to be between .63-.77 ohms. The secondary resistance between 17.9-24.5k ohms k( k as in thousand? So 17,900 ohms?!)

 

Anyway, I have a multi meter. Never used it before. I see ohms. The lowest number I see is 200. I set it there. Check resistance between the 3 wire plug (followed YouTube videos) and I get 1.8. I don't think this is correct.

 

Then I check resistance between 1 and 2 and then 3 and 4. I get 19.2. But I had to move the dial over to the number that says 2000k.

 

So yeah, what am I doing wrong?

 

My problems: misfire codes. First it was p0303 and p0304, reset ecu then that repeated. Reset again then p0301 and p0302. Reset ecu again. Next was p0303 and p0304. Reset again. Now I just had p0302!! Wtf?!?

 

I was hoping it was the coil pack, so that's why I'm trying to check the resistance. But this last p0302 is throwing me off.

 

FYI, I just changed my timing belt and tensioners, but I was having the codes before I changed the belt. I tripled checked my timing and it looked good. Car runs fine!!! (At least to me). It doesn't stumble on acceleration. Idles smoothly (although just in the past few days after moving to neutral and coasting to a stop the revs will stay around 1100 for a few seconds before dropping to 700).

 

I don't want to start throwing money at parts if they are not broken. So, I want to accurately test my coil pack and igniter first.

 

Thanks for reading. And helping

[twisty]

meters all set up different. if im reading correctly, yours has a few different ohm settings, like 20 up to 2000 or something. my old meter was set up like that, and wouldnt scale past the setting you had it on. if you wanted single digit you had to put it at thelowest setting, and if you wanted over a thousand it was the 2000 setting. here is the pic of the procedure, as well as the acceptable ranges.

 

http://i60.tinypic.com/2qmot50.jpg

 

sounds like your coil is out of spec to me.