Tonight's question -Mazda misfire

[JPSmit]

So, tonight I had Bible Study at the church about 20 min. away (in city traffic). The car (my Mazda 6 wagon - 6 cylinder) had been sitting for about a week. Got in the car, started it up and it was not firing on all cylinders. OK thinks I (also not firing on all cylinders) the car has been sitting and it has been damp - this has happened before. Any other time it has happened (after sitting for a while in damp weather) I stumbles a bit but smooths out as it warms up and things dry up. Well, it didn't. Misfired all the way to the church with the engine light flashing on and off all the way. (Yes I know I should have stopped but I was leading the study, I didn't have my phone and there really isn't a lot of spaces bright enough to look.)

Anyway, I was at the intersection before the church and noticed wisps of smoke coming from under the hood. Get to the church, pop the hood and the exhaust is literally red hot. Dropped the hood, went did the study, came out fully prepared to call CAA. Got in, it started up, ran perfectly and drove home as though nothing had happened. Yes, the trouble light is on but I can cancel that tomorrow.

So, any ideas? I suspect the not firing on all cylinders was dampness but what would account for the exhaust being so hot?

thanks for input.

 

[JodyFKerr]

Get the code before resetting. Super hot exhaust sounds like a timing issue.

 

[Opa]

JP are your catalytic convertors part of the manifold? If so I'm guessing the unburnt fuel from the dead cylinder(s) caused the cat to overheat.The cat. could be pkugged as well.