I've had my 97 catera for about a year now, never really had any problems with it except for the minor things. BUT, when my wife was driving to work the car just shut down. I got it towed back home, got it started again but now it has a bad miss in #5 cyl. and it makes a real loud knock. Took the spark plug out and found it broken. I read here somewhere about a piston pin failing. My question is is this a common problem? Is it an easy fix? Or am I just going to have to sell it?

So the knock is still present after fixing the misfire?

when you say the spark plug was broke do you mean the top was snaped off or was it inside the cylinder like the piston hit it or what

yes the knock is still there and when I removed the plug the electrode was was all the way closed and part of the ceramic was broke. By the way the knock sounds like the piston, rod, or whatever is trying to come out the side of the block. The car only has 104,000 miles on it. Was an excellant running car before this. Just happened all of a sudden.

Unforutately you are likely correct and there is a problem with the rotating assembly.

BTW does the frequency of the sound increase as RPM increase?

Yes. Does anybody want to buy a 97 catera? lol.