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07-05-2010, 10:14 PM | #1 | |
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P0300 code-cylinder misfire detected. What to try first?
So my check engine light came on on my 97 Escort. I pulled the codes and got P0300. Defenition: Cylinder misfire detected - random cylinders. Explanation: The powertrain control module monitors the crankshaft speed and has detected a misfire condition. Probable cause: 1. Ignition system fault-spark plugs, ignition wires, coil. 2. Vacuum leak 3. injector fault. high or low fuel pressure.
So do I start with the spark plugs and go from there? What do you all think is the most likely cause? I'll do it all myself, just wanna know what I should try. Thanks.
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07-06-2010, 07:14 PM | #2 | |
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Re: P0300 code-cylinder misfire detected. What to try first?
Unless you replaced the plugs in the last 10k to 20k miles, they would be the first thing I would change. Next the plug wires, if they are more than 6 or 7 years old. After that I would be looking for vacuum leaks, a lot of crud built up behind the edges of the throttle valve, or a mass air flow sensor that had some cobwebs or dead insects stuck to it.
If you havent tried changing the spark plugs on a Single Overhead Cam Escort before, the #1 plug is hard to reach. I used a 5/8" deep socket with the 3/8" drive in it, and a 10" 3/8" extension that has a special curvature at the square end, which I turn with my 3/8" ratchet. Its called a 'wobble extension' I think, and allows up to 15 degrees of mis-alignment between the socket and the extension. Makes the job very easy. Dont over-tighten spark plugs, I think they only take about 12-15 ft-lbs of torque. Hopefully the car isnt losing coolant little by little? |
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07-06-2010, 08:34 PM | #3 | ||
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Re: P0300 code-cylinder misfire detected. What to try first?
Quote:
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Current Vehicles: 2008 Nissan Altima ~ 115k miles 2010 Nissan Maxima ~ 74k miles 2007 Toyota Sienna LE ~ 145K miles Goners 1997 Ford Escort ~145k miles (SOLD) 2013 Kawasaki Ninja 300 ~13k (SOLD) 1983 Honda Magna V45 ~13k (SOLD) 2004 Mazdaspeed Miata ~90k (SOLD) 2001 Ford Mustang GT ~86K (SOLD) 2007 Suzuki Boulevard M50 ~12k (SOLD) 2001 Nissan Maxima - (TOTALLED) 2001 Oldsmobile Intrigue (SOLD) 1991 Nissan Maxima (TOTALLED) 1989 Pontiac Grand Am (SOLD) |
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07-07-2010, 06:49 PM | #4 | |
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Re: P0300 code-cylinder misfire detected. What to try first?
__________________
Current Vehicles: 2008 Nissan Altima ~ 115k miles 2010 Nissan Maxima ~ 74k miles 2007 Toyota Sienna LE ~ 145K miles Goners 1997 Ford Escort ~145k miles (SOLD) 2013 Kawasaki Ninja 300 ~13k (SOLD) 1983 Honda Magna V45 ~13k (SOLD) 2004 Mazdaspeed Miata ~90k (SOLD) 2001 Ford Mustang GT ~86K (SOLD) 2007 Suzuki Boulevard M50 ~12k (SOLD) 2001 Nissan Maxima - (TOTALLED) 2001 Oldsmobile Intrigue (SOLD) 1991 Nissan Maxima (TOTALLED) 1989 Pontiac Grand Am (SOLD) |
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07-09-2010, 10:43 AM | #5 | |
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Re: P0300 code-cylinder misfire detected. What to try first?
Thats the one. On the 2nd. gens that have air conditioning, the low pressure hose & line is also right in front of it.
I dont know if they changed it around for the 3rd gens, but on a 2nd gen. LX, the left most manifold stud is -hard- to reach with the alternator in place. I find it impossible to get the nut on the stud and torqued down, unless the alt. is out. I have worked on 4 Escorts LX's, and two of them didnt have a nut on that left most stud, a 3rd one didnt have the bolt that is supposed to go from the engine accessory bracket into the head. Its also behind the alternator. |
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07-09-2010, 10:52 AM | #6 | ||
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Re: P0300 code-cylinder misfire detected. What to try first?
Quote:
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Current Vehicles: 2008 Nissan Altima ~ 115k miles 2010 Nissan Maxima ~ 74k miles 2007 Toyota Sienna LE ~ 145K miles Goners 1997 Ford Escort ~145k miles (SOLD) 2013 Kawasaki Ninja 300 ~13k (SOLD) 1983 Honda Magna V45 ~13k (SOLD) 2004 Mazdaspeed Miata ~90k (SOLD) 2001 Ford Mustang GT ~86K (SOLD) 2007 Suzuki Boulevard M50 ~12k (SOLD) 2001 Nissan Maxima - (TOTALLED) 2001 Oldsmobile Intrigue (SOLD) 1991 Nissan Maxima (TOTALLED) 1989 Pontiac Grand Am (SOLD) |
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07-09-2010, 04:54 PM | #7 | |
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Re: P0300 code-cylinder misfire detected. What to try first?
The manual says 7-15 ft-lbs for my 95 1.9L. I think it would be the same for any aluminum head using the same type of spark plugs.
I like to clean out the spark plug threads in the head with a thread cleaning tap too. I usually do that soon after I get a car, as its likely its never been done. The dirt from the threads falls into the combustion chamber I guess, but never seems to hurt anything. I also put a small amount of antisieze compound on the plug threads before I put them in. I have two torque wrenches. One reads from about 20 ft-lbs up to 15o ft-lbs. The other one reads in inch-pounds, very useful for the smaller bolts, like the ones holding the thermostat housing to the head. |
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07-09-2010, 06:08 PM | #8 | ||
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Re: P0300 code-cylinder misfire detected. What to try first?
Quote:
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Current Vehicles: 2008 Nissan Altima ~ 115k miles 2010 Nissan Maxima ~ 74k miles 2007 Toyota Sienna LE ~ 145K miles Goners 1997 Ford Escort ~145k miles (SOLD) 2013 Kawasaki Ninja 300 ~13k (SOLD) 1983 Honda Magna V45 ~13k (SOLD) 2004 Mazdaspeed Miata ~90k (SOLD) 2001 Ford Mustang GT ~86K (SOLD) 2007 Suzuki Boulevard M50 ~12k (SOLD) 2001 Nissan Maxima - (TOTALLED) 2001 Oldsmobile Intrigue (SOLD) 1991 Nissan Maxima (TOTALLED) 1989 Pontiac Grand Am (SOLD) |
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07-10-2010, 04:13 PM | #9 | |
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Re: P0300 code-cylinder misfire detected. What to try first?
All done. Turns out that #1 plug wasn't a problem at all. Got it out with a regular extension, no wobblers or anything. Had one plug that seized up pretty bad, but tightening it back down a bit, and loosening again got it out no problem. Didn't want to break it, lol. Anyway, so the job is done, and I went to Autozone to ask them to clear the check engine light, and they said they couldn't. I hadn't realized till now that they're not allowed to do that anymore.
He said that after a few days, if the plugs fixed the problem, the code would clear itself. But the kid didn't really look like he knew what he was talking about. Will it just clear itself? If not, how can I get the thing cleared so I can see if it pops up again? I just want to know if this fixed the random misfire.
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Current Vehicles: 2008 Nissan Altima ~ 115k miles 2010 Nissan Maxima ~ 74k miles 2007 Toyota Sienna LE ~ 145K miles Goners 1997 Ford Escort ~145k miles (SOLD) 2013 Kawasaki Ninja 300 ~13k (SOLD) 1983 Honda Magna V45 ~13k (SOLD) 2004 Mazdaspeed Miata ~90k (SOLD) 2001 Ford Mustang GT ~86K (SOLD) 2007 Suzuki Boulevard M50 ~12k (SOLD) 2001 Nissan Maxima - (TOTALLED) 2001 Oldsmobile Intrigue (SOLD) 1991 Nissan Maxima (TOTALLED) 1989 Pontiac Grand Am (SOLD) |
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07-10-2010, 06:57 PM | #10 | |
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Re: P0300 code-cylinder misfire detected. What to try first?
Clear your own codes. Disconnect battery for 15 min. to a half hour. Keep track of your radio settings if you want to.
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07-10-2010, 08:19 PM | #11 | |
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Re: P0300 code-cylinder misfire detected. What to try first?
__________________
Current Vehicles: 2008 Nissan Altima ~ 115k miles 2010 Nissan Maxima ~ 74k miles 2007 Toyota Sienna LE ~ 145K miles Goners 1997 Ford Escort ~145k miles (SOLD) 2013 Kawasaki Ninja 300 ~13k (SOLD) 1983 Honda Magna V45 ~13k (SOLD) 2004 Mazdaspeed Miata ~90k (SOLD) 2001 Ford Mustang GT ~86K (SOLD) 2007 Suzuki Boulevard M50 ~12k (SOLD) 2001 Nissan Maxima - (TOTALLED) 2001 Oldsmobile Intrigue (SOLD) 1991 Nissan Maxima (TOTALLED) 1989 Pontiac Grand Am (SOLD) |
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07-10-2010, 08:41 PM | #12 | |
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Re: P0300 code-cylinder misfire detected. What to try first?
No, just reseting the radio and clock.
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07-10-2010, 09:59 PM | #13 | |
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Re: P0300 code-cylinder misfire detected. What to try first?
__________________
Current Vehicles: 2008 Nissan Altima ~ 115k miles 2010 Nissan Maxima ~ 74k miles 2007 Toyota Sienna LE ~ 145K miles Goners 1997 Ford Escort ~145k miles (SOLD) 2013 Kawasaki Ninja 300 ~13k (SOLD) 1983 Honda Magna V45 ~13k (SOLD) 2004 Mazdaspeed Miata ~90k (SOLD) 2001 Ford Mustang GT ~86K (SOLD) 2007 Suzuki Boulevard M50 ~12k (SOLD) 2001 Nissan Maxima - (TOTALLED) 2001 Oldsmobile Intrigue (SOLD) 1991 Nissan Maxima (TOTALLED) 1989 Pontiac Grand Am (SOLD) |
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07-10-2010, 10:46 PM | #14 | |
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Re: P0300 code-cylinder misfire detected. What to try first?
Sorry to be a PITA, just thought I'd look at the manual, and there are two types of memory, continuous memory codes, and Keep alive memory. For continuous memory codes, it states, "Do not disconnect the negative battery cable to clear these codes; the Keep Alive memory will be cleared and a new code, 19, will be stored for loss of PCM power."
But for the keep alive memory, it says that I SHOULD disconnect the battery for 5 minutes. And then after reconnecting, I have to drive 10 miles so it can all recalibrate. What the hell. I wanna do this right, and I'd like to know that what I did fixed or did not fix the problem, but I don't want to screw something up by disconnecting the battery. Course, if I were swapping the battery, it would be disconnected for more than 15 minutes anyway, so I guess you can't expect anything too bad to happen.
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Current Vehicles: 2008 Nissan Altima ~ 115k miles 2010 Nissan Maxima ~ 74k miles 2007 Toyota Sienna LE ~ 145K miles Goners 1997 Ford Escort ~145k miles (SOLD) 2013 Kawasaki Ninja 300 ~13k (SOLD) 1983 Honda Magna V45 ~13k (SOLD) 2004 Mazdaspeed Miata ~90k (SOLD) 2001 Ford Mustang GT ~86K (SOLD) 2007 Suzuki Boulevard M50 ~12k (SOLD) 2001 Nissan Maxima - (TOTALLED) 2001 Oldsmobile Intrigue (SOLD) 1991 Nissan Maxima (TOTALLED) 1989 Pontiac Grand Am (SOLD) |
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07-11-2010, 12:11 AM | #15 | |
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Re: P0300 code-cylinder misfire detected. What to try first?
Discounting the battery will only reset the computor to the new settings, or in other words the computor will relearn the new settings. Like you say if you would but a new battery in the car more than likely it would be with out power for over 15 minutes, with no harm done.
I just did a tranny flush with LubeGard added and did a disconnect so the computor would learn the new settings and everything works better than before. |
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