P1CR

try "search" I know I know..

sucks.

ilko

Sorry to hear. Get a $30 OBDII code reader and find out what it is. Could be something trivial. Let's hope that's the case!

NP993

+1 on the advice above. It could be a bad oxygen sensor. Have the codes read before you get depressed...

Slow Guy

I have a code reader in my tool box and would recommend one for yours. However you can always go to a place like Pep Boys/Autozone and borrow theirs. Just remember, you must deactivate the immobilizer before the reader will communicate with the car. I've seen pro mechanics forget about this.

timothymoffat

Or, do an "Italian tune-up" and see if it will go away. My 97 has thrown a CEL five times in the 15 months I've owned it. The two times I had it checked were the "misfire" code. The other three times it went out on it's own after several days and some "spirited" driving. I thought I read that it took 3-4 cycles of starting from cold without issue before the CEL would go out. That seems to be the case with mine. My car also is due a major service including all ignition parts so hopefully this will help.

As I know you've just relocated from Michigan, I hope the car is already registerd in Cali so you've got some time.

P1CR

P0300 Random/Multiple Cylinder Misfire

P0306 Cyl. 6 Misfire

P0304 Cyl. 4 Misfire

P0305 Cyl. 5 Misfire

I erased the codes. Next step? See what happens? Just keep driving?

I've searched the archives. I can check the belts, and check the coils (in the dark) for arcs.

Any other tips?

pcarhombre

This is not a hijack attempt:...but on the same subject, I replaced all belts, plugs, rotors, wires etc less than 3k miles ago and also got a Christmas present of misfires on cylinders 2 & 3. Anything I missed? Now we return back to your original programming

e9stibi

I had similar codes and it was just a bad batch of fuel. The light went off when I turned on the key after getting the tank refilled. From this point, I will never get fuel from older stations again (even brand stations). If the tanks gets empty you suck in all the gunk that accumulates over the years and our cars are very sensitive.

NP993

Non-OEM belts have been known to throw misfire codes. They're apparently minutely different than the aftermarket belts of the same size.

e9stibi

I second the italian tune-up with some good Techron

P1CR

Speaking of Fuel, my car is used to getting 93 or 94. Seems all i can find in CA is 91.

Belts are factory and look good to the naked eye..

jlb_94611

I had the P304 after I got my car and I decided to do a 60k service which included a new spark plug harness .. never had any codes thrown since. Belts were fine on car and not replaced at 60k. Wrench did say one plug harness was black.

Analog Theory

I had a couple of misfires occur right before my recent full motor rebuild at 90K because of SAI CEL (started out as just a top end but as is the case with these cars expanded to while you're in there just do it right stuff) which included new plug wires and a new engine harness. At minimum, my wrench said the original plug wires were well worn and likely the culprit.

trophy

Be a little careful with an "Italian Tuneup" if there are missfires present, if you do have a bad batch of fuel and your not getting all the plugs firing correctly you have the potential of doing some seriour detonation damage....

Some techron and a full tank of the best gas you can find and go for a long drive (Any excuse, and get back to us, as I cannot drive mine at the moment due to snow)...... Don't drive it like you stole it though..

Van1

Could be a failing dual mass flywheel. Do a search as you will find some info out there on this as a possible cause. I kept getting random misfire codes even after doing plugs, caps, rotors, wires, etc. Changed out my DMF to a LWF and have not had another random misfire code since.