AHJ

Hello

I have the Check Engine light on and the TRACK OFF light flashing.
The codes are:
P0300
P0301
P0302
P0303
P0304
P0305
P0306
P0307
P0308
-
History:
Last week I had P0300, P0301, P0302, P0304 so I replaced all the spark plugs. The old plugs were 2 year old BKR6EIX-11 and the new ones are: BKR6EGP.
I had neglected to plug in the MAF connector before starting it up and let it run for a couple of minutes hoping it would fix itself.
I have reset the codes a couple of times. The first time, it came back after about an hur of highway driving. The second time, after about 3 days of suburbs driving.
-
The car is a 96 LS400 and seems to be running fine otherwise. When flooring it on the highway ramp it felt heavier than normal and pinged. However, cruising at 100 km/hr, nudging the accelerator to get out of a crowd was responsive and felt good.

Any thoughts are welcome.
TIA

dicer

If its sudden onset. Possible bad gas. If its wet climate, coils, cap, wires etc. even the ecu capacitor deal.

cobalt91

First one bank and then both. I would look for loose connections on the coils and igniters. Also check the harness goin to the coils and cam and crank sensors for damage.

sha4000

iTrader: (1)

Your basically misfiring on ALL cylinders. I'm surprised your car runs at all. I would check the coil packs.

AHJ

Thank you all for your advice. There was no magic button so I went in and checked it out for loose connections. To quote John Entwistle "Take 276, you know this used to be fun". Luckily it didn't rain (it has been on and off for the last few days) and the temperature's about 11 C.

- Pressed down all the spark plug connecters: Cylinder 1 popped - so it was loose.
- Checked all the other connections, the double wire going into the front coil looked like it wasn't on all the way and the locking clip is broken so I tightened it up with 3 zip-ties.
- Tried starting and the CEL went off by itself! everything sounds normal.



Still, I will wait a few days before giving it the all clear.

Got adventurous and peeked into the intake with a torch. Looked sooty so stuck a cloth and a screwdriver in. It came out filthy. Then I had a bright idea and decided to coat the cloth with olive oil. (I use it clean my hands after working on the car so maybe it will lift the grunge off the valve and the walls). Well it did look cleaner.

Tried starting again and after an initial hesitation, it was good.

Putting back the driver side bank cover, I noticed that the wire from the 2nd coil was getting squeezed. So I spent some time making sure it went into its special rubber part (grommet) and that fits into the cover.

Everything else went good except there was an exhaust smell in the engine compartment. I couldn't really see all of the EGR pipe at the back of the engine but I felt around it and it didn't feel cracked. I wonder if I can stick some plumber's putty all around it just in case.

AHJ

I have the codes:
P0300
P0301
P0302
P0304
P0305

So, misfire on Cylinders
1 and 5 on the driver's side bank and
2 and 4 on the passenger side.

RA40

iTrader: (6)

What is the condition of the wires and distributor caps/rotors? Good time to change these is with each TB service.

AHJ

The ignition system's all original (except the spark plugs) so I have to test it all. May take a few days to locate an ohm meter.

cobalt91

Might be a good idea to pull the covers off and check the plug wires for arcing. Do this after dark with the engine running. Take a spray bottle and mist the wires. This should make it easier to find your weaknesses in the ignition system.

AHJ

I did the wire misting in the dark. Not a single spark.

The intake electrical connecter to the MAF weren't connected.

There was a smell of rotten eggs so I turned it off.

- Maybe I should have checked if there was spark going to the distributors.

The misfire codes are now for all cylinders again.

akitomk3

iTrader: (2)

When my car was experiencing the same problem, I replaced everything sparks related and it turned out to be the ECU. I would have saved so much time if I had checked the ECU first. 96 lexus here. So I'd check the ecu caps before throwing more parts to her and yes all 8 of my cylinders were misfiring.

AHJ

Thank you. I am looking at buying an RMS meter and an ESR meter for testing.

Was your engine noisy also ?

AHJ

It's been about 4 weeks now since the Check Engine/TRAC OFF lights went off and have not reappeared.

I had disconnected the battery to repair the diode in the generator/alternator and it usually takes a day or less for the lights to reappear but nothing so far ... which is good.

sha4000

iTrader: (1)

Glad to hear....