2006 Lexus RX330. 3MZ-FE engine. 217,000 miles, very well maintained. Now, intermittent P0353 codes, with an engine miss. It comes and goes. May run great for a few days, then I get the Check Engine along with VSC and a definite engine miss. Shut it down, walk into a store and it's fine when I come out. The Check Engine light may or may not still be on. If the engine keeps running right the Check Engine may clear itself. My $45 scanner says it's the P0353. It says "Ignition Coil 'C' Primary Control Circuit/open"
So today, I replaced the cylinder #3 igniter coil. Followed a YT video which shows how to replace it without removing the plenum. I replaced it with a Denso igniter. No evidence of oil leaking in to the sparkplug well. While I was in there, I sprayed CRC contact cleaner into the connector. First test drive, it ran great. Yeah! Parked in the driveway. 15 minutes later moved into the garage and P0353 was back, along with the miss. Gloom & doom.
Previous engine work since I bought the car two years ago: Valve cover gaskets and seals, spark plugs (used actual Lexus plugs), PCV valve, clean mass airflow sensor.
Any ideas? From this point, what would be the logical way to troubleshoot this problem?
2006 Lexus RX330. 3MZ-FE engine. 217,000 miles, very well maintained. Now, intermittent P0353 codes, with an engine miss. It comes and goes. May run great for a few days, then I get the Check Engine along with VSC and a definite engine miss. Shut it down, walk into a store and it's fine when I come out. The Check Engine light may or may not still be on. If the engine keeps running right the Check Engine may clear itself. My $45 scanner says it's the P0353.
So today, I replaced the cylinder #3 igniter coil. Followed a YT video which shows how to replace it without removing the plenum. I replaced it with a Denso igniter. No evidence of oil leaking in to the sparkplug well. While I was in there, I sprayed CRC contact cleaner into the connector. First test drive, it ran great. Yeah! Parked in the driveway. 15 minutes later moved into the garage and P0353 was back, along with the miss. Gloom & doom.
Previous engine work since I bought the car two years ago: Valve cover gaskets and seals, spark plugs (used actual Lexus plugs), PCV valve, clean mass airflow sensor.
Any ideas? From this point, what would be the logical way to troubleshoot this problem?
Hi, just because it's New, doesn't mean it's not Defective or its Something Else!
That's been my Experience as a Professional Auto Tech and Auto Shop owner.
I've seen this same thing, numerous times. What about the other 5 coils? or the Spark plugs, have you pulled the plugs and inspected them?
Sometimes you have to do some troubleshooting! Good Luck 👍
If it is throwing a code for #3 cylinder, swap #3 coil pack and sprk plug with another cylinder see if the same code pops up that should tell you if it is the coil pack/spark plug or something else. Check the plastic connector to the coil pack very well, they get brittle over time perhaps it cojld be a corroded or damaged connector too. I'd also suggest disconnecting your battery fora minute or so then reconnect, this will reset things (won't clear codes), and most all your modules will reset... this will require you having to reset your windows, rear hatch, and sunroof though but you'll be starting froma new "baseline" but try swapping the coil pack/plug first see how that goes. IF you do a battery reset you ECM will relearn your driving style and everything could take a few miles to recalibrate/clear things
Like I said, I replaced #3 with a new coil and it's still acting up and the plugs are new from Lexus, so I don't see any point in swapping with other coils. Yes I may have installed a defective spark plug but that seems pretty unlikely.
When I changed the valve cover gaskets and spark plugs I also replaced the brittle connector housings.
The Denso's claim made in Japan and list as Diamond replacements but I'm suspicious. Either way, unexplained and "unsolvable" misfires are sometimes traced back to failing oil control valves.
Can I ask please, where did you purchase your new coils from?
This is important.
When I purchase the car, I received a very comprehensive service history. The coils in the car when I bought it were OEM. From the scan tool I was getting a p0353 code. As I understand it, that means you're having problems with cylinder number five (middle cylinder, rear bank). I replaced the number five coil with a Denso, purchased through Amazon (Premier Auto Parts) After I installed the new coil, I continue to have intermittent p053 codes. Nothing seems to have changed since I put in the new coil.
The problem is very intermittent. I don't know how to troubleshoot this.
Yesterday for instance, I was driving around town. The check engine and VSC lights were off and the engine ran fine. I stopped at the drug store, waiting in the drive-thru line and suddenly the check engine light came on and the miss was present.. I drove about 2 mi and shut it down to go into a store. When I came out, the check engine light was still on but the miss was gone. Cleared the code, and it ran on eventually. So this is a pattern that seems to happen.
Sometimes, the miss will clear and after a while the check engine light clears itself.
I guess I need to get a hold of a wiring diagram and see it if I can make anything out of that. I don't want to fire the parts cannon and start changing things like the ECU. But I also don't want to take this out a long drive where I might be stranded somewhere.
