An Interesting Night (P0302 error code).

[BlackSTI]

Its been an interesting night... put it in sports sharp (for the first time in weeks) and gave it a bit and noticed getting up near 100kms/hr that it wasn't pulling like it normally does. Next second the engine warning light was on.

It was running very roughly and did not seem to be drivable for much distance (I had to baby it along to somewhere safe to park up) and initially thought that all cylinders were not operating correctly.

Unfortunately I didn't have my easy flash pro to look up the error codes, but I did have a el cheap-o bluetooth obdb adapter (hooked up to Torque) which showed error P0302, which after a quick search online looks like cylinder 2 is mis-firing. I ended up getting the car towed home (Free with my RACQ cover).

I guess tomorrow morning its time to check all the connections to the spark plug etc.. are still firm and no damaged cabling. Does anyone else have suggestions on what I can check myself before taking it to a garage?

Thanks.

[bass_straitener]

Cable tie cylinder 2 coilpack cable connectors together to see if it fixes this issue.

Cylinder 3 sometimes suffers from this situation but it's in a much hotter part of the engine bay.

An electrical fault is more likely to be intermittent.

If it's not electrical, and can't be fixed by swapping coil packs etc to diagnose an issue there, then get a compression test.

I'd be curious to know the results.

[jslayz]

Very interested to see what this is.....

Coud be simple like; needs new plugs or cables but also can be caused by coil pack and sparkplug being coated in oil (conductive) due to leaking rocker cover gasket around the sparkplug channel.....

Please let us know what it turns out to be?

J

[brainy]

Hey,

I hope it's nothing serious!

Speak to Bruce (bass_straitener) on the forums. From memory he threw the same code.

But since you know it's cylinder 2.

Swap Cylinder 2 coil pack with Cylinder 1 and see if the code moves.
If it's still cylinder 2, then swap spark plug with cylinder 1 and see if it moves the code.

If it moves to cylinder 1 then replace the appropriate part.

If it's still reporting as cylinder 2 then i suggest a compression test.

Good luck

[BlackSTI]

Thanks for the suggestions guys, I'll let you know how I go today.

[BlackSTI]

So it looks like the plug to the spark plug had simply come loose (white / yellow connector), pushed it firmly back on and it seems better now (maybe not 100%, but I could be over analysing every noise in my head).

Should those plugs actually 'click' in, because if so the clip must be broken on this one and I may need to get it replaced.

Best case scenario, except Im annoyed I didn't try looking it to it before I got it towed last night.

[Manaz]

So it looks like the plug to the spark plug had simply come loose (white / yellow connector), pushed it firmly back on and it seems better now (maybe not 100%, but I could be over analysing every noise in my head).

Should those plugs actually 'click' in, because if so the clip must be broken on this one and I may need to get it replaced.

Best case scenario, except Im annoyed I didn't try looking it to it before I got it towed last night.

I'd rather have it towed when there's concern at night than push on and potentially make it worse because you think the plug was the problem at the time.

[jslayz]

I love a happy ending.

Lucky it wasnt serious.

J

[jslayz]

Dammit, it is serious.....

Just seen the Head Gasket thread

[BlackSTI]

Dammit, it is serious.....

Just seen the Head Gasket thread

Haha turns out it was... not sure if related or not though?

Had it in for a checkup today, apparently cylinder 2 / 3 clips are broken and will need replacing so they don't hop off again... hooray... At least it will be easier for them to do it while the engine is all the way out

[jslayz]

Dammit, it is serious.....

Just seen the Head Gasket thread

Haha turns out it was... not sure if related or not though?

Had it in for a checkup today, apparently cylinder 2 / 3 clips are broken and will need replacing so they don't hop off again... hooray... At least it will be easier for them to do it while the engine is all the way out

Theres looking for a positive in it!!!

Great attitude

Good luck, just think of all the fun after she's fixed!

[BlackSTI]

Theres looking for a positive in it!!!

Great attitude

Good luck, just think of all the fun after she's fixed!

There has to always be some sort of positive, like hopefully I will end up with an issue free car that will last me a few years problem free

It's happened now (and it was caught before it left me in the middle of traffic broken down) so now its time for a solution (even if its an expensive one haha).