What should I do about this misfire episode?

[PeterK]

The other day when accelerating hard in the second gear, near the redline, the check engine light came on flashing. I took off the foot off the accelerator and let the car coast at idle RMP for a min a so. The check engine light then went off. I attempted to replicate it but couldn't do it in about 4 tries similar to one that caused it. My simple OBDII code reader cannot read out any codes as this incident did not cause a permanent CEL.

What should I do? The car is an a 6speed 04 tt with 28K on it. The car will be under CPO warranty for another 6 month or so.

Should I try to do the 30K service and hope that the new plugs will fix this? Or should I take the car to the dealer and ask them to figure it? I'm sort of hesitant on the latter, since from my experience with them I know that they don't want to work on something that they can't replicate.

[Loren]

Get the fault codes read first.

Most probably causes are bad coil packs or wrong/loose spark plugs.

[greenboxster]

Get the fault codes read first.

Most probably causes are bad coil packs or wrong/loose spark plugs.

I would recommend the Durametric so you can read the codes. I've been happy with my enthusiast version. I'd probably order the extension cable if I had to do it over again. I am always kneeling on the ground with the laptop...

I've saved the purchase price in avoiding dealer charges for resetting codes alone.

Your symptoms sound like what happened to me with bad plugs and/or coil packs. See ** Coil pack post **.

Good luck!

[rockjock]

The P car CEL doesnt flash when its knocking, does it? My Mitsu did...was kinda nice on a turbo car....

[PeterK]

The P car CEL doesnt flash when its knocking, does it? My Mitsu did...was kinda nice on a turbo car....

I think flashing CEL is an indication of a misfire since this can damage the cats down the stream.

My p-car dealer thinks that my condition was caused by the K&N filter, letting in too much air for the MAF to measure. Doesn't sound like a likely story.

[PeterK]

Get the fault codes read first.

Most probably causes are bad coil packs or wrong/loose spark plugs.

I would recommend the Durametric so you can read the codes. I've been happy with my enthusiast version. I'd probably order the extension cable if I had to do it over again. I am always kneeling on the ground with the laptop...

I've saved the purchase price in avoiding dealer charges for resetting codes alone.

Your symptoms sound like what happened to me with bad plugs and/or coil packs. See ** Coil pack post **.

Good luck!

Indeed. I just missed an auction for durametric on ebay. Got out-sniped.

[PeterK]

Ok,

Here are the codes

P0300

P0304

P0305

P0302

Which means I have misfire detected in cylinders 2, 5 and 4.

The car is going for the 30K service next week. Hopefully, it is just the plugs/coils and nothing more.

[PeterK]

Well, back from the dealers.

I took it there to do the 30K service as well as to figure out what was causing the misfire.

Apperently it was the coils. Three of them were visibly damaged with plastic cases showing cracks. The dealer was nice to replace all of them and charge the CPO warranty for this and part of the labor. Ended up spending just $800 for a $1500 worth of services!

The sparkplugs while looked slightly worn didn't look that bad at all.

[phillipj]

Great news! Glad you got it back and the problem is solved! :clapping:

:beer:

[PeterK]

Great news! Glad you got it back and the problem is solved! :clapping:

:beer:

Indeed! pretty amazing that the coils went out so soon.