Solara Misfiring and Check engine light on

[kkent66]

I just purchased a 1999 Solara. Car is perfect inside and out. Have service records et all. After 1 week of driving my check engine light came on and I noticed the car was misfiring. The plugs and wires are 11 months old, timiing belt and water pump are 11 months old as well. I took the car to Autozone and they did a diagnostic. P0360, P0300, and P0303. I have put a cleaner in the gas tank but not very hopeful this will fix the issue. When driving up a hill yesterday I could actually here the misfire on the back side of the engine. Funny part is the hesitation and misfiring is sporadic at best. Any help would be greatly appreciated!!

[fenixus]

I would check ignition coils sitting on top of spark plug in front bank (by grille).

you have random misfire (P0300) and confirmed misfire on one cylinder #6 from front bank (P0306 you meant I think) and one confirmed cylinder #3 in rear bank (middle one by firewall).

I can't remember how ignition coils are connected with rear bank cylinders, but if there is a connection between cylinders #6 and #3 then you have the culprit.

you may swap ignition coils between front cylinders and see if misfire codes move to another pair.

other than that, check/replace the air filter and fuel filter.

[BMR]

P0360 - Ignition Coil J Primary/Secondary Circuit Malfunction
P0300 - Diagnostic Code - Random Misfire
P0303 - Cylinder #3 Misfire

Check the ignition coils, particularly #3 (rear bank, driver's side, IIRC); the primary and secondary windings' resistance, and look for cracks. I don't know the resistance specs off the top of my head, but I'll bet someone who does will be along shortly.

[fenixus]

... hmmm ... there is no such code as P0360 in gen4 Diagnostics manual.

[BMR]

Yeah, the P0360 had me wondering. I found it here. You're probably right; he probably meant P0306.

[fenixus]

yeah I was confused with it too hehe

I am trying to find wiring connections between front and rear bank on 1mz-fe and see if #3 spark plug is really wired to front cylinder #6 coil. that would confirm it's a bad coil.

anyways, so far found a DIY on testing and replacing coils
http://www.autozone.com/autozone/rep...00c1528009242d

[fenixus]

yes, it seems that ignition coil on top of cyl#6 (front bank, by oil filler cap) is wired to spark plug on cylinder #3 (middle one in rear bank).

http://www.autoshop101.com/forms/h41.pdf

[BMR]

Good pic Fenixus! This reminds me I haven't changed plugs or wires in my Avalon since I got it from my father-in-law. And I have no idea if/when he last replaced 'em. I oughta get plugs 'n' wires ordered. It has the same setup as this. It's running good now, but I don't like to let stuff like this go to crap before servicing it.

[fenixus]

Originally Posted by BMR

Good pic Fenixus! This reminds me I haven't changed plugs or wires in my Avalon since I got it from my father-in-law. And I have no idea if/when he last replaced 'em. I oughta get plugs 'n' wires ordered. It has the same setup as this. It's running good now, but I don't like to let stuff like this go to crap before servicing it.

no probs

yeah, I usually tend to replace wires when they are over 10 yrs old. My V6 (almost 9yrs old now) runs fine, so I will keep them for a while probably until plugs are due for replacement (next 30k miles makes 60k miles since replacement, good enough for me to replace).

I found out that it's cheapest to get spark plug wires for 1mz-fe straight from dealer online, and you get them with those plastic runners, total like $60 or so.

NGK wires come up to pretty much same value and you get bare wires.

[BMR]

I was thinkin' I'd get the NGK wire set from Rockauto.com; $33.79 + shipping.

Plastic runner?... is that the sorta-rectangular-ish duct thing that the wires go thru to get to the rear bank?

[fenixus]

Originally Posted by BMR

I was thinkin' I'd get the NGK wire set from Rockauto.com; $33.79 + shipping.

Plastic runner?... is that the sorta-rectangular-ish duct thing that the wires go thru to get to the rear bank?

huh, haven't checked NGK wire set price at rockauto.com thanks!

yeah, I meant that plastic duct shit and clips for that. they come with new OEM wires from dealer, at least it looked like it from diagrams.

[kkent66]

Thank all of you for the informative posts. I liked the picutre of the plugs and wires. It was indeed the ignition coil. Replaced in the parking lot of Autozone and running like a champ! Thanks again and btw it was P0306....fat fingered the original entry.

[fenixus]

Originally Posted by kkent66

Thank all of you for the informative posts. I liked the picutre of the plugs and wires. It was indeed the ignition coil. Replaced in the parking lot of Autozone and running like a champ! Thanks again and btw it was P0306....fat fingered the original entry.

[ajkalian]

Originally Posted by fenixus

yes, it seems that ignition coil on top of cyl#6 (front bank, by oil filler cap) is wired to spark plug on cylinder #3 (middle one in rear bank).

http://www.autoshop101.com/forms/h41.pdf

What a great site.

I just spent the last hour downloading all of the pdf files. One thing's clear....I got a lot to learn.

Along with some great information on Toyota's one of the links went to a place where I could buy some coveralls. Mine are shot, but soon I'll be styling with a new pair of light blue ones.


.

[fenixus]

I found it on google by accident
glad you like it