Karen Hwang

Hi!

I have 2000 3.2TL and got a problem with misfiring.

CEL was one for a few days but I didn't drive the car much,
now the car has flashing CEL with TCS light on, trembling is hard and even harder when stopped.

I went to get codes from Pep boys and got these

P0302 Cylinder 2 misfire
P0303 3
P0304 4
P0305 5

P0300 Random/Multiple cylinder misfire

I see there is leaked oil around the spark plugs surface (around front 3, not back 3)which I cleaned up. I pulled ignition coils which looked clean.

What repair do you suggest?
1.Spark plug replacement
2.Spark plug + ignition coil replacement
3.It needs further care for oil leak.

I really wish to get help from here since I drove this car since new and wish to maintain well for more time with it. But on budget. Thanks.

Chojun

You might have 1 or more bad coil packs. But I doubt they would fail all at once so since you're having problems with multiple cylinders I bet it's something else.

If you have more than ~100K miles on your plugs then it's time for a change. I went 155K on my original set and replaced with NGK Irridium plugs. It put a spring back in her step for sure.

Also you could have a dirty or clogged EGR port/passage (this I believe is the most likely problem but others around here might speak better to it). Get that intake manifold pulled off and cleaned out. If you're leaking oil 'around' the spark plug surface, but the coil packs are clean, then your valve cover is leaking. Get a set of replacement valve cover seals/grommets (~$20 I believe) and that will fix the oil leak, if that's what the problem is. Note that a special grommet tool will help you get the new ones seated properly so that the new ones won't leak oil.

Buy a can of seafoam and pour it into 1/2 tank of gas (note that the gas tank is 1/2 full when the needle is slightly below the 1/2 mark). This will clean out your engine; do it 2x.

Hope it helps.

01tl4tl

test each coil one at a time by unplugging the power connector to it
any change in rpm- ie: drops slightly means good coil
No rpm drop = you found the bad one!!!
This is faster than swapping coils and resetting ecu each time

Have you recently replaced the spark plugs or recall when you did them?
Was it NGK $8 each ones? or some 2 buck chuck bs that is now causing running problems?

as noted above: remove the CLOCK fuse from passenger side of dash or floor side panel for 1 minute-
(some say 10 seconds but whats it hurt to be sure!)
That is the secret backup power for the ecu and causes a master clear codes/reset/relearn
'02 and beyond require a special idle relearn procedure- its simple and in our DIY section- found at top of main page thread list

01tl4tl

if more than 100kmiles on the spark plugs they are overdue for replacement
AND may need 1 coil

get 2 cans of seafoam, wallyworld or Oreillys special now is just under 8 dollars a can and worth it!

ck the PCV located over rear valve cover- a hose from it goes into valve cover- if the ball inside cant roll freely it keeps pressure from venting- can cause oil leaks
OR the rubber grommets, or loose bolts holding valve cover on?