Same crap this morning

I started it up for my morning commute and it was running rough. The DIC indicated that TC was off even though I hadn't pushed the button. I pushed the button and it wasn't turning back on. I got out of the car and it smelled like gas again with the passenger side tailpipe spewing out smoke. I had reinstalled the FRCs last night, so I yanked them off and pushed all the spark plug cables in. Started up again, same crap.

Ended up driving to work in my old Honda :bomb:

EDIT: The check engine light did not flash this time, probably since I did not drive it?

 

Blinking Light would be the misfire, the steady light would be another code.
Do you have mods ?, how many miles in the engine, have you ever changed spark plugs and wires ?

 

Blinking Light would be the misfire, the steady light would be another code.

actually, thats part correct. a blinking CEL is a misfire that is catalyst damaging. BUT, you can also have a misfire that just sets a steady light if its not that bad.

 

Never got a steady light.

No mods, just rolled over 25,000. Not sure if the plugs have been changed, but my new wires will get here tomorrow.

Is it normal for TC to shut off on its own if something is really amiss?

 

I guess better question would be, how many miles do you have driving this vehicle, it sounds you just got it recently ?
You need to scan the codes to see what they are.

 

I've put about 5k on it. I'm going to pull the plugs tonight and see which cylinders are running rich. Also going to check the spark plug cables. Hopefully it will be fixed, if not, I will be able to put the exact code since the tech at the dealer just told me 'multiple cylinder misfire.' I'm assuming P0300 is the only code for that, right?

 

i had the same code a while back and it turned out that on cylinder 7 (for me) the plug wire had come off just a bit and wasn't firing right, therefore a misfire, also one of my o2 sensors was gone and that what made it run rich (i guess)

 

Started it up again tonight, wasn't really running rough, but the passenger side tailpipe definitely had more smoke coming out of it and smelled like gas again. I sprayed the MAF down with some cleaner and let it dry while I checked the plug wires. One of them on the passenger side bank seemed to click into place. It was the second from the front I believe. Put it all together and drove it around the block without any issues.

So either the MAF was dirty, that one cable really was loose, or it just decided to start working again on its own accord.

 

check out gm service bulletin 02-06-05-004a

 

I checked it out and it only applies to vehicles with aftermarket alarms

Subject: Info - Misfire DTCs P0300, P1380, P1381 and Catalytic Converter Damage Due to Installation of Alarm Systems #02-06-05-004b - (02/14/2006)

Models: 2006 and Prior GM Passenger Cars and Light Duty Trucks
2006 and Prior HUMMER H2, H3
2006 and Prior Isuzu Light Duty Trucks

This bulletin is being revised to add model years. Please discard Corporate Bulletin Number 02-06-05-004A (Section 06 - Engine/Propulsion System).


General Motors Engineering, in an effort to determine the root cause of catalytic converter damage, has determined that aftermarket alarm systems incorrectly installed in vehicles have the potential to cause misfire codes and damage to the converter. These alarm systems use a circuit interrupt which utilizes the ignition circuit on the vehicles.

These alarm systems utilize mechanical relays and normal vehicle movement can trigger these relays to engage and disengage the ignition circuit while the vehicle is in motion. These disruptions of the ignition circuit, which occur in milliseconds, may cause more fuel to be commanded. Over time, this dumping of fuel on and off again can cause misfire codes and ultimately damage the converter assembly.

Important: Engineering could not identify any alarms that utilize solid state circuitry that would eliminate this concern. Because of this, it has been determined that all alarm systems must be routed through the starter circuit in order to avoid this condition.

 

Well, after over 2 months and new plug wires, it did it again. Car sat all day in the parking garage at work and when it came time to go, it was running really rough and the exhaust (now Corsa Sport) reeked of fuel. Checked the plug wires again (all tight) and let it sit for a few minutes. Started it up and it was fine.

No flashing CEL. I cleaned the MAF again when I installed my Vararam almost 2 weeks ago.

Any ideas? Maybe a bad O2 like inciner8tor suggested?

 

I had that happen a while ago- it was a broken spark plug and it had damaged one of the wires. Even though it was replaced (spark plug) there was still bad contact being made at the wire/plug terminal- bought new wires = problem gone.

 

I installed brand new MSD wires about 2 months ago

 

sticking injector?

how do the spark plugs look?

also- has the problem moved from side to side- stayed on the same side, same cylinder?

try swapping the wires to the other side and see if the problem follows

 

definitely check the spark plugs, like D4 i had a cracked plug and caused me misfiring/rough idle. sounds like its time to pull the plugs.

 

Going to pull the plugs this weekend and check them out. Maybe I can isolate the problem to a bank or hopefully one of the cylinders.

Thanks guys

 

Bad 02 WILL make it do the same thing. I took mine to advanced auto, they scanned it for free. Sure enough it was the o2 drivers side. had to replace the spark plugs because they were fouled out.

 

Yeah, it's a good idea to swap the spark plugs, coils and wires to the other side, just label them incase you want to put them back.

 

mine did the same thing about 10 months ago. but i had all kinds of codes... mutiple misfire, maf, and some others. changed spark plugs, wires, maf, and did nothing until i noticed one side of my exhaust didn't have any pressure. turned out to be a bad 02 sensor and one of my cats was clogged up, replaced the cat and the 02 , great until the oil pump lost pressure. now in the works 403 baby