For 1990-2009 cars
Engine Controls Components
Ignition Controls
OBD II Symbol Description Notice
Engine Controls Connector End Views
Handling ESD Sensitive Parts Notice

### System Description

The Powertrain Control Module (PCM) monitors both the crankshaft and the camshaft position in order to detect an engine misfire. A rapid decrease in the crankshaft speed indicates misfire. The PCM may require that several consecutive misfire conditions are detected before storing this DTC and before illuminating the MIL. Under light misfire conditions, the PCM may require more than one trip to set this DTC. Under a severe misfire, the PCM flashes the MIL. A flashing MIL indicates that there is a misfire that is capable of damaging the catalytic converter. The torque converter clutch (TCC) disables momentarily in order to determine if the misfire was due to a rough road condition, automatic transmission only.

### Conditions for Setting the DTC

• | The misfire total is greater than 12 counts.

• | The engine speed is between 469 RPM and 6400 RPM.

• | The battery voltage is between 9 volts and 17 volts.

• | The Engine Coolant Temperature (ECT) is between -7°C (20°F) and 123°C (254°F).

• | The engine has been running for a period that is longer than 5 seconds.

• | The Throttle Position (TP) has not changed more than 8 percent in 1 second.

• | DTC(s) P0106, P0107, P0112, P0113, P0117, P0118, P0121, P0122, P0123, P0125, P0131, P0132, P0133, P0134, P0171, P0172, P0325, P0335, P0341, P0342, P0404, P0405, P0503, P0506, P0507, P0601, P0740, P0742, P1133, P1336, P1404 and 1621 are not set.

### Action Taken When the DTC Sets

• | The malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) illuminates if the fault is active within the same conditions for two out of eighty ignition cycles and a misfire is present.

| OR

| The MIL illuminates after two consecutive ignition cycles during in which the diagnostic runs with the fault active

| OR

| The MIL illuminates immediately and flashes if a misfire is severe enough to cause any catalyst damage.

• | In vehicles with automatic transmission only, the torque converter clutch (TCC) is disablesd when a misfire is present.

• | The PCM records the operating conditions at the time that the diagnostic fails. This information will store in the Freeze Frame and Failure Records buffers.

• | A history DTC is stored.

• | The coolant fan turns ON.

### Conditions for Clearing the MIL/DTC

• | The MIL turns OFF after three consecutive ignition cycles during which the diagnostic runs without a fault present under the Freeze Frame conditions that existed when the DTC failed.

• | A history DTC clears after 40 consecutive warm up cycles without a fault.

• | Clear the MIL/DTCs with a scan tool.

### Diagnostic Aids

An intermittent can also be the result of a defective reluctor wheel. Remove crankshaft sensor and inspect reluctor wheel through sensor mount hole. Check for porosity and condition of wheel. Refer to DTC P0300 Engine Misfire Detected .

Verify the electronic Ignition Control Module (ICM) 11 pin harness connector terminal K, ground circuit should have less than 0.5 ohms of resistance.

If DTC is intermittent, refer to Symptoms .

When checking the electrical terminal connections with a test light or DMM, a malfunctioning electrical terminal connection maybe cleaned and not detected as a problem. You may also clean a corroded or dirty electrical terminal connection when disconnecting and reconnecting any electrical connector.

### Test Description

Number(s) below refer to the step number(s) on the Diagnostic Table.

1. The Powertrain OBD System Check prompts the technician to complete some basic checks and store the freeze frame and failure records data on the scan tool if applicable. This creates an electronic copy of the data taken when the fault occurred. The information is then stored on the scan tool for later reference.

2. If a DTC P0200 is present, the condition causing the misfire is in the fuel injector circuitry. The DTC P0200 table will diagnose the fuel injectors and circuitry.

3. A visual/physical inspection should include checking the following items:

• | Wiring for proper connections, pinches and cuts.

• | PCM grounds for being clean and tight.

• | Vacuum hoses for splits, kinks and proper connections as shown on the Vehicle Emission Information label. Check thoroughly for any type of leak or restriction.

• | For air leaks at the intake manifold sealing surface.

4. This step determines if the DTC P0301 is the result of a hard malfunction or an intermittent condition.

5. If a spark plug boot is burned, the other plug on that ignition coil may still fire at idle. This step tests the systems ability to produce at least 25,000 volts at each spark plug.

6. If the misfire is not present it may be necessary to duplicate the conditions in the Freeze Frame Data in order to detect misfire. Depending on the engine load, the conditions may have to be maintained for up to 20 seconds. If the misfire accumulators starts to increment, then misfire is present. A history misfire counter will store the number of misfires that have occurred until the DTC is cleared. The current counter must count a total of at least 195 misfires before writing to the history counter.

7. Spark is available at the misfiring cylinder. At this point the misfire is being caused by a spark plug or a basic engine problem.

8. A basic engine problem or fuel injector problem that affects only cylinder #1 is possible at this point (i.e. valve train, compression, etc.). Refer to the Engine Mechanical portion of the service manual. Also refer to the DTC P0200 Injector Control Circuit .

9. Replace any spark plugs that are worn, cracked or fouled. Refer to the Engine Mechanical portion of the service manual if any plugs are fouled or damaged due to an engine mechanical failure.

10. No spark, on one coil, may be caused by an open secondary circuit. Therefore, the coil's secondary resistance should be checked. Resistance readings above 20,000 ohms, but not infinite, will probably not cause a no start but may cause an engine miss under certain conditions.

11. If the no spark condition is caused by coil connections, a coil or a secondary boot assembly, the test light will blink.

12. The ignition coil harness can easily be checked by performing the previous step with the ignition coil harness connected to the ICM. Check for a voltage and ground signal to the ignition coils at the ignition coil electrical connector.

13. Refer to the Ignition Coils for on vehicle service of the ignition system.

14. Refer to the Ignition Coils for on vehicle service of the ignition system.

15. Refer to the Ignition Control Module Replacement for on vehicle service of the ignition system.

16. Any circuitry, that is suspected as causing the complaint, should be thoroughly checked for backed out terminals, improper mating, broken locks, improperly formed or damaged terminals, poor terminal to wiring connections or physical damage to the wiring harness.

17. The replacement PCM must be reprogrammed and the crankshaft position system variation procedure must be preformed. Refer to the latest Techline procedures for PCM reprogramming and Powertrain Control Module (PCM) for the Crankshaft Position System Variation Procedure .

18. Conditions for setting the DTC P0420 need to be run to determine if the catalyst has been damaged from the misfire.

#### DTC P0301-Cylinder 1 Misfire Detected

Step | Action | Value(s) | Yes | No
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
1 | Was the Powertrain On-Board Diagnostic (OBD) System Check performed? | -- | Go to Step 2 | Go to Powertrain On Board Diagnostic (OBD) System Check
2 | Install a scan tool. Was a DTC P0200 set? | -- | Go to DTC P0200 Injector Control Circuit | Go to Step 3
3 |

1. Perform a visual/physical inspection.
2. Make any necessary repairs.

Were any repairs necessary?

--

Go to Step 22

Go to Step 4

4 | Idle the engine. Is the Misfire Current #1 counter incrementing? | -- | Go to Step 5 | Go to Step 6
5 |

1. Disconnect the fuel injector harness electrical connector.
2. Temporarily remove the ignition coil and electronic Ignition Control Module (ICM) assembly.
3. Install the spark plug jumper wires J 36012.
4. Install the spark plug tester J 26792 on the spark plug jumper wire for cylinder #1.
5. Remove the spark plug boot from cylinder # 4 of the ignition coil housing and install a jumper wire from the spark plug connector of the ignition coil housing to ground.
6. Crank the engine with the remaining spark plugs wires still connected.

Does the spark tester spark?

--

Go to Step 7

Go to Step 10

6 |

1. Turn the ignition switch ON, with the engine OFF.
2. Review the Freeze Frame data and note the parameters.
3. Operate the vehicle within the Freeze Frame conditions and Conditions For Setting The DTC as noted.

Is the Misfire Current #1 counter incrementing?

--

Go to Step 5

Go to Step 22

7 |

1. Remove the spark plug from cylinder #1.
2. Exchange the spark plug with a spark plug from a known good cylinder.
3. Reconnect the fuel injector harness electrical connector.
4. Run the vehicle when the misfire was present.

Is the Misfire Current #1 counter incrementing?

--

Go to Step 8

Go to Step 9

8 |

1. Check for a leaking fuel injector, refer to the DTC P0200 Injector Control Circuit starting at step 5.
2. If OK, check for a basic engine problem, refer to the Engine Mechanical portion of the service manual.

Is the action complete?

--

Go to Step 22

--

9 | Replace the spark plug. Is the action complete? | -- | Go to Step 22 | --
10 |

1. Turn the ignition switch OFF.
2. Remove the boot assemblies from the affected coil.
3. Connect a DVM between the secondary ignition coil terminals.

Is the resistance less than the specified value?

10 K ohms

Go to Step 11

Go to Step 12

11 |

1. Remove the coil housing and disconnect the coil harness at the ICM.
2. Connect a test light between B+ and the #1 and #4 ignition coil driver terminals.
3. Crank the engine while watching the test light.

Does the test light blink?

--

Go to Step 13

Go to Step 14

12 | Remove the ignition coil from the ignition coil housing and recheck the resistance between the secondary terminals of the ignition coil. Is the resistance less than the specified value? | 10 K ohms | Go to Step 15 | Go to Step 16
13 | Repair the open or the shorted ignition coil harness, poor ignition coil connection or replace the ignition coil, ignition coil housing or boot assembly. Is the action complete? | -- | Go to Step 22 | --
14 |

1. Visually inspect the ICM 11 pin electrical connector to see if the connections are clean and tight.
2. Make any necessary repairs.

Were any repairs necessary?

--

Go to Step 22

Go to Step 17

15 | Replace the ignition coil springs for cylinders #1 and #4 coil. Is the action complete? | -- | Go to Step 22 | --
16 | Replace cylinders #1 and #4 ignition coil. Is the action complete? | -- | Go to Step 22 | --
17 |

1. Disconnect the ICM harness electrical connector.
2. Connect a DVM to ground and probe cavities A and B.

Are the resistance readings within the specified value?

0.6 K-2.6 K ohms

Go to Step 19

Go to Step 18

18 | Check the ignition control circuit for an open or a short and repair as necessary. Was a repair necessary? | -- | Go to Step 22 | Go to Step 20
19 | Replace the ICM. Is the action complete? | -- | Go to Step 22 | --
20 | Inspect the PCM electrical connector and connections and repair as necessary. Was a repair necessary? | -- | Go to Step 22 | Go to Step 21
21 | Replace the PCM. Is the action complete? | -- | Go to Step 22 | --
22 |

1. Using the scan tool, clear the DTCs.
2. Start the engine and idle at normal operating temperature.
3. Operate the vehicle within the conditions for setting this DTC and P0420 as specified in the supporting text.

Does the scan tool indicate that these diagnostics have ran and passed?

--

Go to Step 23

Go to Step 2

23 | Check if any additional DTCs are set. Are any DTCs displayed that have not been diagnosed? | -- | Go to applicable DTC table | System OK