Malfunction Indicator Light & Code P0303

[NewPTCruiserInPA]

Our problematic PT has been a little funny since the weather got cold here in PA. When first turned on in the morning, it sounds like a belt or something occasionally screeches. Once the car is moving, it is fine and doesn't do that for the rest of the day, only at morning start up.

That is until the day after Christmas! We got in and right away I could feel how choppy the engine was, like it wanted to stall. An orange light started flashing on the dash, which after pulling out the owner's manual I saw was the malfunction indicator light (check engine). It said flashing was bad (imminent lose of power and potential catalytic converter damage). As I was reaching to turn the car off, the engine smoothed out and the light went to steady orange. After that the engine sounded and felt fine. The book said steady orange was ok to drive, just to have it checked as soon as possible.

We went out and it was fine. The light would come on steady orange when we started up, but the car sounded like normal. When we got home I called the dealer and they confirmed what the book said, and told us to make an appointment. We have an appointment for tomorrow. In the meantime, I checked for codes, and P0303 (misfire on cylinder #3) popped up.

The car has been ok all week, until this morning. We planned to make a quick run to the store, but decided against it after driving around the block. The light is still on of course, but the engine was revving higher than usual, around 1200 rpm instead of it's usual 800 at start up, and there was a 'whine' or a 'whirr' (not sure how to describe it) when you pressed the gas pedal. It got louder when you accelerated. When we pulled back up in front of our house it seemed like the steering didn't feel quite right.

Also, we JUST had the spark plugs and wires changed in September because the car stalled when driving and they couldn't figure out what it was.



Update: When my husband got back in this afternoon to get it over to the dealership (we want it to sit there overnight so they can start it cold tomorrow), it started up fine again (with the exception of the orange light). What kind of problems only occur at first start up on cold mornings?

[BLUEH20]

Cylinder 3 misfire. Let's work on the premis that the problem lies there.

Cold Weather--P303--indications to cylinder 3 only. New plugs and wires in Sept 2008.

Possibilites:

Faulty plug--cracked ceramic insulator--move plug from 3 hole to 2 hole and see if code follows.

Plug wire faulty--same process move from 3 hole to 2 hole and see if code follows.

Dirty Injector/poor spray pattern--have a reputable repair facility, delaer or indy perform a Fuel Injection serivce ( approx 100.00)--be prepared to change out the plugs after the sevice. Better yet - SEA FOAM the system via the throttle body and at the same time a bottle of TECHROLENE (spelling?) to your next two tanks of fuel follwoing the directions on the container as to the level of fuel to add to and when to add more.

After these steps--post your expeeriences and we can work from there.

[NewPTCruiserInPA]

The verdict is...nothing.

Once again, we have an undiagnosed problem. Since we were away when the check engine light came on and the appt with the dealership was a week later, we had 36 good starts in between, so they have no idea what caused the car to misfire on cylinder 3 that one time. They checked the spark plugs and wires (which were new in Sept) and they were fine, no cracks or anything, the emissions system is fine, and when they did whatever test they do, the check engine light went off as soon as they started.

They had to have done SOMETHING to it though, because it drives like a million bucks now, there's not even the squeal it was making when first turned on, which they say is normal when started in cold temps because of some fluid that was changed with the later models, and that it goes away when warmed up (which it does).

They said if it comes back on to let them know. Luckily they charged us nothing to check it out!

[crusierdad76]

you know sea foam is a wonderful additive id still put in a bottle and hope for the best. could just have been a fluukke glad they didnt stickk it to ya

[Hooligan]

I wonder if they disconnected the battery for 15-20 minutes and the computer reset itself, it will do that.