06 Toyota Matrix p0352, intermittent dead miss and erratic running, NO CRANK no start etc

[350Rocket]

My sister has a 2006 Toyota Matrix 1ZZ-FE she bought a few months back based on my recommendation (never again).

The car has been been a nightmare for us since she lives 3 hours away in a big city with ridiculous traffic and dangerous driving. Her 2005 Camry was totaled in an accident there and this is what we found to replace it. I'm really trying to help her figure out the problem and fix it but with very little access to the car.

It has and always had a constant p0352 code for ignition coil circuit B. It stays on that cylinder even if you swap the coils (seller told me this - he suspected a bad wire to the coil). Intermittent dead miss that doesn't actually set any other codes. I'm assuming it's cylinder 2 but in my presence it's never misfired long enough to see the misfires.

It went to the shop for a safety and fix the code, they replaced the coil on number 2. They said it had no codes when it left and they drove it for half an hour and it didn't act up.

I have driven it over an hour round trip and it didn't act up (last time she came home).

It will randomly lose power, shift erratically, (either not upshift or not downshift from what she tells me). One day if refused to crank or start...she tried playing with the shifter (neutral safety switch) etc nothing would get it to respond. Eventually it got towed because construction workers were going to have it towed if she couldn't get it out of there.

When the shop it was towed to finally got to it it fired right up no issues present. Hasn't done that since.

These vehicles had a recall for the ECM but it apparently didn't apply to Canadian vehicles, only American ones. The shop that safeties it says they suspect an ECM issue as they've seen that a number of times on these vehicles.

A bad ground is also a possibility. I paid for Identifix - direct hit DIY just this morning so I can access wiring diagrams and stuff (have experience with this site from when I was a service advisor).

I know it's a long shot and we basically need to spend the time to test things properly but hoping someone has some personal experience with this problem on one of these or a Corolla. I'm really hating this car right now.

 

[supton]

Isn't this engine known for intake gaskets?

But total dead... then alive... ECM? Towing would jostle around lots of stuff, so it could still be a bad wire.

 

[350Rocket]

Isn't this engine known for intake gaskets?

But total dead... then alive... ECM? Towing would jostle around lots of stuff, so it could still be a bad wire.

I think it is known for intake gaskets, however I left out the fuel trims are sitting at +3% so vacuum leaks seen unlikely.
Watching scan data has not shown anything I noticed as abnormal.
I'm leaning towards ECM or a bad wire so far.
I definitely need to eliminate a wiring problem first as a used ECM is still a few hundred dollars and I'm afraid of us getting a bad one. Plus they have specific part numbers for applications and local junkyards don't have the one she does (not sure how to know which ones may or may work).

 

[Elkins45]

I know this sounds too simplistic, but try disconnecting and then reconnecting the wiring harnesses from the ECM. It might be a bit of oxidation in the connectors causing the problem.

There’s nothing worse than chasing an intermittent problem

 

[Nukeman7]

Several of the symptoms point to a failing crankshaft position sensor on the 1ZZFE engine. Here are two videos on changing it out.

 

[Luftmasse]

Cases like this - you would really need to scope the #2 cylinder and try to duplicate the problem in order to pinpoint the root cause.

This is the event where the scope shines.

 

[350Rocket]

I know this sounds too simplistic, but try disconnecting and then reconnecting the wiring harnesses from the ECM. It might be a bit of oxidation in the connectors causing the problem.

There’s nothing worse than chasing an intermittent problem

Worth a shot. I will mention this to her. She should probably remove it completely so she can inspect the connectors.

 

[350Rocket]

Several of the symptoms point to a failing crankshaft position sensor on the 1ZZFE engine. Here are two videos on changing it out.

Don't they usually cause a crank no start issue, even if just occasionally? It's never had any trouble starting, as long as the starter operated, which only once it didn't.

 

[350Rocket]

Cases like this - you would really need to scope the #2 cylinder and try to duplicate the problem in order to pinpoint the root cause.

This is the event where the scope shines.

Yeah that would be ideal. Unfortunately we don't have the luxury of a scope. We have a voltmeter, a soldering iron and identifix.

 

[350Rocket]

This is the recall I was speaking of on the ECM and the symptoms it could be associated with.
Toyota Canada told my sister that the recall only covered American made cars and ours is Canadian made. A quick Google search showed me that the matrix was only built in Canada, at least that year.

 

[Elkins45]

My 2007 Canadian-made Corolla was subject to the ECM recall, if that means anything (which it probably doesn’t). The notice said the PC board could crack and disable the vehicle.

 

[Nukeman7]

Don't they usually cause a crank no start issue, even if just occasionally? It's never had any trouble starting, as long as the starter operated, which only once it didn't.

I was basing that possibility from this info in your OP.

It will randomly lose power, shift erratically, (either not upshift or not downshift from what she tells me). One day if refused to crank or start...she tried playing with the shifter (neutral safety switch) etc nothing would get it to respond.

However, it does now appear that the defective ECM is more likely the issue...based on the recall info.

 

[350Rocket]

My 2007 Canadian-made Corolla was subject to the ECM recall, if that means anything (which it probably doesn’t). The notice said the PC board could crack and disable the vehicle.

Yeah the recall I believe affected 2005-2008 both Corolla and matrix and I think both are exclusively Canadian made so I think the Toyota Canada rep who called my sister back gave her bad info.

But either way there is no recall on this vehicle at this time. I just checked through NHTSA website by vin number. Maybe there was and it was already replaced and closed out or it had an expiry date (apparently they can do this if it's a voluntary recall).

 

[350Rocket]

I was basing that possibility from this info in your OP.

It will randomly lose power, shift erratically, (either not upshift or not downshift from what she tells me). One day if refused to crank or start...she tried playing with the shifter (neutral safety switch) etc nothing would get it to respond.

However, it does now appear that the defective ECM is more likely the issue...based on the recall info.

I think you're reading it wrong..
It did NOT crank. Which is why I told her to try the shifter, tapping the starter, getting a boost etc. The starter did not make a sound.
Which in itself could be a starter relay starting to fail and unrelated to the rest of the running issues.

 

[Nukeman7]

Yeah the recall I believe affected 2005-2008 both Corolla and matrix and I think both are exclusively Canadian made so I think the Toyota Canada rep who called my sister back gave her bad info.

But either way there is no recall on this vehicle at this time. I just checked through NHTSA website by vin number. Maybe there was and it was already replaced and closed out or it had an expiry date (apparently they can do this if it's a voluntary recall).

Here is a link to info on the defective ECM part number and the upgraded replacement ECM part number. This info was sent to the Toyota dealerships performing the recall repairs.

Toyota Matrix/Corolla ECM Recall

 

[350Rocket]

Here is a link to info on the defective ECM part number and the upgraded replacement ECM part number. This info was sent to the Toyota dealerships performing the recall repairs.

Toyota Matrix/Corolla ECM Recall

I checked it out. Not 100% but since it lists that it came with 02D41 and now has 02K41 it probably did have the recall early on. That list doesn't specifically list our part number but it sheds a little light I guess.

 

[350Rocket]

Based on the lot number it apparently should be good. So likely was already replaced. Better check all our grounds and wiring before anything else.
Photo doesn't want to attach, but the number on the ECM is 8064. So it's later than the ones they say are bad.