2000 Toyota Corolla | Misfire codes, Tune Up Needs

[chrome]

To check if the misfires are caused by the coils, swap 1 & 2 with 3 & 4. Easy to label them first with a white Sharpie.

Clear the codes, and run the engine again. If the misfire code moves to cylinders 3 & 4, then replace both coils.

 

[Globalksp]

Originally Posted By: chrome
To check if the misfires are caused by the coils, swap 1 & 2 with 3 & 4. Easy to label them first with a white Sharpie.

Clear the codes, and run the engine again. If the misfire code moves to cylinders 3 & 4, then replace both coils.


The code reader I have has the ability to clear codes, however, I've tried numerous times on this car to do so and I always received a Failed error message. I'm searching now for another method to clear the codes, but if anyone knows off the top of their head, I'm all ears.

 

[Nick1994]

Originally Posted By: Globalksp
Originally Posted By: chrome
To check if the misfires are caused by the coils, swap 1 & 2 with 3 & 4. Easy to label them first with a white Sharpie.

Clear the codes, and run the engine again. If the misfire code moves to cylinders 3 & 4, then replace both coils.


The code reader I have has the ability to clear codes, however, I've tried numerous times on this car to do so and I always received a Failed error message. I'm searching now for another method to clear the codes, but if anyone knows off the top of their head, I'm all ears.
Disconnect the battery?

 

[Globalksp]

Originally Posted By: Nick1994
Originally Posted By: Globalksp
Originally Posted By: chrome
To check if the misfires are caused by the coils, swap 1 & 2 with 3 & 4. Easy to label them first with a white Sharpie.

Clear the codes, and run the engine again. If the misfire code moves to cylinders 3 & 4, then replace both coils.


The code reader I have has the ability to clear codes, however, I've tried numerous times on this car to do so and I always received a Failed error message. I'm searching now for another method to clear the codes, but if anyone knows off the top of their head, I'm all ears.
Disconnect the battery?


Sometimes simple is best.

 

[supton]

Looks like the spark plug tubes are next on the list, although the oil on the plugs didn't look that high--and it's too soon for it to be a problem, again. That said, whatever oil was in there drained into the cylinder, so I wonder if it missed a few times until it cleaned up?

Can you clear the codes and drive a bit more? Or can you feel an actual miss?

 

[LeakySeals]

Maybe the tubes. But more likely what I mentioned earlier.

There is no fix other than removing the pistons and drilling and adding holes as in pic 2. or replacing the pistons with the newer modified pistons with larger holes. This problem arises from bad design combined with poor maintenance - not changing the oil on time.

Here's a controversial recommendation for BITOG.. If you can't convince her to trade the car in.. Start dumping in Lucas maple syrup with 10w40 or 20w50. It will run better on that than in its current state. The goal is to reduce oil wiping into the cylinder to a point the engine can operate. I have seen and read about hundreds of these engines running for tens of thousands of miles with this thick brew. Its what the owners of these years resort to sadly.

 

[LeakySeals]

As it burns oil keep topping off with above thick brew. One guy used that thick STP syrup with 20w50. As you thicken the oil keep pulling the plugs and blast them with carb cleaner. Blast the piston tops with 2 seconds of carb cleaner also. "Clearing the codes" is fools gold. When things get better and you get the oil consumption under control the codes go away on thier own.

 

[Globalksp]

Originally Posted By: supton
Looks like the spark plug tubes are next on the list, although the oil on the plugs didn't look that high--and it's too soon for it to be a problem, again. That said, whatever oil was in there drained into the cylinder, so I wonder if it missed a few times until it cleaned up?

Can you clear the codes and drive a bit more? Or can you feel an actual miss?


It's my girlfriend's car so I haven't been driving it to figure out if it's actually missing. Though, I doubt it. The check engine light is now off and has been for a day or two. After the holidays will have another look at it, but if the light stays off, that's good enough for me.

-K

 

[Globalksp]

Originally Posted By: LeakySeals
Maybe the tubes. But more likely what I mentioned earlier.

There is no fix other than removing the pistons and drilling and adding holes as in pic 2. or replacing the pistons with the newer modified pistons with larger holes. This problem arises from bad design combined with poor maintenance - not changing the oil on time.

Here's a controversial recommendation for BITOG.. If you can't convince her to trade the car in.. Start dumping in Lucas maple syrup with 10w40 or 20w50. It will run better on that than in its current state. The goal is to reduce oil wiping into the cylinder to a point the engine can operate. I have seen and read about hundreds of these engines running for tens of thousands of miles with this thick brew. Its what the owners of these years resort to sadly.


I like mavericks!

I hope she doesn't have to have this car for that long, but she does still owe (a family member) money on it so I'm trying to keep it running until that is taken care of and she feels comfortable / is in a place to get rid of it. No way would she be convinced to tear the engine apart and I'm with her there. As for the Lucas supplements...if it comes to that, maybe.

Right now we'll keep an eye on the tubes and hope that Pennzoil HM 5W-30 keeps things happy.

 

[Globalksp]

Originally Posted By: LeakySeals
As it burns oil keep topping off with above thick brew. One guy used that thick STP syrup with 20w50. As you thicken the oil keep pulling the plugs and blast them with carb cleaner. Blast the piston tops with 2 seconds of carb cleaner also. "Clearing the codes" is fools gold. When things get better and you get the oil consumption under control the codes go away on thier own.


Being that I've only known of this car for about 5 months, I'm not sure what the oil consumption is, but I'm sure there is some. Will be keeping an eye on it from here on out. Glad to hear a 2nd vote for the thick stuff.

 

[LeakySeals]

Originally Posted By: Globalksp
Originally Posted By: LeakySeals
As it burns oil keep topping off with above thick brew. One guy used that thick STP syrup with 20w50. As you thicken the oil keep pulling the plugs and blast them with carb cleaner. Blast the piston tops with 2 seconds of carb cleaner also. "Clearing the codes" is fools gold. When things get better and you get the oil consumption under control the codes go away on thier own.


Being that I've only known of this car for about 5 months, I'm not sure what the oil consumption is, but I'm sure there is some. Will be keeping an eye on it from here on out. Glad to hear a 2nd vote for the thick stuff.

For this engine, yes it can run on straight crude lol. Keep us updated, hope things get better!

 

[cjcride]

Thanks for posting those piston pictures LeakySeals.
I bought one of those used. Quickly discovered it was an oil burner, tried everything short of teardown. Sold it and got an 2004 Corolla. Problem solved.
Good to finally See the problem.

 

[Globalksp]

Hey all,

Anyone have any recommendations on spark plug coil manufacturers? I see that Amazon has a few options ranging from Denso to brands I've never heard of. Don't see a reason to not go with Denso unless someone has had issue.

Thanks.

 

[Globalksp]

I take that back...

Denso coils being $69 a pop... and off brand going for the same price for all 4. I know, I know... you get what you pay for. That said, has anyone had luck with off brand coils?

 

[Xrs2zz]

Originally Posted By: Globalksp
I take that back...

Denso coils being $69 a pop... and off brand going for the same price for all 4. I know, I know... you get what you pay for. That said, has anyone had luck with off brand coils?


I took a gamble like what you're thinking of doing and they lasted 13 months. 1 month out of warranty, so I put my original Toyota coils back in and haven't had a problem yet. If I decide to replace them again, I'll use Denso for sure.

I wasn't having issues, but the OE coils had 180k miles and I figured why not.

 

[Tegger]

Originally Posted By: Globalksp
has anyone had luck with off brand coils?

Why are you wanting to change the coils? As posted so far, you have zero evidence that any of them are bad.

You've also been given sensible advice to move the coils to different cylinders to see if the misfire codes follow the coils. Have you done this? Moving coils takes minutes and costs nothing.

 

[HerrStig]

Originally Posted By: Globalksp
Today, I finally got around to doing the work on the 2000 Corolla. To no avail.

I successfully replaced the valve cover gasket (Fel-Pro), plugs (Denso), PCV Valve (Fram), air filter (Bosch), and changed the oil (Pennzoil HM 5W-30 & Fram Ultra).

Here's what some of the old components looked like:




Was pleased with how smoothly the work went, then started the car only to find the check engine light on and it spit back four codes, 3 active and 1 pending:
P0300
P0301
P0302
P0301-P.

All of these are misfire codes:
*P0300 Random/Multiple Cylinder Misfire Detected
*P0301 Cylinder 1 Misfire Detected
*P0302 Cylinder 2 Misfire Detected

Back to the drawing board...
Why were there two Denso plugs and two NGKs?

 

[Tegger]

Originally Posted By: HerrStig
Why were there two Denso plugs and two NGKs?

And has he tried relocating the coils, as he was advised to do previously?

 

[eljefino]

I run $13 ebay coils on my camry; they work fine. If Denso is so great, why are they failing?

 

[Globalksp]

Thanks all.

The Corolla belongs to my partner and I don't have daily access to it.

I fully intend to do the coil swap prior to purchasing anything... even though I don't have a foolproof way of erasing the codes between coil swaps.

She took her car into her mechanic for a new set of tires and they noticed the check engine light and wanted to swap new coils and plugs to the tune of $280+. So I went shopping and solicited opinions.

The picture of the plugs were what can out of the car when I did the initial work to it. No idea who put in mismatched plugs.

As for the failing coils... the thought is that the worn out valve cover gasket allowed oil into the spark plug chamber and fouled the coils... or the coils just wore out... or it's something else.