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Cylinder Misfires but only on startup/cold engine?

19K views 15 replies 7 participants last post by  jlb1121  
Is there anything simple or a sensor that I could clean/replace before I take this to a mechanic, that isn't spark plugs, coils, fuel injector to address a P0301 and recently a P0300 and P0303. I checked the valve lashing, seems fine, definitely not crazy tight. The engine only has 110k miles on it.

The idle is obviously wrong/missing when I first start it, that's when it will throw a code but once it warms up, or remotely rev's, it's fine. Even in stop and go traffic. I can clear the code, drive for miles, never get it back. Only when starting the cooled off car. Also, this is Tx, so cooled off is sitting in 70 degree weather.

That's the part that I don't get it. If it were a burnt valve, or worse, I would expect the performance to be all around poor. It's fine when driving. Like most owners of a 5 speed especially, I would definitely notice a difference.

Started out getting just a P0301. Read quite a few scary forum threads. Swapped coils and spark plugs 1 and 2 with 3 and 4. Replaced coils completely, still broken. Plugs look great, maybe slightly brown, but nothing that indicates a catastrophe. They're only 30k miles old. Cleared codes, drove for miles, the light will never come on when driving. But park it enough, let it cool, then start the engine again, get P0301. Swapped injectors, still P0301. Just recently, after a week of troubleshooting, now I get P0300 and P0303 as well.

I checked the valve lashing, it seems fine. I adjusted it 30k miles ago at 80k. Nothing is out of spec. I've set them too loose on a previous honda engine (b16) I know what that sounds like, and they definitely aren't too tight.

My mechanic took it for a day and couldn't find anything wrong (he unfortunately tried to drive it around and watch the OBD2 data, which everything was fine, since it was driving). He didn't want to tear it apart or worry about compression since it was fine on the highway, but I don't know what to do other than ask him to tear it apart.

Just thought I would ask. If it's only during startup, not even idle, let alone driving, I feel like it's a sensor, but I'm out of ideas on what would effect that.
I think you got a good start. IIRC, service info says start by swapping around coils, plugs, and fuel injectors to see if misfire follows the component or stays with the cylinder. Seems like you haven’t swapped the fuel injectors yet.

Next, consider valve adjustment (you already did), and cleaning the IACV if you have one (not sure what year your element is). Next is looking for a head gasket leak with the compression / leak down test although a radiator pressure test/ exhaust fumes tester might be a substitute (looking for oil in coolant or coolant in oil along the way).


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Oh, one edit for post #2. Just reread and saw that you replaced coils. What brand coils did you use? I would have relied on the coil swapping information more than the coil replacement info, because sometimes new aftermarket coils are bad.


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