Hey guys, I know we're not supposed to post about every CEL we get, but this is just weird. I was driving home from school and my CEL came on (flashing for a minute) and it scared the hell out of me. I was only like a mile or two from my house and it had stopped flashing so I just went home. The CEL was still on, solid now so I hooked up my code reader and got the code(s) P0300 and P0300%. I checked online and it sounds like it's for a "cylinder misfire" but the wierd thing is that car seemed like it was running fine AND it doesn't even have 6,000 miles on it yet. Like I said, I'm really confused. Has anyone else had this happen to them? Is the car just spazzing out and is really fine?

I have work in about a half hour and it's a 10-15 minute drive so I'll see how it feels then. I should be able to come back on here and post and update while I'm working if the computer there doesn't take a crap on me (gotta love being the manager haha).

*edit* here's a link to the code http://www.obd-codes.com/trouble_cod...e-detected.php


*edit* update from dealer is page 2

 

 

Lol thanks?

 

bump.
I drove to and from work today and for the most part she seemed pretty much normal. On the way home, the first time I accelerated from a light (not hard, pretty gently) the car kinda stuttred in 2nd gear around 2-2750RPM and the CEL flashed. I let off the gas and it smoothed out and the CEL went back to solid. I have an appointment at the local dealer on Monday to get it checked out.
Anymore advice on what it could be? Also, would getting this checked be covered by my warranty?

 

it'll be covered unless they think its cuz your abusing it......depending on what they "think" is wrong with it. Should be fine getting it checked under warranty though.

 

Okay good, hopefully it'll be covered. Last thing I need is to shell out tons of money on a brand new car (but mods don't count haha)

 

Warranty will cover it.

But...

If you wanted to be a tech...

Check your spark plugs. What they look like will determine what kind of misfire you were having. Rich or Lean misfire and how bad can be told as well.

I bet it's your coil packs. Colder weather has a big effect on coil packs and when they can fail but they are unpredictable.

FYI: Flashing check engine light on any car is always a misfire. How bad of a misfire is another thing.

 

Good to know

 

si senior.

Funny example: My moms 1.8T Audi A4 at 40k miles had her coil packs go out and when I asked her "Did your CEL come on?" she said "It would flash on and off". I found out about the coil packs after she took it in.

 

Adam>everyone

on useful info

 

Thanks man, good advice. It's weird because sometimes it's steady, then it'll randomly freak out for a few seconds and go back to steady again.
How much did it cost your Mom to fix? And do you know if it would be covered by warranty? (should be, right?)

 

It absolute-*******-ly better be should


You don't have any mods right?


Even if you did, how the **** do you mess up a coil pack

I mean you could drive your car into a lake or something but...

 

Well that's when she found out it was out of warranty lol

I think it was like 300 for her or something.

Yours with labor will probably be like 200 but if you know how to replace it and find your part number, it should save you cash.

But if you have a warranty, don't even stress or spend cash. Take it in.

 

Yea I still have it under warranty, and there aren't any mods on it (yet). It doesn't even have 6000 miles on it yet so I have no idea what the hell is going on. Unless it's just throwing a BS code or something...

 

Nah. Misfirings are pretty right on.

Take it in before you don't have a engine because you avoided taking it in for service...

 

Yea I am. Appointment isn't 'til monday though...

 

You'll be alright.

 

*Update*

Today I was driving home from work and all of a sudden the CEL just turned off. Like I said, it seems like she's running fine, but I'm still taking it to the dealer on Monday just in case. Such a bizarre mystery.

 

im gonna go with a guess...with bad injector...just a guess..lol.let us know on monday

 

Will do. Drove it around for a while tonight. Still seems fine. I'm still confused haha

 

A flashing MIL/CEL is an indication of a bad misfire. The ONLY thing a flashing CEL indicates is a catalytic converter damaging level misfire. If your CEL starts flashing take it easy til it goes solid/out. Take it easy.

 

Really quick though man I found out the pcm records the data from your driving when it gets a check engine light. It'll only clear after 14-18 no-CEL starts.....I talked to the techs here they said they voided some of the kids warranties on their cobalts because the pcm's recorded their driving data and they were driving excessively harsh.

 

That's nuts man. I've been taking it really easy on the car even before all this happened. It's my baby, ya know? And every time the CEL would flash I would immediately let off the gas and look for a spot to pull over. Again, it seems okay, hopefully it will be...

 

Hey guys, took it in today and they said there was nothing wrong with it b/c the code was erased. They said the cylinder misfire could've been because of bad gas or something, which might be true, I dunno.

Then they tried to tell me that the ss/sc shouldn't use premium gas because "it isn't designed for it, and will damage the engine." I just laughed and said okay.

 

The SS/SC is not designed for premium?? Thats what they told you??

Well thats wrong, obviously its recommended, the owners manual clearly states to use 91 octane or higher or you will experience pinging and reduced performance.

One thing you should do though is to try to use only Shell, Chevron or Texaco gas from a high volume station. These fuels are the only ones available in NJ that meet GM's Top Tier fuel specification. if you cant use fuel from these places at every oil change use a bottle of Chevron Techron fuel additive(available all over) or GM Fuel System Treatment Plus available at dealers. And youll have no fuel issues