2001 Hundai Accent blinking CEL (P0304 Cylinder 4 misfire)

Tiny
JOHNBANKS
  • MEMBER
  • 2001 HYUNDAI
Hello, I have a 2001 Hyundai Accent, 1.6L with 96k miles. The Check Engine Light has started blinking at idle, so I had the code checked. It is P0304 cylinder 4 misfire. The car does sound like it's missing at idle/low rpm (<2000 rpm), but sounds fine at higher rpm. The CEL stops blinking at higher rpm, but blinks again at idle.

I have replaced plugs, wires, and coil pack with no success. Any ideas on what the problem could be?

The timing belt did break around 89k mi, and the head was reworked & at least some valves replaced. The car seemed to run fine thereafter, with the exception that the engine was difficult to turn over when starting after the engine was hot (sounded like a weak battery, but I replaced both battery & starter without success). This problem seems to have dissipated with time. Don't know if any of that's relevant to the current problem or not.

Thanks for any advice,

John
Friday, October 19th, 2007 AT 6:56 AM

20 Replies

Tiny
2CARPRO JACK
  • MECHANIC
  • 11,533 POSTS
Sounds like a weak injector, cant give the necessary fuel during low engine rpm's, but at higher becomes unnoticeable
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Friday, October 19th, 2007 AT 11:25 AM
Tiny
JOHNBANKS
  • MEMBER
  • 16 POSTS
Hi Jack,

thanks for the response. So would you recommend replacing the injector? I've heard of having the injectors flushed. Is that a possible solution in this case, and if so, is there much cost savings in that route vs. Replacement? Or maybe that's only good for a clogged injector, and not a weak one?

Thanks again,

John
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Friday, October 19th, 2007 AT 11:56 AM
Tiny
2CARPRO JACK
  • MECHANIC
  • 11,533 POSTS
Cleaning is like putting a band-aid on a bullet hole. Replace the #4 injector and enjoy your smooth running car
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Friday, October 19th, 2007 AT 12:05 PM
Tiny
JOHNBANKS
  • MEMBER
  • 16 POSTS
Here's the latest. I took the injectors out to replace the #4 injector, but the Auto Parts store didn't have any in stock, and would take a few days to get. So, I went ahead and swapped injectors #3 and #4. Started it up, and it exhibited same symptoms. Took and had the codes read, and got P0304 again. I asked them to reset the codes, so I could be sure this wasn't just left over from before. After the reset, even though the CEL would blink during idle, it would extinguish during normal driving. This continued until I got home, and later took it for another drive. After the CEL blinked during idle again, the CEL came on solid during normal driving, just as before. Had the code read again, and again got P0304. So, it would appear the injector is not the problem.

I tested the coil pack with everything disconnected per the hmaservice. Com site, and compared the readings to the specs. For the secondary coil resistance, between terminals 1&4 and 2&3, I read 14.5 kOhms vs. The 10.3-13.9 kOhms specified. For the primary coil resistance, between terminals 1 &4, I read an open vs. The 1 Ohm specified. I suppose this is indicative of a problem, but I am skeptical since I did temporarily replace the coil, but changed it back immediately after seeing the same symptoms at idle. The car was still missing at idle, and the CEL blinking. I did not drive the car at all with the new coil, so perhaps the ECM needed some time to reset?

Do you think this is the problem, or do you have some other suggestions?
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
+2
Sunday, October 21st, 2007 AT 8:05 PM
Tiny
2CARPRO JACK
  • MECHANIC
  • 11,533 POSTS
Have seen both coil and injector need to be replaced at the same time. If th einjector is weak, it can make it harder for the fuel to burn, raising the resistance in the coil that is trying to fire in an fuel lean environment
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
-1
Monday, October 22nd, 2007 AT 7:57 AM
Tiny
JOHNBANKS
  • MEMBER
  • 16 POSTS
I've been traveling, but had a chance to look at the car again last night. I began just by checking the compression just to completely rule out any mechancial issues. Everything there looked fine, but after I put everything back together, I cranked the car again to make sure it ran as before. It had become very dark by that time, and I noticed that as the car was idling, blue sparks were coming from around the body of the coil to the metal mounting frame. If I opened the throttle up, the sparks disappeared. This would be consistent with the car running rough at idle, and smoothly at higher speed. When I add everything up above, it seems to clearly point to a coil problem, but I'm skeptical since I had temporarily replaced the coil earlier, and noted no difference. As I mentioned, I did immediately remove the new coil after noticing no difference at idle, so perhaps it needed more time to run to correct the condition? Does this sound feasible to you?
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
+1
Thursday, October 25th, 2007 AT 8:58 PM
Tiny
2CARPRO JACK
  • MECHANIC
  • 11,533 POSTS
Check the plug for cracks or possibly an incorrect gap. If changing the coil made no difference at first, the plug may be causing excessive resistance in the new coil. When the plug is out, compare its color to a know good firing cylinder.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Friday, October 26th, 2007 AT 9:59 AM
Tiny
TURBOTUFF20G
  • MEMBER
  • 98 POSTS
I would without a doubt change the wires 1st, Pull the NO4 plug and inspect it for any abnormal conditions, if the wires dont cure the issue than its deffinately the coil. Good luck
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
+1
Saturday, October 27th, 2007 AT 9:51 PM
Tiny
TURBOTUFF20G
  • MEMBER
  • 98 POSTS
Im sorry I missed the point that you already switched the wires. Had a rough night lol. I would go with checking or replacing the spark plug as stated above but from my experience with being a Hyundai technician it sounds like that coil is bad, try spraying some water on it while running and see what effect that has if the coil arcs more and the misfire gets worse I would really reconsidering putting the new coil back ito the vehicle
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
+1
Sunday, October 28th, 2007 AT 5:37 PM
Tiny
JOHNBANKS
  • MEMBER
  • 16 POSTS
Hi, thanks for your response. I had already put in a new plug, to no effect. So, for my last test, I took and swapped the coil outputs to the #1 and #4 cylinders, ran it for a while, and then had the codes read again. My thinking was that whereas before I was consistently getting P0304, I should now see P0301 appear. Sure enough, this was the case, and in addition to the stored P0304, I now got a P0301, as well as a P0300 (random misfires), and a P0303. I attributed this to coil degradation, and will install a new coil. I hope my logic here was sound. I figured since the #1 and#4 cylinders fire together, all else should be equal. Does that make sense?

Thanks again,

John
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
+2
Monday, October 29th, 2007 AT 2:33 PM
Tiny
2CARPRO JACK
  • MECHANIC
  • 11,533 POSTS
Yes. It would eventually set a light no matter where you put it if it is bad
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Monday, October 29th, 2007 AT 2:54 PM
Tiny
JOHNBANKS
  • MEMBER
  • 16 POSTS
Update: I installed the new coil, and again noticed no difference in symptoms. I noticed that the new coil also had small blue sparks coming from it at idle. Tried spraying water on it as suggested, and it made no difference in engine performance. I had the codes reset, but haven't had a chance to have them read again. I will let you know what I find out there.

I'm thinking of trying another set of plug wires, though I'm doubtful that's the problem. These were lifetime wires, but not a premium band (Xact or Exact, I believe). I think there must be something else going on. Whatever it is only seems to affect the idling, as it runs smooth at higher rpms and the CEL stops blinking. Any further ideas or suggestions appreciated!
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
+1
Friday, November 2nd, 2007 AT 6:29 AM
Tiny
2CARPRO JACK
  • MECHANIC
  • 11,533 POSTS
Throw out the cheap wires and install factory ones.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Friday, November 2nd, 2007 AT 7:23 AM
Tiny
JOHNBANKS
  • MEMBER
  • 16 POSTS
Update: replaced plug wires, no difference. Read codes again, got p0304, and p0507 this time. Sprayed some starting fluid around the injectors, and noticed no change in idle for cyl. 1-3. Spray around #4 made a significant difference. My guess is that injector o-rings needs replacing, as cylinder 4 is sucking in too much air. Sound reasonable? Only thing bothering me about this is that when I swapped injectors 3 & 4 earlier, the car exhibited the same symptoms with the same P0304 code. As always, thoughts & ideas appreciated.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Friday, November 2nd, 2007 AT 3:50 PM
Tiny
2CARPRO JACK
  • MECHANIC
  • 11,533 POSTS
Then it could be the intake manifold gasket at cylinder 4. That would explain the consistant cyl 4 misfire, no matter what injector was in it.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
+1
Friday, November 2nd, 2007 AT 4:41 PM
Tiny
JOHNBANKS
  • MEMBER
  • 16 POSTS
Yes, I believe you are exactly correct. Before I went to the trouble of new injector o-rings, I went out and tried to localize the intake leak more closely with the starter fluid first, then trying to plug the leak with a cloth and my hand. Definitely the leak was coming around the manifold gasket by cylinder 4, and when I plugged it as best I could, the check engine light stopped flashing. This also fits with the head work I mentioned earlier when the timing belt broke. This work was done about 6 months ago. My feeling is that the shop should reinstall the gasket for me, since this is not that long ago. How would most shops handle this?

Thanks again for all your help. I'm sure this time the real problem has been identified. I'll follow up with a confirmation after I've had the chance to have the repair made.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Friday, November 2nd, 2007 AT 8:32 PM
Tiny
2CARPRO JACK
  • MECHANIC
  • 11,533 POSTS
Depending on what state you are in, they might have to, by law stand behind it. They should regardless. 6 mos isnt that long, the repair should have lasted for years
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Saturday, November 3rd, 2007 AT 7:51 AM
Tiny
TURBOTUFF20G
  • MEMBER
  • 98 POSTS
I have seen plenty of these intake gaskets go bad on hyundais, But you through me a curve ball with the arcing at the coil, seems to be multiple issues here.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Saturday, November 3rd, 2007 AT 12:42 PM
Tiny
JOHNBANKS
  • MEMBER
  • 16 POSTS
I was finally in town long enough to take the car into the shop, and they did repair it for me free of charge. I did not have the opportunity to speak with them about what exactly was done as it was right at closing, and the mechanics had already left. After I got the car home, I looked under the hood and it appears to me that they repaired it by gobbing gasket sealer around the leaking area. I can't say for certain, but I'm fairly sure they did not install a new gasket.

The car seems to run okay, and the check engine light is off and stays off, so it seems okay for now. My concern is about the longevity of this repair. What's your opinion on this, and how the repair was handled?
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
-1
Wednesday, November 14th, 2007 AT 5:27 PM
Tiny
DOUG BOSTON
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
Replace the ignition coil wire harness, you can get all 4 coil wire's for around $17-$25 on ebay.
The cover plate rubs the wire's causing them to lose fire. Easy fix. Not costly. Worked on my 2007 Hyundai accent & it was reading misfire on #4 cylinder
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Saturday, March 11th, 2017 AT 10:30 AM

Please login or register to post a reply.

Sponsored links