Circuit/System Description

The engine control module (ECM) uses information from the crankshaft position sensor and the camshaft position sensor to determine when a engine cylinder misfire is occurring. By monitoring variations in the crankshaft rotation speed for each cylinder, the ECM can detect individual cylinder misfire events.

Extreme cylinder misfire events can cause catalytic converter damage. The malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) will flash when the conditions for catalytic converter damage are present. DTCs P0301 through P0304 correspond to cylinders 1 through 4. When the ECM detects that one or more specific cylinders are misfiring, the DTC for the respective misfiring cylinder will set and up to 2 of the corresponding fuel injectors are disabled for a minimum of 30s. The ECM will then re-enable the fuel injector and, after approximately 200 engine revolutions, will determine if the misfire is still present. If the misfire is still present, the ECM will disable the fuel injector again repeating the process. If the misfire is not present, the fuel injector will remain enabled by the ECM. In Spark Ignition Direct Injection (SIDI) system applications, if a fuel injector fault DTC is set during a misfire event, the ECM will not re-enable the injector.