DTC P0301: No. 1 Cylinder Misfire Detected; DTC P0302: No. 2 Cylinder Misfire Detected; DTC P0303: No. 3 Cylinder Misfire Detected; DTC P0304: No. 4 Cylinder Misfire Detected: General Description

The crankshaft vibrates slightly when each cylinder fires. If a misfire occurs, the crankshaft rotation speed changes rapidly. The engine control module (ECM)/powertrain control module (PCM) monitors engine misfiring based on the output pulses from the crankshaft position (CKP) sensor, counts the number of misfires, and determines which cylinder is misfiring. If a misfire is detected, a DTC is stored.

There are two types of misfire detection.

Type 1 (1 drive cycle): When the number of misfires per 200 engine revolutions reaches the level that damages the three way catalyst (TWC), a DTC is stored and the MIL blinks. When the misfire ceases, the MIL remains on steady instead of blinking.

Type 2 (2 drive cycles): When the number of misfires per 1,000 engine revolutions reaches the level that affects FTP mode exhaust emissions, a DTC is stored and the MIL comes on.