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420A 2gNT Mysterious P0300 Random Misfire

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Zero6391

Proven Member
263
40
Apr 10, 2014
Roswell, New Mexico
Hello,
Well to start out the car is a completely stock 1996 Eclipse RS N/T 420a with a M/T. Only aftermarket thing done to it is a short ram air intake that I installed 3 years ago.
Anyways, so I was driving out of town one weekend when the car completely died on me and wouldn't start back up. I took a scanner to it and stated no signal from cam or crankshaft position sensor so I replaced both sensor with new pigtails and found the source of my problem, the old wires jackets broke and were arcing together.

After that was all fixed, the car started up but now I get the P0300 code but drives, starts and accelerates just fine no issues so I replaced spark plugs, no change, changed spark plug wires, nothing, replaced coil pack, nada, replaced fuel filter, nope, checked fuel pressure, held steady at 50 psi. I pulled the plugs they look fine and don't smell like gas on them and it shows normal wear and checked the gap they are fine, they are copper autolite plugs by the way.

I checked timing belt and it still lines up with proper tension. I've used the OBD scanner to check STFT fuel trims while idling and they are showing normal changes (less that 2% changes) I smell the exhaust and don't smell anything weird like the cat is clogged and I checked vacuum and it stays close to 20hg so I'm stumped.

I can accelerate to 80 mph just fine, its idles in stop and go traffic just fine, and accelerates with no hesitations whatsoever.

The only thing happening is the check engine light is on and when I'm cruising at a steady highway speed sometimes the light will blink then go solid again with no loss of power whatsoever.

This is my daily driver so I'm trying to get this thing running without the light on. Do you guys think it could be a misreading or that something else is going on? any help would be appreciated, been driving like this for 3 weeks now but no other codes besides the P0300 are popping up with no change to driveability
 
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yea its real easy to get to and replace as well, one 10mm bolt. just raise up the passenger side and your set to get at it
Thank you I feel more certain now of doing this myself Any suggestions on where to get a Good crank sensor? Oem would be nice without going to junkyard.
 
no you don't have to remove anything, and unfortunately I have no idea where to get brand new oem sensors from LOL I was lucky enough that my old sensor worked still, but before u pull a me and buy all these new sensors and stuff test the circuit first. all my sensors worked fine and still do it was just those two wires I had to fix by the egr valve
 
could be a wire shorting out and u wont have to crawl under the car just unplug the cam sensor plug and then get a volt meter and check the voltage of the power and signal wire and make sure they are in spec
 
could be a wire shorting out and u wont have to crawl under the car just unplug the cam sensor plug and then get a volt meter and check the voltage of the power and signal wire and make sure they are in spec
I hope so LOL Now that I know all this I am desperate to get home to play mechanic LOL
 
LOL let us know what u find out when u do
So I got home late last night and it was 23°F so I decided to play it safe and just wait for today after work LOL I do have doubts on how the crank sensor looks tho... AtoZ an Orielys sell a totally different one. I will put pictures
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Crank position sensor
OE part# MD5235377
 
So I tested the cam sensor and it gives me all the right volts. I tested the crank sensor and nothing I even tested the magnetic touching metal and wouldnt hear anything. Going to buy crank but idk what else to do.
 
Not sure where zero bought his crank sensor, but I got mine from Napa auto parts almost 7 years ago and never had a problem with it. Not sure you can get OEM ones anymore, but that would be my first choice.
 
Not sure where zero bought his crank sensor, but I got mine from Napa auto parts almost 7 years ago and never had a problem with it. Not sure you can get OEM ones anymore, but that would be my first choice.
Never thought about Napa im going to check it out thanks!
 
yea i couldn't find a place to buy the original for my car but im assuming yours is a 99 which has the newer style crank sensor anyways. mine is a 96 and use a full plastic one with round pins... and now u said u weren't getting voltage on the crank position sensor harness? if your not then I would start checking the wires in that area cuz you should get the same readings at cam and crank. maybe check the big plug harness under the intake and see if it came loose which is preventing power from getting to the connector...
 
sensor could be good but if ur not getting power to the sensor then it wont work even if u buy a brand new sensor...
Finally! Bought a new crank sensor from Advance Autoparts and installed it in like less then 10 mins. I turned the key and beautiful sounds from my exhaust! Thanks a lot for all the tips and help! If youll need anything just send me a message since I am a Master mechanic now LOL
 
Glad to hear you got your car going!
Thanks for the help I might trade it for a 96 eclipse gst spyder well im thinking about it because the guy has a turbo delete on it. Something avout tge turbo leaking oil. So idk if I want that kind of trouble.
 
sounds like a fun adventure if you ask me, if its not gonna be your daily id say get it and just restore it back to it former glory LOL but that's just me
I wouldn't mind a turbo eclipse its just that I don't know much about it but I will see the car tomorrow so ill see whats up. If I drive it without tge turbo connected what couod be my problems if any?
 
just kinda slow as turbo engines have lower compression, if its a 7 bolt motor then the compression should be 9:1 compared to the NT 420 with a 9.5:1 compression. my tsi was my first ever turbo car and I just fell in love with the learning process of how it works etc etc
 
Hey zero do you know what the hose fron intake manifold to valve cover is called? Its between the oil cap and coil pack
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Not sure it has a specific name but that's the hose that holds the PCV valve.

There's actually a good chance it could be the crank sensor. I would start there first.
 
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