Check Engine Warning light with Scangauge code P0301

[jagzoo]

We suddenly developed a Check Engine Warning light. The car ran very rough for a few seconds, I pulled over and the light came on. I sat for a while and then restarted the car and drove home without any problem - all has been fine since. Our Scangauge showed error code P0301 -#1 cylinder not firing correctly. The light stayed on for a couple of days and then went off. Our scangauge still reports the error on a scan.

I've searched the forums and have a good idea of possible causes but has anyone heard of a engine warning light going out by itself?

This happened over the weekend so we just called into the Smart dealership but there wasn't any "knowledgeable" smart service person there who could answer our questions. We will keep trying, but in the meantime . . . Any feedback would be appreciated. We live 2 hrs from the closest dealer.

[rawlus®]

engine light will often go out after a number of warm-up cycles have transpired without a detected issue.

[jagzoo]

Great! Thanks.

Do you know why the Scangauge still reports the problem? I've tried to clear it in the scangauge but it just goes blank and doesn't reset.

[MPrice2984]

P0301 in a car this new would probably indicate a bad connection between the spark plug and coil pack. You might have had a little condensation in one of your plug wire boots that just needed to burn off.

[rawlus®]

the code is stored in the car's puter even after the CEL goes out. at least, that's how my other vehicles have operated.
not sure why you can't clear it with the scangauge - although, i thought i read somewhere that not all codes can be cleared by the SG. maybe im imagining that part tho.

[chieftmc]

Check out the thread here:IMPORTANT - Engine Missing - Others are reporting problem
there have been some reported problems.

[tjmodz]

Originally Posted by jagzoo

We suddenly developed a Check Engine Warning light. The car ran very rough for a few seconds, I pulled over and the light came on. I sat for a while and then restarted the car and drove home without any problem - all has been fine since. Our Scangauge showed error code P0301 -#1 cylinder not firing correctly.

I had the same problem the first week of ownership. It happened about 3 or 4 times and each time I would pull over, check the Scanguage for a code, shut the car off and restart. When I re-started the car, everything would be normal, light out and no codes.

I only got a code once, P0303 - misfire on cyl. #3. But I cleared it with no problem with the Scanguage. And it has not occurred in just over a month of ownership and a little over 700 miles.

I wish I could be more help, but since the car stopped doing it, I didn't want to show up at the dealer, an hour away, for them to say they don't see any problems.

[jagzoo]

Hi,

Well, still no repeat of the "check engine" light but now the scangauge reports code P0302 instead of the earlier P0301! We are trying to get an answer from our dealer about this whole issue but so far no luck.