Ok something happened the first time I tried to post this....Any case, left work last week drove a mile down the street parked the car. Came back about 20mins later started the car engine was putting, pulled out on the street gave her some gas CEL came on flashing at me goosed her a little more CEL shut off and putting stopped.

Now today went out on lunch at work had the car running about 20mins stopped got lunch turned the car off came back out a few mins later engines putting. Give her some gas when I get out on the street can barely get out of its own way putting and CEL starts flashing. Give her a little more gas CEL shuts off this time but still putting. Make it about a 1/4 from work putting stops and engine is back to purring like a kitten.

I figured it was a fluke the first time so didn't scan for codes and my scanner is at home now so can't check the codes. Im assuming its a horrible misfire code.

Anyone had anything like this happen?

 

yes, CEL Flashing is a severe misfire.

what do you mean engine is "putting"? Do you mean sputtering, or putting, as in on a golf course?

You have a 2000, so the chances of your COIL PACKS being the problem is like 95%. Get your codes scanned and see if you have anything other than the generic "random misfire"...with the misfires severe enough, you should be able to have an actual cylinder number attached to the code so you just replace that coil.

And NEVER NEVER NEVER get aftermarket or parts-store coils. OEM or NOTHING.

 

sounds like a bad coil, exact same symptoms that happened to me

buy a new coil, swap til you find the bad one.. or replace all 6 if you can swing it

thats my opinion, lets see what others think

 

Ok sputtering much better way to describe it... and as soon as I get home I can scan the code I'm hard pressed to say coils because both times it has happened it clears up with no issues. The one thing I think I forgot to mention was when it happened today there was a almost plugged cat smell (sulfur) in the cabin while driving. Could smell it until it stopped sputtering and became normal.

 

Before OP goes and spends money throwing parts at the problem OP should verify the code. That's a BASIC troubleshooting concept.

Yes it's likely the coil...but it could be something else. Wouldn't it suck for OP to have purchased 6 new coils and found the problem to be something else?

That's why the FIRST STEP is ALWAYS check codes.

 

Just because it doesn't happen all the time doesn't mean the part (whatever it is) isn't bad. It's not like once they go bad they're bad all the time...they're intermittent (starting to go bad) then they get worse over time.

Get the codes scanned and report back before buying parts, ok?

 

Yeah my scan tool is in my girls car so I cant check it at the moment. With a misfire code though shouldn't the CEL remain lit after the incident?

 

usually but not always, to be honest.

My old car...1997 Grand Am, had coil packs going out for over 6 months...I could feel the misfire as a "stutter" under load, but it wouldn't trip the SES light until months later, when it was severe enough to register while I was on the highway.

 

Most of the cars I have run into with misfires it keeps the CEL on. Only code I randomly get on my max is p0420. And I do mean randomly.

 

sulfer smell could be unburnt gas hitting your cat

(caused by failing coil)

 

I could see that... didn't smell it when it happened last week ah well i guess I'll report back tonight after work when I can scan it.

 

venom this mean your O2 or your cat is failing, usually the front precat (thats the one that rattles for me)

i installed an 02 spacer and the code is gone forever

idk about threads, but this is what worked to kill my p0420

http://www.ebay.com/itm/181093705013...84.m1497.l2649

 

Precat code is p0430 which I already replaced the precat by the radiator...When I say it comes on randomly for example light comes on I read the code p0420 ok clear the code then i drive from CT to ME twice and then down to VA and then about 3 months after that the light comes back on for p0420. So figure light was off for about 5 months before I saw it again. Hence me saying it randomly comes on for a 420 code.

 

P0300 is mult. cyl. misfire. I'm wondering if that will pop up soon.

My advice, get the code scanner, scan it, post back with results.

After that, search. Plenty of info on that subject around here.

 

OK just got home I got p1320 and p0306.

 

Bad coil on cylinder 6 which is closest to transmission by the firewall.
Going to be much longer job as you'd have to remove intake manifold.

 

P0306 is the cyl 6 code...which is GOOD...get the proper coil (here on the classifieds or from courtesy parts) and replace.

P1320 could be coils, it could also be crankshaft / camshaft position sensors iirc...

 

0306 = # 6 Cyl misfire.

1230 is ignition signal. So, yeah, the 0306 probably caused the 1320.

Switch the coil pack and see if the misfire moves to the cyl you switched it to.

 

I know its the cylinder 6 misfire for some reason i thought 2,4,6 were the front bank (radiator side) and why on earth would I remove the intake? I changed all 6 plugs a while back without removing the intake?

 

You sure about that? Pretty sure #6 is the one nearest the battery in the front.

And yes, he has an 00, so no removal of IM needed.

 

Right, i was wrong. 6 is in the front by the battery. Easy job.

 

Ok found a new front Nissan OEM coil for 90 shipped is that a good price?

 

Where?

Have you tried www.courtesyparts.com? 92. with some change so looks as if you're deal is good.

 

if you didnt replace the o2 sensor when replacing the precat that can cause a 420 code

someone on the forum here had the same issue, once replaced, the light went off

some people require a ECU update from nissan to kill the light as well

 

Again in 2.5 years and like 50k miles I have probably had the 420 code come on 5 or 6 times..... so not to worried about the 420 code. I have not changed anything on this car in regards to sensors.

 

Honestly a while back i was looking for a window regulator for my girls subie (what a turd) any case came across a subie dealer selling crap at a reduced price on ebay. It was cheaper then anyone else by far so ordered it when it arrived it was in fact shipped from the subaru dealer it was stated to have come from.
So figured screw it I'll see what I come up with this time. 90$ shipped from Cheasapeak Nissan (dont think I spelled it right as I'm not looking at the add now) you supply your vin at check out and they ship you the correct one.