hpc

Hi guys,

Got a strange problem that I cannot figure out for the life of me.
1997 ES300 149k miles, plugs were changed at about 120k. Car has been well maintained by Toyota and Lexus, all services and oil changes done on time.

Problem: CEL P0303, misfire on cylinder 3. When the car has been sitting for a long period of time (4+ hours) car runs fine for about 20 minutes. As soon as it warms up misfire returns.

I swapped plugs and coil to another cylinder and the problem stayed with cylinder #3. My next idea was #3 injector but then I thought, why would it run fine for 20 minutes and then all of a sudden misfire.

Any ideas on what this could be, I searched here and a bunch of other forums and could not find anything. Took it to Toyota for diagnostic, they also swapped coils and plugs, same result as me. They recommend pulling off the plenum and swapping injectors. I just don't want to fork over that much $$$ only to find out it is something else. Any ideas?
Problem is driving me crazy!

Thanks

Ariyanna

I had the same problem with my 96 ES300 and it was a bad fuel injector but I replaced it myself not to hard of a job.

BoostedE21

Could just be a high temperature fault - sometimes worn out parts will work while cold, and then go crazy when hot. If you don't want to just go ahead and buy the part, you could swap injectors with another cylinder and see if the problem follows.

hpc

Turns out it was the injector. Toyota dealer wanted $700 for labor, got it done in about 2 hours, not that bad a job.

yeskay

how much does the injector alone cost. is this a diy or you paid the toyota dealership.

hpc

I got the injector for 100 from advanced auto parts plus I had a $20 coupon, so it costs me $80. Did the work myself, no DIY that I was able to find, I'm sure you can fine one though. You have to take the upper intake manifold off (plenum) but not the runners. After that comes out it is pretty easy to pop off the fuel rail, swap injectors.

yeskay

i heard that the bad injectors can be serviced to original spec. Have you tried shipping the bad injectors to these online outlets.