swiftscsi

Last week the wife filled our ES350, with the lowest octane gas from a gas station at our local supermarket because they gave her a 3 cent discount per gallon . Later that day she called me and told me a Check VSC message appeared along with a check engine and slip indicator was on and the car was idling a bit rough whenever she’d come to a stop at a light . When she got home I ran the codes and got, P0301, P0302, P0303, P0304, P0305, P0306, and P0355.
Figuring the bad gas was causing the misfire. I poured in a bottle of Techron and proceeded to use up the remainder of the gas and refueled with my normal gas as well as reset the codes. The car ran fine for a day and then the error codes returned along with the rough Idle.
I plan on replacing the spark plugs Monday, as well as making an appointment with the dealer but was wonder what else might be helpful to try as well as what does P0355 refer too.

Thanks

LexPaul

Does this mean you just can't dump any 'low octance' gas in an ES? Was it lower than 87? Best to go with what is recommended IMHO...

QuachmanES

iTrader: (4)

You hay have just gotten bad gas; I don't think the misfire is due to the low octane.

If I remember correctly, the 2007-2011 Toyota Camry V6's use the same 3.5L V6 (2GR-FE) engine as the 2007-2011 ES350's. I know that the ES350 says Premium only, but I think that's more of a recommendation; I don't think low octane would damage the engine unless it was tuned (drastically) different from the Camry V6's.

swiftscsi

I believe it was 87 octane. It could be a coincidence that the trouble codes started right after the fill-up, but up until that point we have always used the higher octane gas so I thought the gas might be the culprit. I’m going to change the Spark plugs tomorrow to see if that changes anything.

Still trying to figure out what the P0355 code means, I searched the forum but didn't get any results for that code.

Thanks

LexPaul

The gas may indeed be the culprit, especially if you always used a higher octane. I would check with the dealer if you can't figure out the code.

swiftscsi

Found out that
P0355 = Ignition Coil E Primary/Secondary Circuit Malfunction.

But will replace the plugs before changing the coils. Anyone happen to know the firing order for the spark plugs.

I'm guessing Ignition Coil E is 5.

Thanks

jagtoes

This is usually a bad coil pack but I would check the plug to make sure it is not fouled. 87 gas is OK to use unless you get crap gas.Here is a site with the various codes for future reference http://www.obd-codes.com/trouble_codes/

superchan7

When I had my ES350, I usually only used 87 octane. It's the exact same engine as in the Camry.

swiftscsi

Thanks for the link.
P0355 Ignition Coil E Primary/Secondary Circuit Malfunction

happen to know the plug order. Trying to figure out which plug to swap out.

Dave Mac

You know a loose or damaged gas cap will lead to a lot of strange codes but I don't think has any effect on idling or driveabllity. I had a coil pack go bad once and it was sudden and the car ran pretty much like you are describing - terrible.

Dave Mac

SickES350

iTrader: (-1)

put in high octane.. if it still misfire, bring it in. dont touch the car. sounds like either bad gas or bad coils.

jagtoes

1 is passenger side near firewall. 3 is center at firewall. 5 is driver's side firewall.

2 is passenger side front of car 4 is center front of car 6 is driver's side front of car.

swiftscsi

Thanks. I Replace ignition coil 5 and all long with all of the spark plugs today. (Used Denso's picked up from toyota dealership noone had them locally) 13.00 bucks a pop for the Spark plugs abd 114.00 for the ignition coil. I used a 3" extenstion a universal joint a 6in extention all 3/8 with a standard 3/8 rachet. Cut up the right knuckes and forarm a little but wasn't nearly as hard to reach the back as I expected.

Thanks for help and if ever your getting a "P0355" it means ignition coil 5 is bad. You may want to try switching the bad coil with a good coil, then try clearing clearing the codes and then reading the new error code. In my case I switched coil 5 for coil 6. This changed my error code from "P0355" to "P0356". As far as the check VSC and traction light. I noticed that these signals were triggered whenever the car missfired. So I think that since the missfiring vibrated the car it tripped the VSC and traction light. since changing the coil i have not had anymore warning indecators.

Thank's again.

jagtoes

Nice fix and thanks for the update