DigitalRelay

Hi. I'm in a serious jam with my daughter's 2002 Lexes ES300. We are on our way from Phoenix to Manhattan KS to get her back to school. I noticed the car was taking 3-5 seconds of cranking to start and noted that the fuel pump might be on its way out. Then, in the middle of New Mexico, the car starts running rough, followed by a Check Engine Light. I nurse it to the next exit, pull codes with OBD Fusion and see P0303 Cylinder 6 Misfire. I pulled the engine cover and see oil coming from that coil seal, pull the coil to see the boot burned up, and either no spring to the spark plug, or it fell out and and I didn't see it fall. We were 35 miles from a town with an auto parts store, so I used the spring from a ballpoint pen and some tape to put the coil back together after cleaning it up as best I could. I was hoping to get it to the next town and get parts. The car ran better for 15 miles or so, but started running rougher again going up a hill, then died. I pulled over and could not get it started again. Crank, but no start. I pulled codes again and got the P0306, but also P0351, P0352, P0353, P0354, P0355, and P0356. Most of my searching for those codes indicate an ECU or ground issues, but those seem unlikely as I was driving along with the bad coil when it all just died.

At this point, I'm really hoping the fuel pump died while going up that hill, but that's probably wishful thinking. I'm tying to source a new ignition coil, but I'm in the middle of nowhere NM and it's a challenge right now.

Anything thoughts or ideas? Could that one bad ignition coil be the total issues? Could it have killed something else?

TIA

LeX2K

What do the other coils look like? Valve cover leak means oil goes into spark plug tubes if left like that the oil ruins the coil(s) as you found out. Check the other 2 coils and report back. Forget about the fuel pump they rarely go bad in these cars.

Oro

As he said, disregard pump theory for now. I carry two spare coils in the spare tire area for reasons like this. Fortunately you are on the front bank, not back. Best of luck in a tough situation.

DigitalRelay

I pulled #5 when I tried to bandaid #6. Number 5 looked pretty good. Dry, boot intact. I definitely intend to replace all coils as soon as I can, but just trying to get to KS at this point.

The oil I found on the valve cover coming from #6 seemed like it was coming through the ignition coil seal, which was also definitely leaking air.

DigitalRelay

Yeah, I carry a spare coil in my own daily 2002 BMW 325i. I put a spare fuel pump in my daughter's trunk because I have had to replace it before, but neglected to throw a coil in there. It would have been nice for this to happen a week ago while at home, but here we are. Thanks for the input.

LeX2K

Don't discard the coils if they are original, OEM coils last basically forever unless oil gets to them. Wouldn't hurt to put a volt meter on the battery with the engine running see if the alternator is doing its job, that many codes is suspect.

Oro

To be frugal, what I do is go on ebay and buy two or three coils from a salvage yard off a low-mile wreck using the same coil. $25, $30 for a couple OE coils. As he said, the OE tend to really last. Our 02 ES has 340k miles and I think I’ve replaced only one, but maybe two coils. GS and RX have are both now in 180k mile range, all on original coils (still keep a spare or two in trunk).

DigitalRelay

Yeah, I'm more than comfortable going to the local pull-your-part to grab some good looking spares when I get back home. I'll likely have all 6 coils and plugs replaced if we can get the thing to KS. Unfortunately, where we are stuck has two auto parts stores and no salvage yards. I'm hoping I get lucky tomorrow finding one locally.