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2000 Honda CRV P0301 P0303 P0304 Misfire at Idle - Multiple Cylinders Affected

Model: 2000 Honda CRV Fault Code: P0301 Posted: 2014-10-13 21:50

I own a 2000 Honda CRV with 118,000 miles. The Check Engine Light is on and the engine is misfiring, particularly at idle. Diagnostic readings show misfires in cylinders 1, 3, and 4. Compression tests confirm good cylinder compression. I've already replaced the spark plugs, ignition coil, distributor cap, and rotor, but the issue persists and the Check Engine Light remains illuminated. What should I check next? A mechanic recently suggested replacing the entire distributor, but would a faulty distributor cause individual cylinders to register misfires? If not, what are the most likely causes? I'm desperate and concerned about mounting repair costs. Any insights or troubleshooting steps would be greatly appreciated.

Related fault codes
P0301P0303P0304
Comments (4)
Anonymous 2014-10-14 08:06

Spray a fine mist of water onto the spark plug wires while the engine is running and in darkness to check for arcing at the connections. This can help identify faulty or degraded spark plug wires.

Anonymous 2014-10-14 09:55

I should add that the misfiring only occurs when the engine is hot. This suggests it's not a simple spark plug wire issue, as such problems typically affect one cylinder at most. Possible causes could include sensor faults or an ERG (Exhaust Recirculation Gas) valve malfunction. Additionally, I'd like to know whether a defective distributor would cause individual cylinders to misfire—any experts have insight on this? Thanks for the input.

Anonymous 2014-10-23 19:59

Check the crankshaft position sensor or camshaft position sensor circuits, as faulty sensors can trigger multiple cylinder misfires and persistent P0301/P0303/P0304 codes on a 2000 Honda CRV.

Anonymous 2014-10-23 20:03

The root cause was eventually found to be a single faulty spark plug wire. Unfortunately, this issue wasn't detected until after the distributor cap, rotor, ignition coil, and spark plugs had all been replaced.