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P0301 Cylinder 1 Misfire Diagnosis and Repair for 2002 Dodge Stratus V6

Model: 2002 Dodge Stratus Fault Code: P0301 Posted: 2007-02-27 16:21

I own a 2002 Dodge Stratus with 68,070 miles and a 2.7L V6 engine. The vehicle has been experiencing recurring engine misfires, specifically Cylinder #1 misfire (OBD-II code P0301), which is causing several drivability issues. Symptoms include: - Difficulty starting the engine, especially compared to its previous performance. - Engine stumbles during idle and low-speed operation. - A brief burning smell while driving, which appears intermittently and then disappears for days. About a month ago, I visited the dealership with this issue. They diagnosed a cylinder misfire and recommended a tune-up, replacing spark plugs, ignition wires, and one coil pack. The cost was $291.29. Three weeks later, the P0301 code returned. The technician confirmed that all replaced components were within specifications and ruled out faulty parts. As a next step, they performed a fuel injection and intake system cleaning (a common maintenance service), costing an additional $145.21. Four days after that, the check engine light reappeared — though I haven’t yet verified if the code persists. The engine continues to stumble despite these interventions. I’m seeking affordable, effective next steps beyond fuel system cleaning. While a tune-up was necessary, I remain skeptical about whether fuel injection cleaning alone can resolve this issue given its recurrence. Any insights into potential root causes — such as faulty injectors or carbon buildup in valves — would be greatly appreciated. I'm looking for cost-effective diagnostics that don’t require major repairs or extensive spending. Thanks in advance! Rena

Related fault codes
P0301
Comments (7)
Anonymous 2007-02-28 07:59

What is the engine displacement? This helps determine if common issues like fuel injector failure or valve carbon buildup are more likely.

Anonymous 2007-02-28 09:11

The engine is a 2.7-liter V6, which shares many components with other Chrysler V6 engines and has been known to exhibit P0301 misfires due to fuel system or valve issues.

Anonymous 2007-02-28 10:10

As someone who works at a Chrysler dealership, I can confirm that fuel injection cleaning is often part of routine maintenance and may resolve minor misfires. However, in your case, I recommend performing a compression test on Cylinder #1 and swapping its fuel injector with another cylinder to see if the misfire moves — this helps isolate whether the issue lies with the injector or another component. I currently have a 4.7L V8 engine in service with a known bad fuel injector; it has only 15,000 miles on it, so your situation may be similar. Additionally, carbon buildup on valves can cause misfires and might require multiple cleaning cycles to fully resolve. Good luck — please keep me updated.

Anonymous 2007-02-28 10:23

I’ve already taken the dealership’s recommendations further: they swapped the fuel injector for Cylinder #1 with a known good one, but the misfire still occurs on Cylinder #1. They also completed a compression test, which showed normal readings. The only component not yet replaced is the fuel injector itself. I’ll bring up the possibility of carboned valves to them as a potential cause. Unfortunately, they’re unable to perform further diagnostics until Tuesday — so we're currently stuck in a waiting period. Thanks for your input, Jeff. I'll keep you posted on any updates.

Anonymous 2007-02-28 11:03

OK, thanks for the follow-up.

Anonymous 2007-03-19 12:47

Just a quick update: I brought the car in to have the OBD-II system rechecked. The P0301 code was confirmed again. After clearing the code, they scheduled a follow-up appointment for about five days later. During that time, the symptoms improved significantly — no more stalling or rough idle. The vehicle now runs smoothly. I suspect it took time for the fuel injectors to fully clean and stabilize, allowing the engine to operate without misfires. This suggests that while fuel cleaning helped, a deeper issue like valve carbon buildup may have been temporarily masked.

Anonymous 2007-03-19 13:07

I'm relieved the problem has resolved. I now doubt it was the injector — if swapping it with a known good one didn’t eliminate the misfire on Cylinder #1, that strongly points to a different root cause, such as valve carbon buildup. Jeff’s suggestion appears accurate and likely represents the true issue behind the P0301 code.