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97 Mercury Villager with P0325 and P0306 Codes: Causes, Symptoms, and Fixes

Model: 97 Mercury Villager Fault Code: P0306 Posted: 2007-04-27 17:48

My 1997 Mercury Villager recently reached 183,000 miles. Two days ago, it began exhibiting a slight sputtering and the check engine light started blinking intermittently before staying on. My neighbor used an OBD2 scanner yesterday and found four issues — but only two distinct codes: P0325 (Knock Sensor 1 Circuit Malfunction, Bank 1 or Single Sensor) and P0306 (Cylinder 6 Misfire Detected), each appearing twice. This morning, the car seemed to run normally with no noticeable problems. However, this afternoon while driving my daughter to work, I noticed a minor sputtering and then the oil light began blinking. My husband checked the oil the previous night and it was at normal levels. I stopped and added a quart of oil, but after just a few miles, the issue returned. The car is now parked in the driveway and I’ve decided not to drive it until the problem is resolved. I’m wondering if these two codes — P0325 and P0306 — are related or could be causing each other. From what I've read about knock sensors, engine knocking can lead to higher operating temperatures. Could this be contributing to my oil light issue? Additionally, the car becomes noticeably rough when the air conditioning is turned on. Although it's a Mercury Villager, it’s powered by a Nissan VG or VQ engine — known for certain reliability issues with knock sensors and fuel delivery components.

Related fault codes
P0306P0325
Comments (2)
Anonymous 2007-04-27 19:38

P0306 indicates a misfire in Cylinder 6. P0325 shows a malfunction in Knock Sensor 1 (Bank 1 or single sensor). If only Cylinder 6 is affected, the issue is more manageable. Recommended troubleshooting steps for Cylinder 6: 1) Inspect and replace spark plugs 2) Check ignition wires 3) Examine distributor cap and rotor 4) Test or replace the fuel injector in Cylinder 6 After each step, re-scan the vehicle to confirm if the code clears. Driving with a misfire or knock sensor fault can damage engine components over time. It's recommended to prioritize fixing P0306 first — once resolved, the P0325 code may disappear or become less frequent.

Anonymous 2007-04-27 19:53

The P0325 code is likely to persist until the knock sensor is replaced. Nissan VG/VQ engines commonly experience knock sensor failure over time. However, it's essential to also inspect the fuel injector and spark plug/ignition wire on Cylinder 6 — I’d bet a paycheck that a faulty fuel injector is the root cause.