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engine misfires on 2.0 litre turbo

12K views 20 replies 13 participants last post by  The_Ghost  
#1 ·
i recently have had 2 misfires. Both during wet conditions, though they were brief, both times i got a service engine light, and both times the condition corrected itself. though the 2nd time, the engine light remained on. Both times I took it to the dealer, and both times the Dealer confirmed the "misfire faults", but could not find the reason for the misfire. Has anyone else had this condition happen to them?
 
#2 ·
Only had a misfire once and I was really trying to get on it then. Never since :)
 
#3 ·
when did you get your car?


There was a change to the intercooler for condensation and stumbling, so it depends on whether your car has this change or not.
 
#6 ·
My GXP is in the shop again due to several misfires that won't clear. For anyone else having this problem: I have a large amount of exhaust coming from one side. There's a huge black ring around the left exhaust pipe. My gas mileage has progressively gotten worse as well. Is anyone else experiencing these issues? I only have 4600 miles on my GXP.
 
#7 ·
lil goat was talking about this is a thread from earlier this month.

http://www.solsticeforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=32062

They mentioned the same thing about the gas mileage getting worse, and the "black" form the exhaust seal leak.

They haven't come back to report if their car was fixed and what changes a fix may have brought about.
 
#8 ·
Wow well at least I feel better that I am not the only one experiencing this issue. In less than 1,000 miles I had multiple misfire codes and cyl #1 completely shut down while #3 was sparatically misfiring through even a short drive. 2 and 4 seemed alright. I dropped mine off at the dealer today they told me there is a service bulletin for this that the spark plugs need to be changed out. They did this.

Now on my way back from the dealer it was running ok until I crossed a bridge and then all of a sudden I lost all power, heard backfiring, and then my check engine light flashed. I instantly looked at my computer and noticed #1 misfired again, but it corrected itself and drove fine once I crossed the bridge.

I am going back to the dealer tomorrow. I will mention the intercooler post I saw uptop. But I think now that I have had so many misfires that the coil pack might have gone bad.

:(
 
#9 ·
In less than 1,000 miles I had multiple misfire codes and cyl #1 completely shut down while #3 was sparatically misfiring through even a short drive. 2 and 4 seemed alright. I dropped mine off at the dealer today they told me there is a service bulletin for this that the spark plugs need to be changed out. They did this.
That isn't the way the TSB is written.

It was written for a comment of a crank and no start condition. That may be experienced after repeatedly been driven short distances without reaching operating temperature. This condition is most likely to occur when the vehicle is still a dealer stock unit or when the vehicle arrives at the dealership on the transporter. This condition may also occur if the car is driven in short duration trips.

DTCs P0335 and/or P0341 could be stored in history if the engine was cranked excessively with fouled spark plugs. DTCs P0300 - P0304 may be stored if the engine eventually starts with the fouled spark plugs.

A stored misfire code appears to only happen after getting a fouled plugged hart to start engine running.
 
#10 ·
This is the bulletin I am talking about:

Make : PONTIAC Model : SOLSTICE Year : 2007
Manufacturer : GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Service Bulletin Num : 060604054 Date of Bulletin: OCT 01, 2006
NHTSA Item Number: 10020834
Component: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
Summary:
TURBO ENGINE MISFIRE, SES/MIL, DTC'S P0300, P0301, P0302, P0303, P0304, P0193, P0201, P0202, P0203, AND/OR P0204. *KB
 
#11 ·
Engine misfire

I had the same problem with my 2.0. It read misfire at two different occasions.
took it to dealer the first time couldn't figure it out. Three weeks later happened
again, took it back to dealer, this time found out they had to put in hotter spark
plugs. So far no problems. Love this car and I am having a blast driving it.
This may be a recall on all 2.0 Solstice GXP's.
 
#12 · (Edited)
encriptor said:
This is the bulletin I am talking about:

Sorry.

I read "service bulletin" and "spark plugs" in the same sentence and thought it was about the "service bulletin with spark plugs".
 
#13 ·
Just happened to my SKY Red Line. Misfire codes and running like crap. Flashing Engine Light, then it stayed on the second time. At the dealer now as we speak... My car was built in October 06, and has 12,000 miles. I am hoping it is something as simple as spark plugs!
 
#14 ·
what different plugs ?

i still have my stock plugs...a part# for the hotter ones might be useful for me - ( 2.4 turbo ) - what "stock " plugs are in the gxp ( same as base or different ? )
i seem to always start off backa$$ ward and was thinking i might need a "cooler plug "
i have NGK LZTR5A stock # 4306 sitting in a box
sorry not meaning to hijack this thread- just trying to learn from yall

i'm also curious whats the DIFFERENCE between >>> misfire and knock
 
#16 ·
CajunSol said:
Spark plugs replaced, so far the problem has ceased. driven 1000 miles since out of the shop.

Did they fix the exhaust leak?
 
#17 ·
Guess I spoke too soon. Car back in the shop AGAIN due to misfires (engine light), still have the exhaust leak, and now I have a rear end leak. I should post pics of all the kitty litter in my carport right now :brentil: Obviously the plugs were not the problem.

The dealer I have been taking it to told me last time that if the engine light continues to come on after the plugs were replaced, it must be due to the fact that I put bad gas in the car. I am obviously not getting anywhere with those morons, so I took it to a different dealership this time. It's out of town, and they don't offer a rental, but maybe they'll know what to do with it. I am at my wits end here. AND I'm having to bum rides while my NEW car is in the shop. :cuss:
 
#20 ·
Obviously the plugs were not the problem.

The dealer I have been taking it to told me last time that if the engine light continues to come on after the plugs were replaced, it must be due to the fact that I put bad gas in the car.
Pretty sure bad gas is the problem after my three experiences.

Got my Sol back in Jan 2007.

Had an issue in April 2007 where a LOUD backfire and then car went limp. Pulled over, engine idling badly, shut it off. Waited a few minutes then tried to restart. Nothing. Had dealer come and tow it in. They found nothing.

Car ran fine until August 2007 on a trip to Clearwater, FL, when, again, car went limp and was idling badly. Took to a dealer down there, waited all day, NOTHING! WTH???!?!

Went to start car and run errands a few days ago (5/22/18), as I was driving, I noticed engine light was on. Car was running fine. When I got home I hooked up OBDII diagnostics reader. It said #3 cylinder/plug was misfiring. Didn't hear anything, feel anything, car was running normal. Two days later engine light went out.

I JUST NOW REALIZED...............

In EVERY instance I had put the mid-grade gas in my car that day or day before. These are the ONLY 3 times I have ever used the middle grade! That got me to thinking...

I use Premium 90% of the time, and regular the rest (when I can't get Premium). These three times I used the mid-grade, they were out of Premium and I figured "what the heck".

This got me to thinking that, at most gas stations, people either go for Regular or Premium 99% of the time. Therefore, the mid-grade probably sits in the tanks a LOT longer.

I don't know if it gets contaminated, has a lot of sediment, the gas breaks down...or what...who knows. I DON'T CARE! No more mid-grade for me. EVER!

I need to run out this tank of mid-grade and then fill it up with Premium and run a few tanks through. I did add some octane booster and fuel injector cleaner to this tank of mid-grade, so I have not noticed any perceptible issues this time around, other than the engine light and diagnostic code.

I am 99.9% sure this is what happened in my case, and it may be very similar with a lot of you. Just thought I'd share my findings.
 
#18 ·
After two dealerships telling me they can't fix my car, I'm throwing in the towell. Love the car, but don't have the patience or time to deal with the issues. Filed a formal complaint through the state motor vehicle commission. My GXP is officially a LEMON. Hope no one else has to go through this with their Solstice.
 
#21 · (Edited)
As I stated in wherever else you posted this, 99.9% of filling stations do not have mid-grade tanks. The pump merely mixes premium and regular together to give the desired octane of mid-grade. If they carry 87 octane and 93 octane, they mix 2:1 ratio at the pump to get the 89 octane. If they carry 91 octane and 87 octane then it is 1:1 at the pump to get the 89 octane. If you don't believe me, go to a local newer Exxon/Mobil station. On the ground, they usually color code the tank fillers. Dependent on how many different fuels they carry, the codes are usually as follows (or at least this is the case in MI):

yellow - diesel
red - regular (I might have red and blue mixed up)
blue - premium
green - e85
orange - kerosene

There is no in-ground tank designation for mid-grade unless it's a much older station. I worked with a guy that taught me this, he had owned 5 gas stations and recently sold them all as he was tired of the narrow margins.

With all of that being said, your car (if a TUNED GXP) shouldn't run good at all on regular. It shouldn't run good on mid-grade. Most tunes (GMPP included) require 91+ octane. Mine requires 93 and if I get less, my car burbles and backfires. If you're tuned, NEVER run less then 91 octane.