#2 Misfire CEL Code# P0302

[SkunkBug02]

Hey,

I am BRAND NEW to this forum as well as Subaru. I bought a really nice 2002 WRX just yesterday and it has been amazing... until just now. I was taking a friend home and did a 2nd gear pull (not the first one) and a few minutes after that my throttle was pretty unresponsive and idling at 500rpm.

Went to a local store and checked the codes, said misfire in #2 and the code was P0302.

White smoke is coming from my exhaust, which normally means coolant. But I am pretty sure that I dont have a blown head gasket because I had some Subaru specialists do a pre-buyers inspection on the car and everything checked out (other than needed a new valve cover gasket).

I am currently a true noob at Subaru (give me time ) but i have some friends who know them very well. So if anybody could please give me some help i would really appreciate it.

[Rogan]

Hey,

I am BRAND NEW to this forum as well as Subaru. I bought a really nice 2002 WRX just yesterday and it has been amazing... until just now. I was taking a friend home and did a 2nd gear pull (not the first one) and a few minutes after that my throttle was pretty unresponsive and idling at 500rpm.

Went to a local store and checked the codes, said misfire in #2 and the code was P0302.

White smoke is coming from my exhaust, which normally means coolant. But I am pretty sure that I dont have a blown head gasket because I had some Subaru specialists do a pre-buyers inspection on the car and everything checked out (other than needed a new valve cover gasket).

I am currently a true noob at Subaru (give me time ) but i have some friends who know them very well. So if anybody could please give me some help i would really appreciate it.

Welcome to ClubWRX. "white" smoke is usually caused by one or two things.. Coolant, or automatic trans fluid being drawn in through a vacuum line (but I don't believe this is the setup layout for auto WRXs, but is for older Fords/GMs.)

I think the first thing you need to do is pull the plugs and check them out. Second thing to do would be a compression test/leakdown test, as it does sound like a HG replacement is in order. How thick is the smoke?

[moving this thread to the appropriate forum section.]

[mycologist]

I think it could also just be the turbo seals?

[Rogan]

I think it could also just be the turbo seals?

the 500rpm idle and such is what leads 'me' to think it's something other than the turbo seals.


OP: does the tailpipe smoke stink like burning oil, or smell kinda 'sweet'?

[SkunkBug02]

the 500rpm idle and such is what leads 'me' to think it's something other than the turbo seals.


OP: does the tailpipe smoke stink like burning oil, or smell kinda 'sweet'?

The smoke isnt too thick, from what i can tell anyways. Once I start driving the smoke seems to go away, its only starting off that i notice it.

I dont think the smoke smells like oil or coolant, I think it smells like gasoline.

[Rogan]

The smoke isnt too thick, from what i can tell anyways. Once I start driving the smoke seems to go away, its only starting off that i notice it.

I dont think the smoke smells like oil or coolant, I think it smells like gasoline.

then it should be 'black'..have you pulled code(s) yet?

and loss in power, once you get moving?

[SkunkBug02]

So I got my car running in about 15 minutes today... lol. Turns out it was a boot from the coil pack that just wasn't fully snapped on. Im guessing the last person to change the spark plugs (the dealer I think) just didn't reinstall the boot properly.

Thanks for the help guys!

[Rogan]

so it was black smoke, that smelled like fuel, caused by a non-firing plug, creating a rich condition in that cylinder.. LOL

[mycologist]

Time to change your oil.

[Rogan]

Time to change your oil.

indeed, with all that cylinder wash..

[SkunkBug02]

so it was black smoke, that smelled like fuel, caused by a non-firing plug, creating a rich condition in that cylinder.. LOL

Im new to Subies, but not new to cars... I can tell the difference between white smoke and black smoke and Im telling you this was a ton of white smoke...

So, now that my engine is running good and all, the white smoke has gone away. So does that mean it wasnt coolant? Could it have just been caused by my car's rough idle do to only 3 cylinders igniting?

[Rogan]

I'd say that was the problem. Why it was 'white' smoke, when a cylinder was full of raw fuel, makes no sense to me, but if it's fixed now, then I guess it's fixed.

dont forget to clear the code, and recheck after a couple days.