P0300 - Random Misfire - Cylinder 3 - Looks like a lifter issue

[Spec]

I was cruising down I5 this morning heading to Oceanside. Then I felt the car hesitating and then loosing a lot of power. I could hear something was definitely wrong with the engine.

Traffice was very light, so I took the first exit under limited power and found myself barely making it across the street to a safe place for me to stop.

I checked things out and I couldn't figure out whether it was a spark plug, or worse... in the dark, raining off and on.

I started it up again, then barely had enough power to get it to a Ford Service Department down the street about 3 blocks down. I kept it above 2k RPM the whole time because if I didn't, it would stall and shut down.

The whole time, the engine tone note from the exhaust was ugly!

Anyway, at the Ford dealership service department, and they offered to check the code at least - although they weren't going to be able to service my vehicle.

The code popped was P0300 - Random Misfire. At this point, I called Roadside assistance, and they towed me to a GMC service center in San Juan Capistrano... and here I am. No Camaro... :(

At the shop now... they gave me a loaner (Impala), and I am awaiting the call for them to tell me what the damage will be.

Here's the kicker - 83k miles, I don't drive the car hard... Warranty expired in March of 2015. This is going to cost me a pretty penny, I'm sure.

Your thoughts on what you would have done in a similar situation? Thanks for the feedback.

[Ragnar]

Sorry you are going thru that Spec. Any chances of bad gas?

[Spec]

Yeah, thanks. Probably not bad gas... I filled up with Chevron at a good spot this morning. Although, anything's possible.

My hope at this point is that I didn't do further damage driving the 3 blocks to the ford dealer, then again firing it up getting it at a right angle for the flat bed to pick up.

[Ragnar]

That would be close with your front splitter! Keep us posted...

[Spec]

Will do...

I'm worried... not of the cost, but that my car is fixed right!

Some shots filling up this morning... :(

[Ragnar]

Nice, you got it bad like me, my phone is full of pictures of my car! Maybe something like a knock sensor went bad.

[cornerspeed92]

I had the same code awhile back. It turns out i was sucking air in thru my factory catch can connection. My car didn't run as bad as yours, but that's what my problem was when i had a random misfire.

[Spec]

Busted rocker! how does that happen?? $650. Could have been much worse... now comes the test of their talents. I WILL take it back if I feel anything odd...

Parts come in tomorrow morning. Hope to have the car back by tomorrow evening...

[Splat]

Sorry to hear that.

I just had a cam installed on my 2012 SS, she has about 28K on the clock. Anywho... they showed me that I had a broken valve spring.

I dont beat on my car, I drive it a little hard from time to time. But I guess you never know when the shit will hit the fan.

Hope your car will be on the road soon.

[cornerspeed92]

I was just thinking, isn't that warranted? We have a 100,000 mile powertrain warranty.

[Spec]

Well, the cost was brought down at the end of it all - $550. I just got my car back and its purring like a kitten again. Quiet, no ticking... power feels good... somehow it feels 'firmer' or less 'loose' with the throttle... I gave it a bit of WOT a few times and the power is there, let loose the 315's just to make sure...

They replaced the valve spring and rocker arm on Cylinder 3... everything else checked out good and well. Asked him how this could happen, he chuckled and said chalk that up simply to mechanical failure. There is no indication that anything else was harmed and/or that anything else caused the failure. 12K/12mo Warranty for the work. So far so good... drove it back to Riverside without issue and it felt great.

I wonder, is there a break in period for new valve springs and rocker arms?

A shout out to Allen Cadillac GMC in Laguna Niguel CA for a job well done... very efficient getting me in and out in 1 day right before Christmas! Will go to them again if I ever need more work done... good bunch of guys. Thank you!

I've got my baby back. When Tony (service consultant) said I didn't have a warranty, I didn't fight him... my ride is modified and tuned, after all - effectively voiding the warranty anyway as soon as they checked things out. All good... didn't mind paying what I did for the convenience of getting it done right and efficiently.

Now - Come Monday!! ZL1 Fascia install...

[qcman]

Love your car Spec! Glad you are all good again without too much out of your pocket

[mar10]

Originally Posted by Spec

Well, the cost was brought down at the end of it all - $550. I just got my car back and its purring like a kitten again. Quiet, no ticking... power feels good... somehow it feels 'firmer' or less 'loose' with the throttle... I gave it a bit of WOT a few times and the power is there, let loose the 315's just to make sure...

They replaced the valve spring and rocker arm on Cylinder 3... everything else checked out good and well. Asked him how this could happen, he chuckled and said chalk that up simply to mechanical failure. There is no indication that anything else was harmed and/or that anything else caused the failure. 12K/12mo Warranty for the work. So far so good... drove it back to Riverside without issue and it felt great.

I wonder, is there a break in period for new valve springs and rocker arms?

A shout out to Allen Cadillac GMC in Laguna Niguel CA for a job well done... very efficient getting me in and out in 1 day right before Christmas! Will go to them again if I ever need more work done... good bunch of guys. Thank you!

I've got my baby back. When Tony (service consultant) said I didn't have a warranty, I didn't fight him... my ride is modified and tuned, after all - effectively voiding the warranty anyway as soon as they checked things out. All good... didn't mind paying what I did for the convenience of getting it done right and efficiently.

Now - Come Monday!! ZL1 Fascia install...

What was wrong with the rocker arm and spring?

[ocautomotive]

Originally Posted by Spec

Well, the cost was brought down at the end of it all - $550. I just got my car back and its purring like a kitten again. Quiet, no ticking... power feels good... somehow it feels 'firmer' or less 'loose' with the throttle... I gave it a bit of WOT a few times and the power is there, let loose the 315's just to make sure...

They replaced the valve spring and rocker arm on Cylinder 3... everything else checked out good and well. Asked him how this could happen, he chuckled and said chalk that up simply to mechanical failure. There is no indication that anything else was harmed and/or that anything else caused the failure. 12K/12mo Warranty for the work. So far so good... drove it back to Riverside without issue and it felt great.

I wonder, is there a break in period for new valve springs and rocker arms?

A shout out to Allen Cadillac GMC in Laguna Niguel CA for a job well done... very efficient getting me in and out in 1 day right before Christmas! Will go to them again if I ever need more work done... good bunch of guys. Thank you!

I've got my baby back. When Tony (service consultant) said I didn't have a warranty, I didn't fight him... my ride is modified and tuned, after all - effectively voiding the warranty anyway as soon as they checked things out. All good... didn't mind paying what I did for the convenience of getting it done right and efficiently.

Now - Come Monday!! ZL1 Fascia install...

I love Allen GMC. Never have I had a better experience buying/servicing my cars than Allen.