Hi - here's hoping someone can help. My 2001 2.4 GDI Space Wagon engine suddenly died as I was driving along.It would not restart.Called out RAC and I was told that a fault code P0300 was picked up by the RAC guys code reader. This apparently is a multi cylinder misfire.Does anyone have any ideas how this happens or is cured.Fingers crossed.

I try resetting the ecu first and seeing if she starts. disconnect the batt for half an hour the hit the brake a couple of times and reconnect the batt and see. why it happened i don't know. if i was petrol maybe coil pack or the like but diesel i don't know much about. But i'd try the ecu reset first.

Thanks for the help.My Space Wagon is petrol so any more advice will be much appreciated.

I had exactly the same problem in my 93 RVR.I actual thought the cambelt had gone . I checked that then had the distributor checked and I had a faulty coilas it wasn't putting out any spark. Fitted a new distributor and the engine fired up right away. So I was one happy camper !!
Malcolm NZ

Ok so being petrol the first thing is to find if theres a spark, so rubber gloves at the ready and pull the first plug lead hold near the block and turn over engine and check for spark. if none do with all, If none prob is either coil or distrubtor. pull of dizzy cap and check for cracks, also check the rotor arm. You can check the coil lead by holding t=near the block but is a lot more powerful so be ultra careful.

Hi there in NZ our local mitsubishi dealer has a MUT diagnostic tool that is used to identify faults etc. P0300 faults are generic error codes across all the car brands which isn't much help for the average mechanic.

Cylinder misfire could be associated with a number of sensors, spark, fuel, ingnition earthing points etc etc.

Its a reason why the average garage charges so much, they basicly do a trial and error replacement with parts until they thing they have solved the issue.

Reset the ECU by disconnecting the battery for 15mins like suggested earlier. This should remove the error so the check light turns off and you should be able to drive around as per normal. If this doesn't work then it should make your trouble shooting a but easier.

Check for spark at the spark plugs as the CAS are problems on these motors.

Let me know what tests you have done?

Cheers

I have reset the ECU - car will still not start.I have tested for spark - none.Missus says engine was juddering on occasion prior to the dying day. Says it was akin to pulling away from stationary in the wrong gear.Says it was getting worse.

Try spraying some easy start up the air intake after the filter and see if it starts or tries to catch. If it does you now know its fueling. If not start ny checking for a spark.

Sorry, saw that you've no spark, where, at the plugs, so check this coil lead. still none, i'd bet its the coil. The stuttering before going would be a symptom.

A no spark situation can easily be an issue with the crank position sensor. But one larger issue shall be the camshaft position sensor. Besides yur theory , he should have 2 ignition coils on the cam cover on this engine ( a distributorless ignition system). So there are a few main things , The crank position sensor / cam position sensor and poswer transistor(ignition control module) and the pcm. Most likely it will be the Camshaft position sensor. After age , especially with models that have leaky cam covers after age the camshaft position sensor on the 4G64 2.4 engine fails, and the engine will not start. A bad cam sensor will cancel spark control by the pcm.

A P0300 is a engine misfire detected , in all reasons and means . A failing camshaft position sensor can cause this. By inproperly advancing the engine timing , or retarding it out of specs causing the engine coils to fire out of sync and cause a misfire. When was yur timing belt last serviced?

Didn't realise it was distibutor less. So more than likely your right. If its multi cylinder readout then its before the sprak is sent so i would have to agree.

New camshaft sensor on its way - fingers crossed!By the way my engine has 4 coil packs - 1 per cylinder.
Timing belt serviced very recently.

New camshaft sensor fitted - still will not start.

So yur getting no spark situation. 90 percent time ive worked on various models with the 2.4 (Space Wagon , Carisma 2.4 GSR , Galant , Eturna , etc) most these times juss killing flat with no start was usually the camshaft position sensor after , after running a few preliminary tests. Yu should have 2 banked coils, a coil on cylinders 4 and 2 and a lead leaving coil 2 going to plug 1 and a lead leaving coil on 4 going to plug 3 . Nun the less , the crank position sensor rarely goes out unless the wire leaving it gets caught on the drive belt or timing belt over time if not properly routed correctly after servicing the timing belt. A last thing is that , well it would be weird for both coils to fail at the same time. This would also cause a cylinder misfire , random misfire , but would usually set a coil circuit code , sumtimes when the coil fails and sumtimes recovers.

But not likely in a case where they both fail sumtimes. The coils can be ohmed to check for proper resistance. The crank position sensor can be ohmed also to check for proper resistance. In the diamante section there is pinned of how to check the crank position sensor and ignition sensor in the area pinned "intake and Induction"

There are 4 coil packs each feeding a single spark plug.Crank sensor wiring looks ok.

Must be GDI if using 4 coils. Non GDI had 2 coils. nun the less . Its improbible that they all will go out at the same time. So yuve checked the coils to see if they spark ? By pulling one up and putting the lower lead of the coil near the cam cover and have sumone turn the engine over and see if there is sum spark frum the lead?

There is no spark from any coil.What could cause this?-cam sensor, crank angle sensor or is there anything else?If you can tell me the possibilities then I will check them all out.Thanks for your help - Mitsubishi dealers are not interested at all.

Well its interesting that yu had a P0300 which is a multiple cylinder misfire. In a sence that it started misfiring and then killed. Usually i see the camshaft position sensor go bad. But yu have to thro other possibilities also, The TDC /crank position sensor can and does play a large part in this also. If its not telling the PCM the position of the crankshaft and TDC movement versus the camshaft there will be no spark. if there is an intermidiate failure with it , sum portion of the time it sets a code. Other portions of the time if it totally fails it will not.

There is also an ignition failure module located at the pcm , but this isnt the case. Yu can remove the coils and check resistance frum the base of the coil boot and the top of the coil boot where it attaches to the base of the coil. Was there any oil in teh spark plug tube ports where the boots sit?main things would be the TDC/Crank position sensor , Camshaft position sensor power transistor and PCM. The pcm should not be faulty. but its worth checking if its cycling the fuel system.

Use a process of elimination.

Using a stethoscope or a long skinny screwdriver, check to see if the injectors are clicking. They should have a timed clicking that goes with RPM while cranking or running. Grab the screwdriver handle in a fist, cover your ear with the fist and put the other end on the injector.

The reason to check injectors while diagnosing no ignition is this. The timing signal going INTO the ECU is from the cam and crank angle sensors. The ECU uses this timed signal for timed OUTPUT ignition signal AND the injector signal. IF the injectors are clicking then you know the cam and crank angle sensors are working.

So the ECU has the timed input and 2 separate timed outputs, ignition and injectors. So if the injectors are clicking with no ignition it's either the ECU (ignition output side) or the wiring to coils or ignition transistor.

If you think it's the ECU take it apart and look for overheated spots on the circuit board. It was pretty common on early to mid '90's Mitsus