code:P0304 misfire//help!
11-01-2013, 11:32 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Join Date: 11-01-2013
Location: queens
Posts: 6
code:P0304 misfire//help!
Hi folks,
I own a Chevy HHR 2007 LS, the engine light has been on for a few months. It was tested as code P0304, the mechanic guy said to me, it will cost me around $1900 to fix it. The process includes taking out the cylinder, send it to repair shop, and put it back... because there is a cylinder only has 70 pressure, whereas others all as high as 180.
I am a girl, knows nothing about car.
The guy also said it requires 10hr of labor to take engine out + put it back, should I believe him? after talking to him, I researched around, figured out that the $100/hr labor was too high in NYC area.
folks, what should I do? I have an appointment with another repair shop tomorrow. How many hours would that take? any guesses?
Also, I don't have $1,900 to repair the car. what's your estimated repair fee?
many thanks.
I own a Chevy HHR 2007 LS, the engine light has been on for a few months. It was tested as code P0304, the mechanic guy said to me, it will cost me around $1900 to fix it. The process includes taking out the cylinder, send it to repair shop, and put it back... because there is a cylinder only has 70 pressure, whereas others all as high as 180.
I am a girl, knows nothing about car.
The guy also said it requires 10hr of labor to take engine out + put it back, should I believe him? after talking to him, I researched around, figured out that the $100/hr labor was too high in NYC area.
folks, what should I do? I have an appointment with another repair shop tomorrow. How many hours would that take? any guesses?
Also, I don't have $1,900 to repair the car. what's your estimated repair fee?
many thanks.
11-01-2013, 11:56 PM
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: 09-03-2006
Location: chicago
Posts: 498
First thing is how many miles on it ? second you might want throw a bottle of techron in the gas tank ,you can find it at the auto parts store .. after that have the code reset and see if it comes back ,if so then it might be a problem bad coil or the injector is bad which is causing the misfire ..start cheap first and also how much do you trust this mechanic ? just trying to help and i know your a girl and hopefully not taken for a ride good luck...
11-02-2013, 12:05 AM
#3
Thread Starter
Join Date: 11-01-2013
Location: queens
Posts: 6
Thank you so much for your reply
I've went to repair shop and gotten a test report saying that the problem was because the pressures of 4cylunsers weren't evenly spread out. I have the photo of report. I'll post it later. Should I trust the report ?
I have 80k miles on it.
I've went to repair shop and gotten a test report saying that the problem was because the pressures of 4cylunsers weren't evenly spread out. I have the photo of report. I'll post it later. Should I trust the report ?
I have 80k miles on it.
First thing is how many miles on it ? second you might want throw a bottle of techron in the gas tank ,you can find it at the auto parts store .. after that have the code reset and see if it comes back ,if so then it might be a problem bad coil or the injector is bad which is causing the misfire ..start cheap first and also how much do you trust this mechanic ? just trying to help and i know your a girl and hopefully not taken for a ride good luck...
11-02-2013, 12:09 AM
#4
Thread Starter
Join Date: 11-01-2013
Location: queens
Posts: 6
"After throwing in a bottle of techro and then reset the code"
How do I reset the code ?
The code went off one time but I went back home one day later
How do I reset the code ?
The code went off one time but I went back home one day later
First thing is how many miles on it ? second you might want throw a bottle of techron in the gas tank ,you can find it at the auto parts store .. after that have the code reset and see if it comes back ,if so then it might be a problem bad coil or the injector is bad which is causing the misfire ..start cheap first and also how much do you trust this mechanic ? just trying to help and i know your a girl and hopefully not taken for a ride good luck...
11-02-2013, 12:26 AM
#5
Technical Moderator
Join Date: 01-23-2009
Location: Fredericksburg, Virginia
Posts: 24,672
"the engine light has been on for a few months"
It never occurred to you that the light meant something in the intervening months?
Being a "girl" is not an excuse for neglecting your expensive mechanical things.
A P0304 code will clear itself after several warm up cycles with no re occurrence.
It never occurred to you that the light meant something in the intervening months?
Being a "girl" is not an excuse for neglecting your expensive mechanical things.
A P0304 code will clear itself after several warm up cycles with no re occurrence.
Last edited by 843de; 11-02-2013 at 02:24 AM. Reason: Edited possibly offensive comment
11-02-2013, 02:38 AM
#6
Platinum Member
Join Date: 04-09-2006
Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada
Posts: 7,032
You say the mechanic said "engine out" - did he actually say "engine' or did he say "cylinder head"?
There have been a few instances of the cylinder head needing valve work (due to loose valve guides I believe) that is related to the P0303 code, but that does not involve removing the whole engine.
Anyone here that had their cylinder head re & re'd and rebuilt for bad valves, can you chime in with the cost or time involved for the work?
There have been a few instances of the cylinder head needing valve work (due to loose valve guides I believe) that is related to the P0303 code, but that does not involve removing the whole engine.
Anyone here that had their cylinder head re & re'd and rebuilt for bad valves, can you chime in with the cost or time involved for the work?
11-02-2013, 02:39 AM
#7
Deceased
Join Date: 06-30-2010
Location: Kannapolis NC
Posts: 25,739
First off, 
to the forum!
While giving it a shot of Techron fuel system cleaner, and clearing the code by unhooking the Negative battery cable for five minutes may buy you a few days without a CEL popping up again....I think there may be a deeper problem.
A healthy Ecotec engine(as used in every HHR), should have between 155-180psi in each cylinder on a compression test, GM specs state that there should not be more than a 70% variation between the highest and lowest cylinder.
If a cylinder shows 100psi or less(your tech indicated one was showing 70psi), that's a fairly good indicator of an issue with the valve seat, valve, or valve guide. Or another internal component failure, that will shortly lead to having the engine rebuilt or replaced.
If you can post up a copy of the technician's report, that would be great. You also have the option of getting a second opinion, take it to another shop, show them the first shop's report and request that they pull the trouble codes and perform a compression test on the engine.
to the forum!While giving it a shot of Techron fuel system cleaner, and clearing the code by unhooking the Negative battery cable for five minutes may buy you a few days without a CEL popping up again....I think there may be a deeper problem.
A healthy Ecotec engine(as used in every HHR), should have between 155-180psi in each cylinder on a compression test, GM specs state that there should not be more than a 70% variation between the highest and lowest cylinder.
If a cylinder shows 100psi or less(your tech indicated one was showing 70psi), that's a fairly good indicator of an issue with the valve seat, valve, or valve guide. Or another internal component failure, that will shortly lead to having the engine rebuilt or replaced.
If you can post up a copy of the technician's report, that would be great. You also have the option of getting a second opinion, take it to another shop, show them the first shop's report and request that they pull the trouble codes and perform a compression test on the engine.
11-02-2013, 02:50 AM
#9
Deceased
Join Date: 06-30-2010
Location: Kannapolis NC
Posts: 25,739
