Toyota Code P0303 Misfire Cylinder 3

How to diagnose, what to check on Toyota 4 cylinder engine, 2003 Matrix

[@michaelt1349]

2003 is a damn long time. I hope it can be saved with these minimum services! My old girlfriend has a 2005 Matrix and that thing keeps running like a champ BUT it must be maintained!

[@MarzNet256]

I did my valve cover gasket at 152k miles on a 2006 Matrix 4WD. There was a small external leak and a little oil on a couple of coils, but no codes. Car now has 223k miles, and runs perfect.

[@charlesmielke9859]

It’s amazing the car still runs.

[@charlesmielke9859]

Thank you for the information.

[@Dac54]

I hope that the owner(s) of this vehicle do what's recommended and necessary in order to keep this vehicle running. Assuming everything else is in decent shape, this vehicle can go on for several more years with proper maintenance. It would cost far more to replace it with a new vehicle.

[@michaelbrennan7148]

Thank you Peter. Much appreciated. You da Man! "Send Her My Love"... Journey 1983....

[@stevemccooleq]

Would also put in a new PCV value while doing this other stuff. It's very likely a clogged PCV increased crankcase pressure contributing to the valve cover gasket leak.

[@KendrasEdge757]

Yep, that’ll do it for sure! Bad tube seals do it EVERYTIME! Nice to see her runnin with all those miles! Keep an eye on maintenance and oil levels and it can make it another 300k!! She needs a brake fluid flush too! Great job Petr! God bless~

[@paultennis9414]

It's a tribute to Toyota's engineers that their cars can last so long with so little maintenance. My guess is that those were the original plugs.

[@gersonhay984]

Those are great little Cars. Worth saving.

[@bigdaddymak1439]

As long as you put a quart of oil in it every week. They're oil burners

[@rightlanehog3151]

Petr, It looks like this car has had a tough life so I hope you can save it. 🤞🤞This Matrix is a reminder of the long-gone generation of Toyotas that provided generous headroom in even compact and sub-compact models. From the previews I have seen, this little Matrix accommodates tall occupants better than the new 4Runner. 🤨

[@MarzNet256]

I have a 2006, and the headroom is incredible. Such a great car.

[@efil4kizum]

thank you, RLH!

[@bblod4896]

Oil leaks destroy everything, especially rubber parts. Keep the engine clean.

[@robineggb]

great

[@bousquethouse398]

Fun fact on the matrix: the odometer stops at 299999. If it’s a US car that’s in miles, if it’s a Canadian car, that’s in kilomètres. I guess Toyota never figured the car would last that long.

[@kennewman753]

Hi Peter. A quick recently had timing belt installed sienna 180k 06 I have trac light on and vsc light .I was told it was off one tooth what kind of damage if left one tooth off?Thank You

[@sheerwillsurvival2064]

I was always taught white plug was running lean and hotter. But I guess being white ash it’s oil 🤔

[@Eddie.3-rifles2li]

What kind of milage can these do , is it worth saving?

[@efil4kizum]

it will run over 300k miles

[@dmaverick2396]

I am amazed how much abuse a Toyota can take and just keep going.

[@billsimpson604]

I would warn them what will happen if that belt snaps. Those might be the second set of plugs, or maybe even the original if they were making iridium back then. I think platinum came first. I have never seen that much of a plug burned away. It is amazing that they last more than a few thousand miles. When cars first were sold, I thing plugs lasted something like 5,000 miles. Changing plugs was normal. That vehicle has obviously been very poorly maintained. I wonder what the bottom side looks like. I think around the year 2,000 they invented some kind of new rubber that turned out to be far superior to anything before it. Hoses made out of it lasts for decades. It is super heat resistant. Ditto with the latest generation of plastics. Some are amazingly strong. Imagine what they will crank out once AI chemistry gets going in a few years. More uses of natural gas maybe on the way. Check out, 'Arctic Sinkholes' on KZbin to see how much gas is on this planet. It is quite a threat if too much gets released too rapidly.

[@slalomking]

This engine has a timing chain

[@Pallidus_Rider]

296,000 miles? Odometer will be maxed out in 3 more miles. I maxed out mine in 2019 (03 Corolla CE)

[@slalomking]

No, 3999 miles

[@davinp]

The headlights are cloudy and need to be replaced. This car wasn't maintained or washed. I see paint has faded on the roof

[@Nick41622]

My 2006 Mazda BT 50 headlights are cloudy after 18 years, but they still work fine. The sun causes the headlights to become cloudy.

[@billsimpson604]

Crest toothpaste classic white will grind that layer right off. It has marble dust in it. Then finish polishing with NuFinish vehicle polish.