Check engine light on cold start

[Conzo97]

About a week ago I started my 3.0 sidi omega parked on grass on an extremely cold morning. The check engine warning stayed on for around 30 seconds then turned off. I checked and there was a p0300 code for a random cylinder misfire. I blamed the cold weather as my car was pretty much frozen.

Again yesterday morning, I started the car and the same thing, but this time with the car idling rough. I pressed the throttle and the warning and rough idle disappeared.

Any idea what may be causing this?

 

[krusing]

Sounds like a sticky/faulty injector,
Depends on the k/s the car has done,
Possibly may have to replace them.

 

[Conzo97]

Sounds like a sticky/faulty injector,
Depends on the k/s the car has done,
Possibly may have to replace them.

The car has done around 105k kms. Is it common for these problems to arise on a cold start?

 

[VS_Pete]

May help

OBD-II Trouble Code: P0300 Random/Multiple Cylinder Misfire Detected (obd-codes.com)

 

[krusing]

The car has done around 105k kms. Is it common for these problems to arise on a cold start?

No, not a common fault that I know of, they should just fire up normally.

I forgot to mention,
Have the Plugs been re-gapped, and/or replaced ?
May even be a coil breaking down
Coil connector/terminals
Are you able to see which cylinder is mis-firing, [is it the same one all the time]
May be best to get is scanned with a more comprehensive unit to see the history, and read the Live Data.

 

[Conzo97]

Nothings been done to the plugs - I don't think they're scheduled to be replaced for another 15000 Kms.
Again, I received the same code this morning on another cold morning. It doesn't specify a cylinder. And again, the light was on with a rough idle for about 20 seconds and then it ran absolutely fine with the light switching off. ESP also switched off with the rough idle.

Before I take it to a mechanic (tight on money) can I try any straight forward troubleshoots at home? I have the Haynes manual which should help.
Thanks!

 

[Fu Manchu]

With some quick searching, you’ll find the actual manual available to download.
It’s only series 1. No one has found series 2. But it will be of use.

With some quick Googling what you’ll find is the VF manualThat will cover SIDI.

No other sources are going to provide the level of detail these have and that’s the only way to get it to help you in your fault finding.

 

[krusing]

Nothings been done to the plugs - I don't think they're scheduled to be replaced for another 15000 Kms.
Again, I received the same code this morning on another cold morning. It doesn't specify a cylinder. And again, the light was on with a rough idle for about 20 seconds and then it ran absolutely fine with the light switching off. ESP also switched off with the rough idle.

Before I take it to a mechanic (tight on money) can I try any straight forward troubleshoots at home? I have the Haynes manual which should help.
Thanks!

What type of unit are you scanning/checking the code with ?
It’s interesting that it only faults for 20 seconds, then runs fine,
Sounds like a fuel, electrical or a plug fault, or a combination of either one.
Maybe go to either Supercheap or Repco and see if they can scan it, and see if they can read the misfire history to establish which cylinder is faulting.

 

[lout]

battery condition?

 

[Conzo97]

What type of unit are you scanning/checking the code with ?
It’s interesting that it only faults for 20 seconds, then runs fine,
Sounds like a fuel, electrical or a plug fault, or a combination of either one.
Maybe go to either Supercheap or Repco and see if they can scan it, and see if they can read the misfire history to establish which cylinder is faulting.

The scanner I'm using is an ANCEL AD310 OBDII/EOBD+CAN. I have tried a different more expensive scanner and same code.

I'm thinking I might change the coils and spark plugs (they're almost due). It seems like a relatively easy and cheap thing to do and then I can rule them out.

Battery is fine.

Is it worth trying a fuel cleaner in case there's water that may be causing this?