Safety Warning
DIY auto repair can cause serious injury, fire, or vehicle damage. These guides are for informational purposes only. Always follow OEM torque specs, wear PPE, and consult a certified mechanic if you are unsure. You are solely responsible for your safety.
Diagnostic Aids
A missing cam pulse to the ECM from the EI module via the CAM signal out circuit will not affect the engine starting. To determine if one of the 2 coils (1/4 or 2/3) is not firing, use scan tool to monitor CALC. COMPRESSION OUTPUT while cranking engine.
- If the 1/4 primary or secondary coil or 1/4 control circuit is inoperative, scan tool will display 00000110 or 00001100.
- If the 2/3 primary or secondary coil or 2/3 control circuit is inoperative, scan tool will display 00001110 or 00000001.
Engine may or may not start on 2 cylinders. Ignition voltage is supplied to the EI module and passed through the interconnect to the coils. If this circuit is open at the interconnect, neither coil will fire. ENGINE SPEED will indicate correctly, but CALC. COMPRESSION OUTPUT on scan tool will remain at 00000000 when engine is cranking.
Normal CALC. COMPRESSION OUTPUT with engine cranking or running should be 00000110 or 00001001, depending upon camshaft position. If a bit in CALC. COMPRESSION OUTPUT is changing from a 1 to a 0 or vice versa while cranking engine, an ignition problem or compression problem is occurring. Refer to DTC P0300: ENGINE MISFIRE DETECTED in SELF-DIAGNOSTICS - 2.2L VUE article.
Primary ignition coil resistance should be 0.4-1.6 ohms. Secondary ignition coil resistance (tower No. 1 to No. 4 or tower No. 2 to No. 3) should be 3800-5100 ohms.
NO RELATED
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When to See a Mechanic
Stop DIY work and contact a certified mechanic immediately if any of the following apply:
- β’ You smell fuel, burning insulation, or see smoke.
- β’ Brakes feel soft, pull hard to one side, or make grinding noises.
- β’ The engine overheats, stalls repeatedly, or misfires under load.
- β’ You are missing required tools, torque specs, or safe lifting equipment.
- β’ You are not confident in the next step or safety outcome.