hey guys-looking for some input here. car is a 2003 1.8t.

yesterday morning when i started my car, i get a CEL. i scanned the codes and got a p0303, so i checked my plugs (i like to start with the easy stuff).

the plug in cylinder 3 had nothing left of the electrode, and the other 3 plugs showed normal for their age wear.

i replaced all the plugs in september 2011 with OEM replacement ngk platinums, and the coil packs have all been recalled and replaced around 2 years ago.

does anyone have any thoughts on why cylinder 3 would be burning through plugs like that? my first reaction is a failing coil pack, but i really have no idea.

thanks for the help!

 

Only real reason I can think of would be excess heat from a lean condition. Might want to look at the injector on that cylinder, run Seafoam through the gas, etc. Are the plugs gapped right at .032"? If the gap is wrong, or if that coil pack is going bad again, it might not allow it to burn the mixture right and create issues.

 

yeah i was wondering about the gap- i think they were gapped appropriately but i cant remember that far back.

after i replaced the plugs this time i swapped the coil from cyl 3 to 4 to see if i could get a new code to pop up, but after a few days of driving everything is smooth and no codes, so it might not be the coil.

i'll try some injector cleaners for kicks in case there is something clogging them.

thanks for the help