P0302 – Meaning, Causes, Symptoms, & Fixes

What Does Code P0302 Mean?

Your vehicle moves when gasoline is burned and power is generated inside a chamber known as the cylinder. Most engines have a 4, 6, or 8-cylinder engine, where more cylinders typically mean more power. Power is generated by pistons that move up and down while fuel is ignited at very specific times. A misfire typically occurs when the timing of this ignition is off. P0302 indicates that cylinder #2 is experiencing misfires.

P0302 Causes

• Faulty or worn spark plugs and/or spark plug wires
  
• Ignition issues, including failing or damaged ignition coils
• Distributor failure
  
• Faulty fuel injector
  
• Vacuum leak
  
• Low fuel pressure
  
• Camshaft and/or crankshaft sensor defective
  
• Engine timing off
  
• Leaking head gasket
  
• Low engine compression
  
• Poor quality fuel that is old or contaminated

P0302 Symptoms

• Check Engine Light is on or flashing
  
• Engine runs rough, hesitates, or jerks when accelerating
  
• Drivers may not notice any adverse conditions when driving
  
• In some cases, drivers may experience decreased fuel economy, fuel smell from exhaust, rough idling, or lack of power from the engine
  
• Commonly associated with error codes: P0300, P0301, P0303, P0304, P0305, P0306, P0307, P0308

How Do I Fix Code P0302?

With a misfire fault, the first step is to get it diagnosed to figure out what is causing the engine to misfire and fixed all the possible causes diagnosed.

If your vehicle is misfiring and you’re not comfortable diagnosing this issue at home, we recommend finding a RepairPal certified shop nearby to pinpoint the problem and give an accurate estimate for repairs.

These shops can not only help you figure out what’s going wrong before you waste time and money on the wrong parts, but they also offer a minimum 12-month, 12,000-mile warranty and stand behind all their estimates with guaranteed fair pricing.

Common P0302 Diagnosis Mistakes

Loose fitting electrical connectors and broken or disconnected vacuum hoses are often overlooked. Oxygen sensor(s) are another common misdiagnosis for P0302