P0303...

2015 Inferno 4Runner 104K miles - Got a P0303 code Monday in my driveway. Drove fine on Sunday. I was super pissed, misfiring on cylinder 3. Plugs done 10k miles ago & its not bad gas. Drove it in my cul-de-sac & decided to get it towed. Mechanic is looking at it now...

 

Mice. Easiest to test. Swap coil see if misfire follows.

 

Most likely it's a coil pack.

 

Well shit. A mouse chewed the wires. $541 to fix it at my mechanic. I was going to put that money towards my next camping trip but I am thankful it’s not more. We want to go to the black hills this summer.

Wife & son are not pleased that they’re not allowed to eat in the truck anymore. He’s only 5. But his goldfish were everywhere & I cleaned it once a week. Still wasn’t enough. I believe it attracted the mice & then they found the smelly tasty wires

Damn it but grateful!!!

 

Vermin damage is covered by auto insurance!

 

I thought about that & wasn’t sure if I should make a claim over $541. I believe I have a $500 deductible & was lucky. I may still ask because I have USAA & check into it. You’re right I should still call

 

Sorry for your troubles. It does, however, remind me that I need to remove the air cleaner tube and resonators and give my engine a good inspection and rodent prevention treatment. One injector wire got chewed in mine that I discovered two weeks into ownership when bought new. I hold fast to the premise that it happened in transport from Japan or the west coast, as I never had this issue prior (or since), plus the remains of the rat/mouse presence were pretty old. That, and it only had 300 miles on the ODO.

 

This would've been a $6k repair at the dealer

If you haven't ripped out the cosmetic engine cover on top of the intake manifold, now is the time to do it.

 

I have a baited live mouse trap and two classic snap traps in my garage to lure vermin away from the runner (no peppermint used)…can’t even catch any mice.
I feel for ya @kolter45 so frustrating.
“smelly tasty wires” LOL