2013 Cadillac Escalade Premium 6.2L, 90k miles


Hello All,
I have a misfire issue with our Escalade and would appreciate some input having exhausted all my efforts. The "traction control", "stabilitrac" and "engine" error lights came on while my wife was driving home and the vehicle was running rough. It was tapping and seemed to have a miss, so I had both Autozone and Advanced Auto run a code
scanner and both showed the following.

1) P0304......Cylinder 4 Misfire detected


I ended up doing the following in attempting to rectify the issue.

a. Installed a new spark plug
b. Swapped spark plug wire with another cylinder
c. Installed new coil pack
d. Installed new fuel injector

I purchased a code scanner myself (Actron CP 9695) so continuously checked the code and cleared the code. The misfire issue would immediately stop after clearing the code and the vehicle would run perfectly fine at idle or while driving. I've driven from 25miles to 35miles at various speeds with no issues and no new codes arising. However, at other times when taking the vehicle for a test drive the misfire issue would immediately return not even barely out of our driveway. The error messages would again show and the P0304 code would show up again. I would again clear the code and start over with the test drives as described above.......

While I was clearing the code and taking these multiple test drives a few other codes appeared on my scanner.


2) P0300......Random_Multiple Misfire Detected

3) P3400......Cylinder Deactivation System Bank 1

I think some of these "new" error codes were simply generated from troubleshooting the vehicle but I could be mistaken. I ended up replacing all the spark plugs and checked for fire on each cylinder. Cylinder #5 coil pack was quite a bit weaker than the others so I swapped it out with the original coil pack from cylinder #4 which has a new coil pack. The spark at cylinder #5 was then equal to the rest.

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This is what I know.

*The fuel injector on cylinder #4 did seem faulty. I tried cleaning it while attached to a battery and it would fluctuate.
*The coil pack on cylinder #5 did seem faulty. I replaced it with another coil pack and the fire was then excellent.

Given that, I still get generated error codes P0304 and P0300. The vehicle does seem to be improving though as I can drive it many miles at times with no issues, as noted. So I am unsure if the computer just needs to be reset numerous times, if I need to replace all coil packs, or if there was some bad gas and it just need to run it course? Your input would be appreciated.

God Bless,
Ralph


P.*. We purchased the Escalade one year ago which was "certified" with a 3 month full warranty having undergone a major 150 or 200 point inspection by this reputable/high end dealership. In addition, I had an independent inspection performed and they only found one minor issue. The dealership we purchased the vehicle from immediately repaired that without having to ask. In short, it is and has been a well maintained vehicle.

OOOps. I also meant to add a third thing to "this is what I know"


*Every time I clear the codes the vehicle then runs as normal.


Ralph

Ok so you have a cylinder deactivation problem. More than likely is a faulty lift. Which in your case could be a good thing because it would be covered under your power-train as long as the warranty is still in effect for you vehicle. post your Vin on here and let me check it. The last 8 of the vin will be fine.

Thanks for your input Carnau......

Escalade VIN .........DR211525



Note:
*I cleared all the codes this morning and took it for a 25 mile test drive. The vehicle ran perfectly fine and just as normal. No issues whatsoever.
*I just drove the vehicle around the block and immediately I could feel the miss. I checked the codes and this is what I have currently showing.

1. P0304 Cylinder 4 Misfire
2. P0113 Intake Air Temperature Sensor 1 Circuit High Input. Note: I removed the wiring harness from the Mass Air Flow sensor and started the vehicle to see if maybe this was a possible issue. When I did so this code came up. I cleared the code as noted but has come up again?
3. P0300 Multiple Misfire Detected (ECM)
4. C0561 System Disabled Information Stored Invalid Serial Data.....Note: This code has appeared twice upon troubleshooting and I don't know what it means?


The Cylinder Deactivation code P3400 doesn't show at this time. It has only shown once or twice during this entire troubleshooting scenario. I think it first showed when I accidentally left a plug wire off and then started the vehicle. So that may not really be an issue?

Ralph

I see this alot at our dealership. We do a cam/lifter job once a week. See what'* going on is the Active on demand works on 4 cylinders. #1 #7 #4 #6. Those are the cylinders that go take the vehicle from 8cyl to 4cyl mode. If you go drive and watch your dash where it shows when the vehicle drops from 8 to 4 you will notice that'* when you feel the miss. One of the lifters is not activating fully.

Unfortunately your vehicle doesn't come with the 100k warranty. Powertrain Limited Warranty02/03/201314 MI- 02/03/201970,014 MI
I am not sure which scan tool you are using but see if it will let you into the cylinder deactivation system. If it will command the activation on and see if the skip happens. If it does remove the right side valve cover and watch the cylinder in question. You will see one of the valves not moving.

There is a GM PI on this. #PIP4568S: Tick Noise And/or Misfires On AFM Cylinders 1 4 6 And/or 7 - (Mar 16, 2016)The following diagnosis might be helpful if the vehicle exhibits the symptom(*) described in this PI.Condition/ConcernSome customers may comment on an SES light, engine misfire on cylinder 1, 4, 6, or 7 and/or tick noise.

This may be the result of an AFM lifter that unlocks as soon as the engine is started or one that is mechanically collapsed/stuck all of the time.

If an AFM lifter unlocks as soon as the engine is started, low compression will be found on that cylinder during an AFM compression test, along with a SES light, DTC P0300, and engine misfires on the related cylinder but it is unlikely that any noise will be experienced.

If an AFM lifter is mechanically collapsed/stuck, low compression will be found on that cylinder during an AFM compression test, along with a consistent valve train tick noise, SES light, DTC P0300 and engine misfires on the related cylinder.

These lifter concerns may be the result of internal locking pin damage, which may occur if the response time of an AFM lifter unlocking event is decreased due to low oil pressure, oil aeration, internal engine sludge, or an internal concern with an AFM lifter, VLOM, plastic lifter guide, lifter bore, and/or cam lobe wear.

Hey Carnau,

At this time, I have made arrangements for the Cadillac dealership to look at it.

Each time I test drove the vehicle, I always did so in Economy v8-v4 mode so I could see it switching. When the vehicle was running poorly with error lights showing (engine light, stabilitrac, traction control) and error codes; it was highly pronounced to the point a backfire would not have been surprising or even a stall. It didn't matter whether it was in v8 or v4 mode. The miss was such as a vacuum leak or yes a vehicle whereas one non firing cylinder would be highly noticeable.

As noted, I can clear the code/codes and the vehicle will run perfectly fine.

God Bless,
Ralph

This is another one of those GM fuel economy moves, where the benefits of it really do not really increase the fuel economy that much, but are a horror show when it comes to repairs....

Similar to putting injectors into the combustion chamber......how much has the fuel economy increased because of this? And once again, the repairs are a horror show if you have this system....taking out those injectors from the head, instead of the fuel rail....not to mention the use of two fuel pumps for this system....

One of the simplest engines was the 3.8.....injectors easy to get to......on the highway, this monster of a car(C and H bodies), could get 30 miles per gallon plus......

Wife just bought a Chevy Trax with direct injection......33 mpg(FWD, AWD is 30mpg) on the highway......and this car weighs nothing compared to a C/H body.....not to mention the added maintenance of cleaning your injectors at 40K miles, because of those injectors being in the firing chamber......also, they recommend spark plugs at 60K.....our old Bonneville was 100K......

So while making these vehicles more complicated, where is the vast improvement in fuel economy? I haven't seen it in the last 20 years.....

We had a period from the mid 90'* to about 2010, where there was basically no maintenance on a vehicle(outside of oil changes, tire rotations, brakes) until 100k.......in 20 years, the cars are much more complicated, in fact, they are called computers on wheels, but do they run much better? Where is the vast improvement in fuel economy over the last 20 years....the cars that have the higher mpg'* are basically little **** box hybrids that can accommodate two adults, period....

I am seriously thinking Tesla model 3 for my next vehicle.......but I want to get a lot more info on it........300 mile range?

Hard to believe these mpg ratings.......

The model 3 has a range of 300 miles.....let'* say my wife'* car gets 30 mpg combined(it doesn't).......so to go 300 miles, it takes 10 gallons of gas.....at an average price of $2.50, that'* $25 to go 300 miles.....

The model 3, goes 300 miles on a charge......it has supposedly a greater rating of 100 mpge, but I will use 100....that means is uses 3ge of fuel.....now 1ge, is the equivalent of 33.7 KWh......the average price per KWh in a home is $0.15..... so, the cost of 1ge is 33.7 X 0.15, or $5.55....now multiply that by 3 and you get $16.65, or a savings of 33% on "fuel"......

Compared to the Chevy Volt, which only get you 53 miles on electricity only, and then you burn fuel, and the fact that they cost approx the same, the same trip costs 2.77 for electricity, and 14.88 for gas(43 mpg), equals $17.65......

How the hell did I get on this topic? Maybe Tesla should pay me for this.....but until this model 3 has been around for several years, the jury is still out....

Carnau was spot on. My dealership stated it was the bad lifter issue and quoted $4,500.00 to replace all the lifters and camshaft. I contacted GMC direct to demand assistance in some fashion. This is obviously a design flaw or poor materials and I would encourage everyone who has or had the same issue to contact the GMC Recall Hot Line 1-888-327-4236.

Hopefully GMC will step up to the plate as we do love our Cadillac Escalade and American Made.

Ralph

Didn't realize I had not done a follow up.

The Cadillac dealership did state I had a sticking lifter issue. So yes, the AFM system has another failure just as carnau explained. I was quoted $4,500.00 to replace all of the lifters and cam. I called GMC to request some assistance or an extension of the powertrain warranty to cover the repair. Those efforts failed but my dealership ended up knocking off $1,300.00 after speaking with GMC. I'd like to think this was the dealerships decision and not GMC because I was not impressed with the later given this is a prevalent issue and they could have offered assistance.

It'* supposed to be ready tomorrow. Meanwhile, I purchase and will install the Range AFM Disabler.

Ralph