Hello!
I am new to this forum, I own a 2006 Scion xB with about 150k miles on it. It was given as a gift when my van was stolen and I needed a car to drive. I have not had the car that long, but there are a couple of issues I am concerned about and need to fix ASAP without spending hundreds of dollars. To start with, the oil was changed about 2 months ago, but I have had to fill the oil up several times, as it keeps going low. The 2nd thing, I got in the car this morning and the engine light was blinking, the car started jerking and running very rough. I took it to Auto Zone and he said it was reading 2 codes, the first was P303 - and an ignition misfire and the 2nd was a Cam Shaft Sensor. Both could cause this. I have called a couple mechanics and they are saying I have to pay $120 for a diagnostic to determine which one it could be.

Is there a cheaper method of determining the problem, or has anyone else had something similar and can lead me in a better direction.
Thank You


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@kimi4781, Hi, I just got this failure code yesterday. Same symptoms. After 30 Miles of driving finally I got a P 303. I open to do a visual inspection of the spark plugs. I notice that my Iridium spark plugs (installed in like August 2020), have the iridium tip gone. I was not expected this to happened.
After replacing all four spark plugs, I start the engine, and the noise and engine behavior was like before. On YouTube one Scion xB first generation owner demonstrate that the spark plugs will not work without a good coil. I will replace the coil to see if this is the problem.



This is a new coil. There is a print "P28". I do not know what this print is for?



Here the piston #3 is the one removed. Need a 10mm socket to remove the coil.



Here is the piston #3 "naked" with out the spark plug. To remove the spark plug I use a deep socket with a dark color rubber inside to hold the spark plug (I think was 5/8" or 16mm).

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Well the camshaft position sensor helps a lot with timing of spark so I would fix that first and has a good chance of reducing misfires.

 

You could test it if you were curious but it looks like a sensor is like 15 dollars. From what im quickly seeing the causes of that code is directly a problem with the sensor or the timing chain skipped and I doubt the chain skipped with only 150k miles. Also I wouldnt pay to have this sensor swapped. its on top/side of the motor and its easy to get at. I can post pics if you need.

The oil loss... did you look at the bottom of the engine and see if any place looks oily, like a certain side or maybe the oil pan bolt is weeping? Is the exhaust smokey ever?

 

Hi, My Scion xB 2004, had recent oil change (about 1,000 Miles ago). The oil color is like honey, not dark or black. The exhaust is not smoking. The catalytic converter get an extension for O2 sensor. That is because in September 2021 the computer will get a failure code.
I install last year a new serpentine belt. The new serpentine belt may/can slipping off?
Why the car computer say is only P303? I may have a broken harmonic balancer?
Please let me know how to inspect the rubber rings of the broken harmonic balancer? There are teeths on the reluctor ring? Bay be broken or need replacement?
Thank you.

 

You've still got the misfire? Any other codes?

So the harmonic balancer is also the crankshaft pulley. The balancer part this thin layer, i believe.

So the reluctor is connected to the crankshaft and you would get a code if the teeth or the crankshaft position sensor were bad. It looks like code p0335.

 

@mrrcom HI, This reluctor picture is looking like a "lazy Susan"? The center can turn independently?
I replace the coil for piston #3 today. The failing code was erased. The engine is working without getting more failing codes. The coil of the piston #3 was damaged. I replace also all the old spark plugs. I drove on highway, and now I can speed more than 45 Miles / Hour.
I still have a noise when driving. I think my next (summer) project is: 1. to replace the rear bearings. 2. Replacing the rear brake pads.
I need to open a new thread on this forum about: 3. getting a new charge controller for a lithium battery LiFePo4. I will like to install the lithium battery under driver seat, to be away from the engine heat area. I am looking to get more suggestions.

Thank you.



I just replace 4 spark plugs, and one coil #3. The noise engine looks normal. The interior heat provide inside the cabin 130 Degrees Fahrenheit. The battery get charged at 14.0 Volts.

The RPM in transmission parking mode is 850. This 850 is a little high compared with before 675? Or I need to replace the PCV valve?

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what i pictured is the crankshaft pulley/harmonic balancer. The little arrow is pointing at the layer of rubber. Thats the area you want to look at of you think it's going bad. It should be super solid and not turn at all.

 

Birsan,

Let me ask you an honest question. Why do you think your xB has so many problems? Do you think it might be the cheap Chinese parts you keep installing in it? Do you think it might be extremely poor troubleshooting technique - leading to throwing the wrong (cheap Chinese) parts in it? Do you think it might be that your "mechanic" doesn't know the first thing about vehicles built after 1963? I think it's all of the above.

As proof, let's look at my current and former 2006 xB's. My current one has 140,000 miles on it and runs like a top. It's always been maintained by a Toyota / Lexus Certified Service Technician - my son - and myself. It's got nothing but OEM parts in it other than the suspension which has been lowered and stiffened for autocross. The car has let me down / stranded me on the road exactly zero times in all of the miles I've owned it. In short, it's the flat out most reliable vehicle I've ever owned.

My first 2006 xB is still sort of in the family. (My ex owns it.) I drove it for 90,000 miles and other than routine maintenance, put nothing in it. I then sold it to my ex who has flogged the living snot out of it. It still runs like a top with almost 240,000 miles on it. (Yes, my son maintains that one with OEM parts too.)

It's too late to undo all of the hack repairs and cheap Chinese parts in your xB. But you could easily find a better mechanic and start putting better parts in it when it actually needs them. For instance, I highly doubt your harmonic balancer is gone unless somebody did something dreadful to it while attempting a hack repair on something else.

 

@2stroked Hi, every car mechanic knows how to fix a car (as much as he/she can). If I will find a good mechanic I will keep my old car forever.
Thank you.

 

There's your problem right there. Not every "mechanic" knows how to fix everything on every car. If you look at the amount of training my son had to go through to get certified (on just Toyota and Lexus vehicles), it's astounding. And no independent mechanic ever gets that training. Sure, some are better than others, but as I said in my original post, cars have gotten a lot more complicated since 1963. Back then, just about every mechanic could fix any car. Good luck.