P0304Critical Priority

Cylinder 4 Misfire Detected

Category: PowertrainIgnition System / Misfire

50 articles · 6 makes affected

What is P0304?

P0304 indicates a misfire specifically in cylinder 4, meaning that cylinder is not firing properly or at all. This is a critical powertrain issue that can cause severe engine damage if driven for long, and it's commonly triggered by ignition, fuel, or compression problems. Based on real owner data, this code is frequently reported in vehicles like the Chevrolet Spark, Honda Accord, and Chevrolet Tahoe.

Common Causes

  • Faulty spark plugs or ignition coils (commonly mentioned in owner discussions for maintenance)
  • Head gasket failure (specifically cited in Honda Accord cases causing multiple misfires)
  • Fuel delivery issues like clogged injectors (implied as a common misfire cause)

Symptoms You May Notice

  • Engine runs rough or shakes noticeably (owners describe rough running and vibrations)
  • Check Engine Light flashes or is illuminated (implied by diagnostic trouble code triggering)
  • Loss of power or engine going into 'limp mode' (reported in Honda Accord cases)

How to Fix It

  • Replace spark plugs and ignition coils ($70-$400, moderate difficulty based on owner mentions)
  • Repair or replace head gasket ($1500-$4300, high difficulty and cost based on Accord reports)
  • Clean or replace fuel injectors ($200-$600, moderate difficulty)

Root Causesfor P0304

Based on 19 owner reports

Confirmed Causes

  • 1
    another issue and they would have to track it down(5% of cases)
  • 2
    exuberant driving followed by a quick shut-down ( )(5% of cases)
  • 3
    is stuck(5% of cases)
  • 4
    sludge causing the misfires all along and there's nothing they can do(5% of cases)
  • 5
    solid cel and only showed p0304 (cylinder 4 misfire - checked spark plugs(5% of cases)spark-plugs

What Didn't Help

Repairs that owners tried but didn't fix the issue

at allignition coil problemin 4lo and hasn't been in many yearslightresolved with the spark plugsseem to have any coolant leaks

Things to Check

Suggested areas to investigate based on similar cases

engine codes i got a p0304 - cylinder 4 misfire detectedengine light and slip are also onengine light back onengine light on january 8thradiator and overflow on sunday

DIY Diagnostic Guide

Tools Needed

OBD Scanner

DIY Diagnostic Checklist

Based on 19 owner reports

Progress0%

Tools Needed

OBD Scanner
Step 1check: engine codes i got a p0304 - cylinder 4 misfire detected
Step 2check: engine light and slip are also on
Step 3check: engine light back on
Step 4check: engine light on january 8th
Step 5check: radiator and overflow on sunday

Owner Statistics

Based on 188,489 real owner discussions • 6050 confirmed solutions

Dataset (188,489 records)
$2,278
Average Repair Cost
3%
Success Rate
21%
DIY Repairs
188,489
Data Sources

About This Data

Statistics are aggregated from real owner discussions on Reddit, automotive forums, and YouTube comments. All data is anonymized and represents actual repair experiences reported by vehicle owners.

Frequently Appears With

These codes often appear together in owner reports. Check these if you see P0304.

Based on analysis of 34 owner reports where multiple codes appeared together.

Issues by Vehicle

CHEVROLET

2010 Spark

2010 Chevrolet Spark 'Battery Misfire' - Symptoms and Intake Leak Fix

51 sources
2010 Spark

2010 Chevrolet Spark Hard Start? How to Diagnose & Fix an Intake Leak

100 sources
2010 Spark

Why Your 2010 Chevrolet Spark Stalls (And How to Fix It)

100 sources
2018 Spark

Chevrolet Spark Misfire? A Fuel System Troubleshooting Guide

48 sources
2018 Spark

How to Fix a Knocking Noise in Your 2018 Chevrolet Spark

50 sources
2010 Spark

How to Fix Clicking Noise in Your 2010 Chevrolet Spark

100 sources
2010 Spark

2010 Chevrolet Spark Misfire? How to Diagnose and Fix an Intake Leak

100 sources
2010 Tahoe

Why Your 2010 Chevrolet Tahoe Stalls (and How to Fix It)

87 sources
2010 Tahoe

Why is My 2010 Chevrolet Tahoe Vibrating?

100 sources
2010 Tahoe

2010 Chevrolet Tahoe Hard Start? Here's How to Fix It

87 sources
2010 Tahoe

2010 Chevy Tahoe Overheating? Common Flexplate Issues & Solutions

100 sources
2010 Tahoe

2010 Chevrolet Tahoe Transfer Case Problems: How to Diagnose and Fix

100 sources
2010 Tahoe

2010 Chevrolet Tahoe No Power? Here's How to Fix It

100 sources
2010 Tahoe

2010 Chevrolet Tahoe Check Engine Light? Here's What To Do

100 sources
2010 Tahoe

Is Your 2010 Chevrolet Tahoe Making a Whining Noise? Here's How to Fix It

100 sources
2010 Tahoe

2010 Chevrolet Tahoe: What To Do When The Airbag Light Stays On

100 sources
2010 Tahoe

Smoke Issues on the 2010 Chevrolet Tahoe: What Owners Report

100 sources
2010 Tahoe

Why Your 2010 Tahoe Brakes Are Dragging (And How to Stop It)

100 sources
2010 Tahoe

Why Your 2010 Tahoe ABS Light Is On (And How to Turn It Off)

100 sources
2010 Tahoe

Why Your 2010 Tahoe is Shaking Violently (And How to Stop It)

100 sources

MITSUBISHI