2011 dodge journey cylinder 2 misfire

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P0302 – Cylinder #2 Misfire Detected

• Updated: January 7, 2023

If you have scanned your engine computer to see what’s causing trouble and found the P0302 code, you might wonder what is going on and how to fix it. Thankfully, it doesn’t take a lot of troubleshooting to get to the bottom of this issue.

In this guide, I look at the meanings of the P0302 trouble code. I also show you what might happen when this occurs and evaluate how to repair it. 

Code P0302 Definition

What does the p0302 code mean.

P0302 DTC means that there’s an engine misfire in cylinder 2. The Powertrain Control Module (PCM) detects that a misfire is occurring in the 2nd cylinder in the car motor, thereby alerting the engine to set this trouble code. It’s a generic code, applying to all OBD-II equipped models.

While the P0302 trouble code might be considered generic, the repairs could depend on the make and model you drive. If there are multiple misfires occurring, you could also see the P0300 code together with other related codes, indicating problems with other cylinders as well. 

P0302 Trouble Code Symptoms

If one of the engine cylinders is misfiring, you should notice some performance issues. Additionally, the Check Engine Light will come on when the code is set, alerting you to the problem. 

Here are some of the top symptoms you’ll notice with the P0302 DTC.

• Check Engine Light
• Hard starts
• Jerking during idle or driving
• Loss of power during acceleration
• Lower fuel economy

Causes of the P0302 Code

When the car engine is misfiring, it can be caused by a number of problems. In some cases, the issues could stem from the ignition system, but it’s also possible that something has failed with the fuel system.

Here are some of the most common causes of the P0302 trouble code.

• Fouled spark plug
• Faulty Ignition Coil
• Defective coil pack/wires
• Bad fuel injector
• Leaking valve
• Vacuum leak
• Worn-out piston ring
• Leaking or blown head gasket
• Low compression
• Faulty computer module

How Serious is the P0302 Code?

Severe – The P0302 DTC is considered one that should be taken seriously. Driving with an engine misfire can become dangerous, especially if the car starts to stall in the middle of the road. If the engine stalls, it might be difficult to get it started back up, leaving you in a hazardous situation.

It’s important to have the P0302 trouble code examined as soon as possible. Running the engine with a misfire can also cause other engine troubles that will add to the repair bill. Plus, if the car breaks down, you might have to pay for a tow truck. 

What Repairs Can Fix the P0302 Code?

You must perform a complete diagnosis before you attempt any repairs. Otherwise, you could spend unnecessary money on parts that aren’t needed.

Based on what fails most often, here are a few of the fixes that might be in order.

• Replace spark plug
• Replace ignition coil/wires
• Install a new fuel injector
• Fix leaking valve
• Fix vacuum leak
• Replace piston ring
• Repair leaking head gasket
• Replace computer module

Common P0302 Diagnosis Mistakes

Most commonly, the spark plugs, ignition coils, wires or coil pack is going to be to blame for the misfire. However, you should never assume that’s the problem without first performing the diagnostic steps I outline below. You want to perform a visual check of the plugs, wires, coils, and coil pack before replacing it. 

If these parts look okay, you need to move on to other parts that could be causing the trouble, such as the fuel injectors or valves. You also want to perform a compression test. Additionally, if there are any other trouble codes present, these might help you narrow down what’s going on. 

How to Diagnose the P0302 Trouble Code

Just like a professional mechanic would, you want to follow a laid-out plan when diagnosing the P0302 code. Gathering the code from the scanner is just the first step to figuring out what’s wrong. With the right steps, you will have a definitive answer to the problem.

Here are the most common diagnostic steps for the P0302 DTC.

• Collect the trouble codes with your OBD-II scanner and use freeze frame data to see what’s going on. Continue troubleshooting based on any other trouble codes you may find.
• Reset the codes.
• Test drive the vehicle to see which codes come back.
• Inspect the spark plug, wire or coil pack on cylinder 2 to see if it is damaged or worn. Replace if necessary. You can try to move over the spark plug and ignition coil to another cylinder to see if you get a trouble code on the other cylinder instead. If so, replace the faulty spark plugs and ignition coil.
• Check the intake system for a vacuum leak.
• If this isn’t the problem or the code doesn’t go away, you will need to inspect the fuel injectors. 
• If you have an older car, you might also need to look at the distributor cap and the ignition cables. 
• Beyond this, a compression test of cylinder 2 will be needed. 
• Check the camshaft timing and inspect the timing belt or shaft if necessary.
• If nothing else can be found with the diagnostics, you might find the PCM is bad and needs to be replaced. However, with this problem, you’ll likely see other false codes or problems. 

Estimated Cost of Repair

Depending on what’s causing the problem, you are looking at a varying amount of repair costs. Some issues are going to cost far less to fix than others. Below, I list a few of the most common repairs and the average cost for parts and labor.

• Replace spark plug – $40-$350
• Replace ignition coils/wires – $75-$400
• Install a new fuel injector – $200-$500
• Fix leaking valve – $500-$2,500
• Replace piston ring – $1,000-$5,000
• Repair leaking head gasket – $1,500-$3,000
• Replace computer module – $750-$3,500

Mechanics Tips about the P0302 Code

If you find that the cylinder 2 spark plug is causing the p0302 code, you could simply replace that plug and move on. However, it’s always a better idea to replace all of the plugs at the same time. If one is failing, the others are probably shortly behind. Plus, by replacing the spark plugs all at once, you can stay on a recommended maintenance schedule with ease. 

You also want to make sure that the spark plugs are adequately gapped. A gap that is too small or too wide can easily lead to a misfire. Use a spark plug gap tool to ensure the space matches the manufacturer’s specs.

Related Trouble Codes

• P0300 – Random or Multiple Misfire Detected
• P0301 – Cylinder #1 Misfire Detected
• P0303 – Cylinder #3 Misfire Detected
• P0304 – Cylinder #4 Misfire Detected
• P0305 – Cylinder #5 Misfire Detected
• P0306 – Cylinder #6 Misfire Detected
• P0307 – Cylinder #7 Misfire Detected
• P0308 – Cylinder #8 Misfire Detected
• P0309 – Cylinder #9 Misfire Detected
• P0310 – Cylinder #10 Misfire Detected
• P0311 – Cylinder #11 Misfire Detected
• P0312 – Cylinder #12 Misfire Detected

Is it safe to drive with a P0302 code?

No. It is not safe to drive with a P0302 error code. The P0302 code indicates that your engine is misfiring on cylinder 2. If the cylinder is still misfiring, you risk damaging your catalytic converter or internal engine parts, which could lead to a very expensive repair.

How much does it cost to fix P0302?

To determine how much it will cost to fix the P0302 code, you need to diagnose and find the issue first. For example, if the P0302 code is caused by something simple as a bad ignition coil or spark plug, it could cost you between $50 and $150. If it is caused by low compression, it could in rare cases cost you over $5000 to fix the code.

How do I fix the error code P0302?

To fix the P0302 code, you need to diagnose and determine what is causing the misfires on cylinder 2. A bad ignition coil or spark plug is the most common cause of a P0302 code, and that is also where you should start the diagnosis.

What does the P0302 code mean?

The P0302 code means that the engine control module has detected a misfire in cylinder #2 that needs your attention. Misfires in a car engine can be caused by a failing spark, low compression, or fuel delivery problems.

What could cause the P0302 code?

There are many issues that can cause engine misfires on cylinder 2, resulting in a P0302 code. The most common cause of a P0302 trouble code is a faulty ignition coil or spark plug. Vacuum leaks or a faulty fuel injector are two other possible causes.

Categories: OBD Codes

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P0302 Cyl. #2 Misfire...Stumped

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Hello everyone! I am new to this forum, but constantly checked it in the past. My truck is a 2010 Ram with the 5.7L Hemi. I would also rate my mechanical skills at a 7/10, only because I don't frequently rip apart the internals of my engines constantly. With that being said, I seem to be having an issue with my truck misfiring in cylinder #2. I only seem to notice the misfire when under load around 2700 RPM or higher (doesn't matter if on the road in gear or if parked and just revving the engine). If I drive the truck smoothly without any hard accelerations, I can usually not even notice the misfire. But whenever accelerating on an on-ramp or having the truck on cruise control, the misfire is quite apparent. It will usually flash the CEL and go into Limp mode until I back off for a few minutes, then the truck will run normally. Like in the post title, I do get a P0302 code for cylinder #2 misfire. That is the only code I get. Here is a list of things that I have changed or checked: - Changed all 16 plugs with OEM plugs. Also set the proper gap. - Swapped ignition coil with cylinder #4...misfire did not follow to cylinder #4. Misfire still set in cylinder #2 after swapped ignition coils. - Swapped fuel injectors between cylinders #2 and #4. Misfire still set off in cylinder #2. - Compression test, 4 revolutions to get ~160psi in cylinder #4 and ~165 in cylinder #2. Seems to be within 10% and the values seem reasonable. - Vacuum test to check for weak or stuck valves...~ 21 in Hg at idle and may vary very slightly and different RPMS. However, once the truck misfire and begins to set off flashing CEL, the vacuum moves down to ~15 in Hg. I'm assuming that the truck goes into Limp mode and adjusts the timing, causing the vehicle to have late timing...just a guess. - After changing plugs, with only ~500 miles on the new plugs, the ends of the cylinder #2 plugs were a little black. The other plugs that I checked were white and cleaner looking. Maybe just a result of the misfire? Sorry for the long post, but I am just stumped. I really am hoping that since the compression test and vacuum test looked alright, I'm praying my valve springs and camshaft is okay. If anybody has any suggestions, I would greatly appreciate it! Thanks!  

I had a lifter go bad on my Ram at 160,000 miles. Caused a CEL/misfire and you could hear a clacking at idle, 1 clack every second approximately. When I pulled the lifter, I found the roller was damaged, causing damage to the sidewinder cam. Luckily, I had an Inertia race cam to replace and my mechanic had a spare lifter. After that, all has been good, 260,000+ miles. I wonder if you have a bad lifter, and if you hear no clacking, maybe it hasn't damaged the cam yet. Anyway, fingers crossed. I have an awesome hemi mechanic, had mine fixed in about 4 hours@ $50/hr. He had done so many race cams in the gen 1 hemis, he can do 1 in his sleep.  

This post has been deleted

I would say if it is not a cam or crank position sensor then its probably a bad lifter and/or wiped cam lobe. Check this thread out too: http://www.ramforumz.com/showthread.php?t=188978  

DRobSForce said: Hello everyone! I am new to this forum, but constantly checked it in the past. My truck is a 2010 Ram with the 5.7L Hemi. I would also rate my mechanical skills at a 7/10, only because I don't frequently rip apart the internals of my engines constantly. With that being said, I seem to be having an issue with my truck misfiring in cylinder #2. I only seem to notice the misfire when under load around 2700 RPM or higher (doesn't matter if on the road in gear or if parked and just revving the engine). If I drive the truck smoothly without any hard accelerations, I can usually not even notice the misfire. But whenever accelerating on an on-ramp or having the truck on cruise control, the misfire is quite apparent. It will usually flash the CEL and go into Limp mode until I back off for a few minutes, then the truck will run normally. Like in the post title, I do get a P0302 code for cylinder #2 misfire. That is the only code I get. Here is a list of things that I have changed or checked: Changed all 16 plugs with OEM plugs. Also set the proper gap. Swapped ignition coil with cylinder #4...misfire did not follow to cylinder #4. Misfire still set in cylinder #2 after swapped ignition coils. Swapped fuel injectors between cylinders #2 and #4. Misfire still set off in cylinder #2. Compression test, 4 revolutions to get ~160psi in cylinder #4 and ~165 in cylinder #2. Seems to be within 10% and the values seem reasonable. Vacuum test to check for weak or stuck valves...~ 21 in Hg at idle and may vary very slightly and different RPMS. However, once the truck misfire and begins to set off flashing CEL, the vacuum moves down to ~15 in Hg. I'm assuming that the truck goes into Limp mode and adjusts the timing, causing the vehicle to have late timing...just a guess. After changing plugs, with only ~500 miles on the new plugs, the ends of the cylinder #2 plugs were a little black. The other plugs that I checked were white and cleaner looking. Maybe just a result of the misfire? Sorry for the long post, but I am just stumped. I really am hoping that since the compression test and vacuum test looked alright, I'm praying my valve springs and camshaft is okay. If anybody has any suggestions, I would greatly appreciate it! Thanks! Click to expand...

Check dates .  

Its 2022 and I am driving a 2019 Ram rebel 1500 5.7 only 40K miles on it - that has the exact problem... did the same things, replaced the ignition coils and spark plugs... and the problem didn't go away! I love RAMs but this situation is annoying, since I am paying mechanics to fix what the code says and the problem remains... This truck has giving me headaches since I got it brand new!! If its not one thing is another... it was fine when it was under warranty, but now at 40K miles the annoyance is bigger because it's hurting my pocket! Anyone ever found a solution for this? The last thing I want to do is to go back to that dealership and be treated like crap... especially because they are only nice if you are buying a new truck and paying over MSRP! Service is a big F.U. to customers...  

I have 2014 Ram 5.7l hemi 117k miles. Got P0302 code #2 cyl misfire & P219B Air fuel ratio sensor Replaced plugs, coil pack, injector, compression good in cyl 2. Still runs rough at idle & acceleration Also can smell fuel at exhaust & checked new plugs & they are wet oily at gap Any ideas  

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• Engine & Transmission

#p0302 misfire

By 2.4journey2013 August 9, 2020 in Engine & Transmission

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2.4journey2013.

Hey guys, 2013 AT Dodge Journey with 2.4L. It's getting a random misfire (losing spark) at random times and it seems to be the same cylinder each time it does it. It's not consistent but more of a here and there.

-I've checked the injectors, good

-coil packs good, even bought a new one for cylinder 2 (#P0302)  

will be doing a compression test tomorrow.   

this seems like maybe a PCM issue? Can anyone else throw out any ideas? Thanks!!

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John/Horace

Welcome to forum. So plug was replaced at least once with a new one ( it’s rare but new plugs can fail right away) and coil was replaced?

Need to test compression in cyclinder two at a minimum, all four is best, more accurate with all plugs removed. Wet and dry test, table spoon of oil in the cyclinder.

How many miles on the vehicle? If compression is decent and plug changed at least once and coil.  Plastic intake manifold could be cracked or more likely the gasket or gaskets that seal against engine are faulty allowing extra air and a lean condition.

Thanks for the response.

it has 82k miles as of yesterday.

all plugs were changed 3 days ago. Number 2 cylinder kept giving random misfire here and there. Replaced the coil For that one specifically.   

the misfire isn't there always, kind of like a ghost here and there but for whatever reason when it's happening I can unplug cylinder 2 coil pack and there's no change To the motor, meaning I'm not getting spark but why? And why at random times and other times it can drive for 30 minutes or more without issues. This is why I was directed more towards the PCM causing an issue with the spark for cylinder 2 randomly.

I will definitely be doing a compression test today as well as checking for exhaust gas in the coolant as I'm getting slight overheating but could just be air bubbles in the cooling system.  

As for compression test in this exact car, do I need to pull any fuses before preforming the compression test? Or can I just unplug the injectors and remove the spark plugs and turn over the motor via push button? I'm used to older cars, mainly pre OBD2

the misfire isn't there always, kind of like a ghost here and there but for whatever reason when it's happening I can unplug cylinder 2 coil pack and there's no change To the motor, meaning I'm not getting spark but why? And why at random times and other times it can drive for 30 minutes or more without issues................... I would definally check the wires and connetors to this coil pac as  your statement points to a broken wire or  connector making a bad connection at times...good luck

Need to pull fuel pump relay and leave coils unplugged for compression test.

But first Put a engine stethoscope or a long screwdriver in #2 injector, should feel and hear clicking when car is running. Bad injector is rare but possible. Node light plugged in harness will prove signal from ECM.

Bad Intake manifold gasket possible.

On 8/9/2020 at 11:10 AM, 2late4u said: the misfire isn't there always, kind of like a ghost here and there but for whatever reason when it's happening I can unplug cylinder 2 coil pack and there's no change To the motor, meaning I'm not getting spark but why? And why at random times and other times it can drive for 30 minutes or more without issues................... I would definally check the wires and connetors to this coil pac as  your statement points to a broken wire or  connector making a bad connection at times...good luck

Checked the wires for that coil pack, everything seemed fine.   

I also checked the radiator for any exhaust fumes leaking into the cooling system via the tester and chemical color. Also was OK there.

Will be doing a final Compression test this evening and if that checks out.

-replaced Spark plugs all 4 correct ones 

-replaced coil pack for cylinder 2 (misfire)

-getting fuel and spark before it randomly misfires -checked cylinder 2 coil pack wiring for cracks/breaks - none

to me, I think it's an issue with the PCM. Why would it have spark 10 mins and then start misfiring with no spark on cylinder 2 for xx amount of time and then resume normal spark to all 4 coil packs and it's not the same every time it's intermittent. Doesn't the PCM control spark among other things?

PCM rarely fail on most vehicles. Bad cps sensor are known to sometimes cause cyclinder misfire. Also a wear item.

Could also be an issue with plastic intake manifold, either a crack or a seal issue.

2 hours ago, John/Horace said: PCM rarely fail on most vehicles. Bad cps sensor are known to sometimes cause cyclinder misfire. Also a wear item. Could also be an issue with plastic intake manifold, either a crack or a seal issue.  

After I check those and come back with OK, I'll be at a loss.   

warming it up now for compression test with the computer reset. Seeing if it will misfire while just idling.

Compression test completed:

When replacing the CPS on this car, does it have to "relearn" or is it a plug and play? Newer cars are such headaches.

Compression looks good, you can forget about that as an issue. CPS I believe is plug and play on journey 2.4.  Part is cheap, I would use oem if changing it, critical part for engine.

Picking up a new CPS today or tomorrow and throwing it in, hopefully that does the trick. 

Just a quick thought, could the EGR valve be causing an issue with idling misfire/stumble?

I noticed last night I reset the computer, warmed it up (idled fine no misfire) took off And test drove about 5-6 miles with it as normal no misfire. I came to a stop sign shortly after and noticed the car slightly misfiring but no check engine light on, eased into the throttle and it drove as normal again for about 1.5 miles and I pulled over to check, still running normal. Finally got home and let it idle for a good while and it didn't Misfire. So it's very confusing.  

I noticed the coolant temp got up to about 210-212*F and that's when it seemed like misfire/rough idle at the stop sign but once it lowered back down it seemed fine.

That temp is too high,  you probably need a new thermostat first. High temp I think can cause cyclinder misfire on its own.

If it was a EGR issue there would probably be different codes coming up. The CPS sensors are a wear item and you will need one eventually; I would do thermostat right away.

Awesome, will do! I replaced the CPS but will wait to drive until I replace the t-stat. 

My daughter in laws 2.4 CPS went at only 69k miles, but a 2012. Started to randomly die on her, kinda dangerous.

I usually do them early on most of my cars. Fairly cheap part so not worth messing around if you are keeping car long term, IMO.

I’m surprised car is not boiling over with temp up to 212. If you do drive it, carry some water with you until you change out stat.

my 2014 usually runs around 195 and on hot alabama days the temp after driving and then idling can get up to 210-215 but then cools down some after a few minutes, if it gets that temp and stays there then yes it would be running hot

I noticed the coolant wasn't flowing through the radiator just pretty much stand still the entire warm up (stuck closed?).I have purchased 2 Thermostats for the journey and will be replacing them shortly. I'll update this thread when that's completed.

I have the new CPS installed but haven't driven the car since I put it in. Will test it out after the cooling parts are replaced and hopefully the misfire is gone.

yes, it looks like there are 2 for the 2.4 2013 journey. One that sits in the plastic inlet like the above picture and one that actually sits against the cylinder head by the plastic water inlet.

good to know my daughter has a 2.4 in her jeep i need to research this as well  just in case...LOL

yeah, looks like this will take a little longer than usual. I don't really feel like going out and replacing these parts in 100* weather right now! But as soon as it's completed I'll test drive and be back to this thread.

replaced both thermostat even though it's 95*, the overheating seems to have settled down. I'm not exactly sure the low speed fuse is working for the radiator fan but when I was driving it didn't get above 200* and when I was idling it got to about 210-215* and it's still 90* weather outside.

I noticed that the stumble happened. I went and added air to the tire and when I restarted the car it stumbled slightly for a minute or so but the check engine never came on. Once I pulled into the road it started to drive fine. The intake manifold gasket, if bad or failing would be constant. I dot think it would be ok here and then shortly leaking air.

is there anything else I should check relating to the idle stumble? Air filter looks ok. I'm just starting to get stumped.

could it be the Mass airflow sensor messing up?

No more misfire codes is good. There is no mass air flow , you have a MAP manifold absolute pressure sensor. It should set a code if bad. Idle issue is possible symptom. People sometimes clean sensor with intake manifold cleaner. It's cheap about $25.

Might try that, yeah not getting any codes. Does this car have an in-line fuel filter near the gas tank? Possibly gunked up injectors, will be running some cleaner through it.  

I'm working on this for a family member or I'd have all the service manuals at least for my car, etc lol.

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Misfire on 2 Cylinders – What Are The Underlying Reasons?

Misfire on 2 cylinders (more commonly known as engine misfires) is no stranger to drivers, even seasoned ones.

There’s a sudden lack of power in your engines, causing sluggish starters and lackluster performances. You can imagine all the disasters that might follow if you persistently ignore the dilemma!

Still, going blindly into it is a huge No; if you try to fix the problem without understanding the symptoms and functions, things will only worsen.

That’s why this article is crafted to give you more insights into the matter. Click for more info.

What Causes A Misfire On 2 Cylinders? The Common Symptoms

The most common reasons are: ignition system issues, fuel delivery problems (ex: damaged injector circuits or faulty fuel injectors), and engine mechanical errors (ex: weak piston ring or sticking valves).

But numerous factors are at play regarding a cylinder misfire (or P0302 misfire codes).

You should also note that if other trouble codes go with P0202, chances are there is more than just one culprit. The code P0202 itself indicates problems with Cylinder 2.

Meanwhile, multiple misfiring engine codes imply more serious issues – such as low fuel pressures or vacuum leaks – which may affect different cylinders inside the car.

Nevertheless, we must admit that diagnosing and differentiating the codes might be challenging; consistent cylinder misfires usually push the PCM/ECM to shut its injectors entirely to protect catalytic converters.

To make matters worse, the PCM sometimes gets confused and causes tons of misfiring codes (including P0300) to set off simultaneously.

That’s why keeping an eye on more intricate symptoms of P0302 is important. A vehicle with misfiring engine issues is expected to exhibit the following signals:

• Too much fuel consumption
• Incomplete combustion
• Notable power decrease
• Foul exhaust odor
• Troubles starting the car engine
• Running rough
• Flashing or blinking check engine lights

What Is The Consequence Of Misfire On 2 Cylinders?

When cylinder misfires happen, the car engine will momentarily stumble and lose its speed (RPMs) . Even though that might dissipate and send your car back to its normal condition, do not yet rejoice.

No immediate treatments or fixes mean such misfires will likely happen again soon, shortening your car’s lifespan as a result.

Worse, a cylinder two misfire equates to taxing the car engine. Numerous misfiring incidents that occur back to back can strain the engine components, leading to more severe issues later on.

Cases in point include valve opening burning, back pressure via the intake, and high head pressure.

The car engine is not designed for those tasks, so it’s not a surprise that it only worsens and worsens every time you bring the vehicle onto the road.

How To Fix A Cylinder 2 Misfire

How do you fix a cylinder 2 misfire / 2 cylinders misfiring ? Choose one of the two methods for cylinder 2 misfire repair illustrated below.

Method 1. Fix The Fuel and Air Misfires

Step 1. Narrow the cause via other error codes.

When using diagnostic scanners to inspect whether there is any specific cylinder error code, you might realize other codes also pop up.

Though they are not directly relevant to your current automobile misfire, do not jump to the conclusion; surprises might await! 

For instance, if there are error codes regarding fuel deliveries (pumps, injectors), O2 sensors, or mass airflow sensors (check quick tips for resetting here), they might be indirect culprits that led to the misfire.

Other scenarios to consider:

• If the car misfire does not point to any specific cylinder, chances are your engine does not get sufficient fuel or air for proper operation, which stems from failing fuel systems.
• When the oxygen or airflow sensors fail, they might provide your engine computer with incorrect data, causing misfires.

Step 2. Identify and seal vacuum leaks

Broken vacuum lines might push your fuel injected motor to misfire; so you should look around the bay for damaged or severed rubber lines from the intake manifold (often located near the engine’s top with a linked intake).

After that, replace any malfunctioning vacuum line you can find. That can resolve the car misfire – or at least make your engine run much better.

Step 3. Disconnect every fuel injector one by one and look for changes.

Suppose you still struggle to find the misfiring cylinders; it’s time to disconnect the fuel injector’s power to inspect how it might affect the engine.

Find the connector’s connection to the injector’s back. (you may consult a repair manual when encountering any difficulty). Then observe what’s happening next: 

• If the car runs worse after disconnecting one injector, reconnect it before moving on to other ones. 
• If the engine behaviors experience no changes, the cylinder is obviously not firing, which is the root of all your problems.

Step 4. Test the fuel system

Attach the fuel pump and pressure gauge located near the engine’s fuel rail end.

Look up the right pressure specifications in the vehicle’s repair manual and compare them to your readings of the idle engine. After that, go on to put them against the RPMs mentioned in the manual.

Is the pressure inconsistent or low? Then it’s clear the fuel systems before the rail have caused the misfire. In this case, you must replace the fuel pumps or filters.

That involves removing the pump from the tank – which might be a bit too much for some inexperienced drivers. Seeking help from professional mechanics will be your best bet.

Step 5. Replace your fuel injectors if they are not working

Link the battery’s negative terminal to some test lights. Next, press the probes into the wires that lead to each injector.

Does the light come on? It means energy is flowing into every injector. Otherwise, there are possible electrical issues that demand professional services and inspections.

If the scanner announces error codes specifically related to the injectors, then the issue is much simpler: you only need to replace that injector.

Sometimes, cleaning it is enough: pour some system cleaner into the gas tank, and you are all set!

Step 6. Replace your oxygen or mass airflow sensors if they suffer from errors

Should the scanner imply that your oxygen/airflow sensors undergo problems, they might be the root cause behind the misfire.

A standard airflow sensor is often installed right on the automobile intake pipe, past the filters. Meanwhile, oxygen sensors usually stay on the exhaust, right in front of the catalytic converters.

Remove the airflow sensors by extracting the screws that bind them to the intake. Then disconnect the wiring pigtails that lead into the devices.

And in the case of oxygen sensors, disconnect and unscrew the wires using oxygen sensor sockets.

Method 2. Address Mechanical or Electrical Misfires

Step 1. Check the spark plugs in your vehicle for damage signs.

Once you have already figured out which cylinders are misfiring, the first step is to disconnect all the plug wires going into their spark plugs – preferably using spark plug sockets.

The damage will help determine where the misfire cause comes from.

If the operational issue is merely because the plug is old, replacing it is enough to resolve your current problem. Ensure the new spark plug is properly gapped and positioned.

Step 2. Test the ignition coil pack using a multimeter.

A spark plug ignites the fuel and air mixture via transmitted currents from the car’s coil pack, which means random misfires will ensue if this compartment is faulty.

Most modern vehicles offer specific fault codes for coils going bad. Nevertheless, it’s easy to test that by yourself: simply disconnect the plug wire and connect Ohmmeters to its two pins.

And do not forget to perform a quick compression test, which confirms whether the inline spark, fuel, and air are in order.

Step 3. Remove the head gaskets if there’s no compression in the nearby cylinders.

Misfires in 2 cylinders close to each other imply blown head gaskets, which is shown in the oil coolant, bluish exhaust smokes, and oil leaks. Remove these gaskets and install new ones in their places.

Our inclusive and well-researched articles have dived deep into all underlying issues and appropriate fixes regarding misfire on 2 cylinders.

Though the steps to troubleshoot the problem are not difficult, they DO require a certain level of attention and caution.

Follow our guidelines carefully, and do not skip any seemingly small detail. Grasping the full-fledged consequences of engine misfires is also critical.

As always, you are welcome to write to us with more questions or clarifications about the first and second cylinder misfire.

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2011-13 Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep V-6 Engine Issues

Vehicles affected by this service bulletin:

• 2011 Chrysler 200
• 2012 Chrysler 200
• 2013 Chrysler 200
• 2011 Chrysler 300
• 2012 Chrysler 300
• 2013 Chrysler 300
• 2011 Chrysler Town & Country
• 2012 Chrysler Town & Country
• 2013 Chrysler Town & Country
• 2011 Dodge Journey
• 2012 Dodge Journey
• 2013 Dodge Journey
• 2011 Dodge Avenger
• 2012 Dodge Avenger
• 2013 Dodge Avenger
• 2011 Dodge Challenger
• 2012 Dodge Challenger
• 2013 Dodge Challenger
• 2011 Dodge Charger
• 2012 Dodge Charger
• 2013 Dodge Charger
• 2011 Dodge Grand Caravan
• 2012 Dodge Grand Caravan
• 2013 Dodge Grand Caravan
• 2011 Dodge Durango
• 2012 Dodge Durango
• 2013 Dodge Durango
• 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee
• 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee
• 2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee
• 2012 Jeep Wrangler
• 2013 Jeep Wrangler

Only those equipped with 3.6-liter V-6.

The problem: Owners may note a lit Check Engine light accompanied by rough engine operation.

See More Service Bulletins

Corrective action: Dealers will check for trouble codes related to engine misfire on cylinders 2, 4 and 6. If misfire is noted, dealers will perform a cylinder leakage test. If loss of pressure is observed, dealers will replace the cylinder head.

Warranty info: Repairs will be done under the provisions of an extended engine warranty. Warranty coverage will be determined on a case-by-case basis.

What owners should do: Call your local dealer with your vehicle’s identification number to determine if it is eligible for this extended warranty. You can also call Chrysler at 800-247-9753, Dodge at 800-423-6343, Jeep at 877-426-5337 or NHTSA at 888-327-4236. Reference TSB No. 09-002-14B.

Need to find a dealer for service? Go to Cars.com Service & Repair to find a local dealer.

Editor’s note: This is only one of dozens of service bulletins issued each month by automakers. Please check your automaker’s website to see if your vehicle has any service bulletins pending.

Check for recalls here on Cars.com.

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• General Information

History of Moscow

Moscow has seen its fair share of history, from invasions to revolutions : these days it is home to a wealth of culture and is one of the most populated capitals in the world.

The name of the Russian city comes from the river that courses through it, the  Moskva . While the exact date of the founding of the metropolis is unknown, it was first mentioned by name in 1147 , and was a convenient meeting place well accessed by rivers and roads.

Medieval Moscow

This small trading post grew and was fortified over the next few centuries, with churches and monasteries being built. However, the 13th century saw a Mongol invasion burning the city to the ground and killing all who lived there, with Moscow becoming a Grand Duchy within the Mongol Empire. The city prospered and would eventually lead a united Russian army in victory over the Mongols , ending up as capital city by the end of the 15th century.

During the 16th to 17th centuries under the Tsardom of Russia , Moscow's population grew rapidly, and many of the monuments emblematic of the city were constructed, from  Novodevichy Convent  to Saint Basil's Cathedral  and the Kremlin . Despite its growth, it suffered  famine, plagues, attacks by the Crimean Tatars and destructive fires - unsurprising considering much of the city was built of wood.

Discover more on our Walking Tour of Medieval Moscow !

Under the Russian Empire

When  Peter the Great  founded the Russian Empire in 1712 and made Saint Petersburg its capital, Moscow was suddenly relegated to second place and population quickly declined. However, over the ensuing century, the city's infrastructure was built up and connections to the capital were created. When  Napoleon invaded in 1812 , Moscow's inhabitants were evacuated, but not before allegedly setting fire to the city to sabotage the French forces. The city's destruction was claimed as a great success by the Muscovites, and it was quickly rebuilt afterwards: Moscow State University was founded, the Bolshoi Theatre was built, and any number of monuments celebrating the city's victory were put up.

Throughout this time, Moscow was also experiencing a population boom, with a massive influx of peasants moving to the metropolis from rural farms in search of work. In stark contrast to the lavish architecture being built, the city was also filled with poverty-stricken slums, and increasing discontent lead to revolution .

Bolshevik Revolution & Soviet Russia

Mass political and social unrest instigated an attempted revolution in 1905, but it wasn't until 1917 that the movement really took hold of Russia. That year saw the February and October Revolutions , followed by a Civil War  which ended with the  monarchy being abolished , the royal family being executed, and the  Soviet Union being established  by the socialist political party known as the  Bolsheviks . In 1922, the Communist government made  Moscow capital again .

The Russian Army was victorious in defending the city from German offensives in the Battle of Moscow during World War II , and the Soviet leadership left its mark on the capital  over the next five decades. Improved roads, bus, train and metro networks modernised Moscow; high-rise apartments provided a solution to serious housing crisis, and atheist ideology saw the destruction or conversion of over half of the country's churches. Remnants of the Soviet state can still be seen today across much of the city, for example in the statues and artwork throughout the Moscow Metro .

In 1980, Moscow hosted the Summer Olympic Games , an event which was boycotted by the United States and over 60 other countries because of the Soviet-Afghan War. While this increased the Cold War tensions that gripped the two superpowers, there was no denying that Russia was liberalising under leader Mickhail Gorbachev's "perestroika" reforms.

Moscow since 1991

1991 saw the Soviet Union being dissolved, with Moscow remaining capital of the Russian Federation . Enormous population growth since the 1990s means it is now the largest city on the European continent, with over 13 million people living within the city limits alone. Political, economic and social changes have "Westernised" Moscow, which can be seen in the presence of international chains in the city and in the restoration of churches demolished under Stalin, like the  Cathedral of Christ the Saviour .

Intrigued? Our guided walking tours of Soviet Moscow , Communist Moscow and Cold War Bunker 42 will immerse you in the city's fascinating history.

You may also be interested in

Opening times

Learn when shops, museums and other tourist attractions open and close in Moscow, so you can plan to make the most of your trip!

Moscow CityPass

The Moscow CityPass is a tourist card that gives you free entry to more than 40 top attractions in the Russian capital, including the Kremlin and Saint Basil's Cathedral.

Shooter Files by f.d. walker

Street Photography Tips, Interaction, Travel, Guides

Apr 24 2017

City Street Guides by f.d. walker: A Street Photography Guide to Moscow, Russia

*A series of guides on shooting Street Photography in cities around the world. Find the best spots to shoot, things to capture, street walks, street tips, safety concerns, and more for cities around the world. I have personally researched, explored and shot Street Photography in every city that I create a guide for. So you can be ready to capture the streets as soon as you step outside with your camera!

At over 12 million people, Moscow is the largest city in Russia and second largest in Europe by population ( Istanbul is #1). An urban, cosmopolitan metropolis with more than enough glitz and glam to cater to the elite, but without losing its fair share of Soviet era roughness around the edges. It can be fast paced, brash, busy, and trendy like other big cities, but it has its blend of West meets Russia atmosphere and beauty that provides plenty of unique interest. The Red Square is as famous as it gets, but there’s so much more to this city, including the most beautiful subway system you’ve ever seen. It would take years to capture all of Moscow, but that means you have an endless amount of areas to discover.

So here’s a Street Photography guide so you can be ready to capture all that Moscow has to offer before you even arrive!

• Patriarch’s Pond
• Old Arbat Street
• Maroseyka Street
• Tverskoy Boulevard

Top 5 Street Spots:

1. red square.

The Red Square is the most famous square in not just Russia, but all of Eastern Europe. The name actually doesn’t come from the color of the bricks or communism, but from the name in Russian, Krásnaya, once meaning “beautiful” before its meaning changed to “red.” This large plaza is what you see on the cover of guide books and magazines for Moscow, with St. Basil’s Cathedral being the center piece next to Lenin’s Mausoleum surrounded by the Kremlin Wall. Of course, the Red Square attracts hordes of tourist due to the main attractions, but all that activity around an interesting atmosphere does provide street photo opportunities. It’s also the central square connecting to the city’s major streets, providing a good starting point to explore outward.

You’ll also find the popular pedestrian only Nikolskaya Street connecting the Red Square to Lubyanka Square. This line of expensive shops includes plenty of activity, while also leading you to another popular square. Filled with history rivaling any city, the Red Square and surrounding areas are the heart and soul of Russia.

2. Patriarch’s Ponds

Patriarch’s Ponds is one of the most exclusive neighborhoods in Moscow. Despite the name being plural, there’s only one large pond, but it’s worth a visit with your camera. It’s a popular spot for locals and expats to come relax or take a stroll around the pond. You get an interesting mix of young and old too, from young love to “babushkas” feeding pigeons. It’s a very peaceful park atmosphere in one of the nicer areas within the city center, while bringing enough activity for street photography. 

The pond is shallow and in the winter becomes a popular spot for ice-skating too. The area is also well-known for the location in the famous Russian novel, The Master and Margarita. 

3. Old Arbat (Stary Arbat)

Old Arbat is the most famous pedestrian street in Moscow, and dating back to the 15th century, also one of its oldest. Originally, it was an area of trade, but soon became the most prestigious residential area in Moscow. During the 18th century, Arbat started attracting the city’s scholars and artists, including Alexander Pushkin. Cafes lined the streets and impressive homes filled the neighborhood. Since then, New Arbat street was created as a highway in the area, while Old Arbat was paved for a 1km pedestrian only walkway.

Due to the historic buildings, famous artists that lived here, and the bohemian atmosphere, Old Arbat has become a big attraction for tourists today. Now, there’s a mix of cafes, restaurants, souvenir shops, street performers, street merchants and other attractions for visitors, and some locals, to come enjoy. It can get really busy here and there’s usually something interesting going on so it’s a good street to come walk with your camera for guaranteed life.

4. Gorky Park

One of the most famous places in Moscow is Gorky Park. The official name is Maxim Gorky’s Central Park of Culture & Leisure, which gives you an idea of what goes on here. When built, it was the first of its kind in the Soviet Union. Divided into two parts, it stretches along Moscow River. One end contains fair rides, foods stands, tennis courts, a sports club, a lake for boat rides, and more. This end brings more active life due to its number of attractions, while the other end is more relaxed, where you’ll find gardens, trees, older buildings, and an outdoor amphitheater.

Gorky Park attracts mostly locals so it’s a good spot to capture the non-tourist side of Moscow life. Muscovites come here to escape the city and unwind in a picturesque setting. The park remains alive outside of the warmer months too, especially when the lake turns into the city’s largest outdoor skating rink. I’d recommend taking the metro out here to spend at least half a day exploring the massive park’s life with your camera.

5. Maroseyka Street

Maroseyka Street is a popular area not too far from the Red Square. The long, winding street turns into Pokrovka and is lined with restaurants, cafes, bars and places to stay. It’s actually where I like to stay when I’m in Moscow due to its location and solid street photography opportunities itself. You have Kitay-gorod station near and if you keep walking southwest, you’ll get to the Red Square. But if you walk northwest, as it changes to Pokrovka, you can find a long street of activity for photography with its own interesting atmosphere.

6. Tverskoy Boulevard

Tverskoy Boulevard is the oldest and longest boulevard in Moscow, beginning at the end of Nikitsky Boulevard, and finishing at Pushkin Square, a spot to come for activity itself. The boulevard is made up of two avenues, with pedestrian walkways in-between. You’ll find grass, shrubbery, trees, benches and more walking it’s almost kilometer length. Many people come here to enjoy some relaxation, walk their dog, or just to use it to walk wherever they’re going. Its center location also provides a nice place to walk with your camera near plenty of other spots you’ll want to check out anyway.

Sample Street Walk:

For a full day of Street Photography, covering some of the best spots, you can follow this sample street walk for Moscow:

• Start your morning walking around the Red Square (1), while exploring the surrounding area, including Nikolskaya Street
• Then walk northwest to Patriarch’s Ponds (2) and slowly walk the pond and surrounding area with your camera
• Next, walk east to the Pushkin Monument and stroll down Tverskoy Boulevard (6)
• Once Tverskoy Boulevard (6) ends, it will turn into Nikitsky Boulevard. Follow this down until you get to the start of Old Arbat Street (3), across from Arbatskaya station
• After you’re done walking down Old Arbat Street (3) for more street photography, spend some time checking out Moscow’s beautiful metro stations
• To finish off the day with more street photography, get off the metro near Red Square (1) again, Maroseyka Street (5) or wherever you’re staying for the night.

3 Things I’ll Remember about Shooting in Moscow:

1. museum metro.

The Moscow metro system was the first underground railway system in the Soviet Union and today includes 203 stations across 340km of routes. The elaborate system has some of the deepest stations in the world too, with escalators that seem to go on forever. None of this is what makes it so special, though. Many of its stations feel like stepping inside a museum, making it without a doubt the most interesting and beautiful metro system I’ve been in.

When built, Stalin wanted to make the metro stations “palaces for the people” with marble, chandeliers, and grand architecture. The best part is the variety of architecture and styles used, making many of the stations a completely different experience visually. You could easily spend a whole day traveling the stations and there are even tours available for people who wish to do just that. My advice, though, would be just to buy a ticket and hop on and off at different stations, while exploring different lines. The museum-like surrounding mixed with the crowds of characters can make for a great photography experience.

Since there are so many stations, here are some of my favorites to check out:

• Novoslobodskaya
• Mayakovskaya
• Elektrozavodskaya
• Komsomolskaya
• Ploschad Revolyutsii
• Dostoyevskaya
• Prospekt Mira

2. Moscow is Big

It’s no secret that Moscow is a big city, but it can feel even bigger with how spread out much of it is. This is especially true if you compare it to cities outside of Asia. If I compared it to cities in Europe, I’d probably say only Istanbul would warrant more time to really discover the depths of this city. Most only explore around the Red Square and surrounding area, but that is such a small part of the city. Although, that central area does give you plenty to see on its own.

Fortunately, I had a good friend living in the city to show me around, but it opened up my eyes even more to how much there is to discover in Moscow. It’s a big city with a variety of atmosphere that can take you from “east” to “west” and trendy to rugged depending on where you go. I’d imagine you’d have to live here a while to really know the city.

3. Cosmopolitan Mix of East meets West

Modern skyscrapers mixed with amazing architecture, a world-class metro system with museum-like beauty, trendy fashion and chic clubs, Moscow is a rich mix of Russian culture and history in a more western cosmopolitan package. There is a push to keep the Russian culture, while also pushing forward with a modern metropolis the whole world will envy. This comes with an impressive skyline, that continues to grow, and endless modernities, but with soviet nostalgia and atmosphere mixed in for good measure.

Mixed in with this grand western cosmopolitan atmosphere, is a strong national pride in Russia. This includes their famous leader, Vladimir Putin. Maybe no other place will you see a country’s leader more often. All over, from the pricey tourist shops to the underground walkway stalls, you’ll find goods with Putin’s likeness covering them. From t-shirts to magnets to Matryoshka dolls. There’s a strong national pride that can be seen around the city, which also extends to their leader. Moscow is many things. It’s East meets West, modernizations meets Soviet era, and a whole lot more.

What To Do For a Street Photography Break?:

Eat at a stolovaya.

Stolovayas are Russian cafeterias that became popular in the Soviet days. You grab a tray and walk down the line of freshly prepared local dishes, and select whatever you want from the chefs. They’re usually inexpensive and a much better value than restaurants, while giving you the opportunity to try from a wide selection of everyday Russian food. They’re also very tasty. I always include some borsch on my tray and go from there. The places themselves are all over Moscow and usually come with Soviet-era aesthetics to complete the experience.

Street Safety Score: 7

*As always, no place is completely safe! So when I talk about safety, I’m speaking in general comparison to other places. Always take precaution, be smart, observe your surroundings and trust your instincts anywhere you go!

Being the 2nd largest city in Europe with over 12 million people, you’re going to have your dangerous areas, but for the most part, it feels safe walking around. Russia is statistically higher in crime compared to most of Europe, but this generally doesn’t apply to tourists and visitors. Around the Red Square and surrounding city center, you should feel completely safe walking around. Pick pocketing can happen, but no more than other touristic places. I always explore Moscow freely without coming across too much to worry about. It’s a spread out city, though, so of course it matters where you are. Just use basic street smarts, know where you are and Moscow shouldn’t give you a problem. 

People’s Reaction Score: 7

Moscow is fast paced, big city life, which usually means people aren’t too concerned with you, or your camera. I don’t find people notice or pay much attention to me when I’m out taking photos in Moscow. For the most part, people just go about their day. You shouldn’t get too many looks or concern. But it can depend on the area you are in. The more you stick out, the more you might get noticed with suspicions. I’ve never had any problems in Moscow, or Russia, but just be careful who you’re taking a photo of if you get out of the city center. Other than that, it’s about average for reactions. 

Street Tips:

Learn the alphabet .

Much of Moscow, including the metro system, doesn’t use english. The Russian alphabet uses letters from the Cyrillic script, which if you aren’t familiar with it and don’t know the sounds, can be hard to decipher the words. This is most important for street names and metro stops when trying to get around. It can save confusion and make it easier getting around if you learn the basic alphabet. At the very least then, you can sound out the words to see which are similar in the english conversion, which can help matching them to maps. When out shooting street photography, getting around is as important as anything. So save yourself some time and frustration by learning the Russian Alphabet.

Use the metro

While Saint-Petersburg feels very walkable for a city its size, Moscow can feel very spread out, even for its bigger size. Outside of the Red Square area, you can have plenty of walking before getting anywhere very interesting, so you’ll need to take the metro a lot if you really want to explore the city. Maps are deceiving here too, it will always be further than it looks.

Another reason it’s less walkable than Saint-Petersburg is its completely different set-up. Moscow’s streets are mostly contstructed in rings with narrow, winding streets in-between. This is common with medieval city cities that used to be confined by walls, but you usually don’t have it in a city this massive. Saint-Petersburg has a more grid-like pattern that also uses the canals to help you know your way around. When it comes to navigating on foot in Moscow, it can be more difficult, so bring a map and take the metro when needed. It’s why Moscow’s metro carries more passengers per day than the London and Paris subways combined.

Explore other areas if you have time

Moscow is really big. While most people stay around the Red Square within the Boulevard Ring, there’s so much more to the city. I covered some other spots outside of this circle, but if you really want to see the city, you’ll need time. If you do have time, some other areas I’d check out first are Zamoskvarechye, along some of the south and western Moscow.

Inspiration:

For some more inspiration, you can look through the Street Photography of Moscow photographer Artem Zhitenev  and check out 33 of my photos taken in Moscow .

Conclusion:

Moscow’s name brings a certain mystique, but once you’re there it might bring a different atmosphere than you expect. It’s big and sprawling, but beautiful in many ways. It can feel like a European capital on a grand scale, but you can definitely find its Russian side in there.

The urban sprawl of Moscow can be intimidating, but give it enough time and you’ll be rewarded with plenty to discover. All with the world’s best metro system to take you around.

I hope this guide can help you start to experience some of what Moscow contains. So grab your camera and capture all that Moscow has to offer for Street Photography!

If you still have any questions about shooting in Moscow, feel free to comment below or email me!

(I want to make these guides as valuable as possible for all of you so add any ideas on improvements, including addition requests, in the comment section!)

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In Transit: Notes from the Underground

Jun 06 2018.

Spend some time in one of Moscow’s finest museums.

Subterranean commuting might not be anyone’s idea of a good time, but even in a city packing the war-games treasures and priceless bejeweled eggs of the Kremlin Armoury and the colossal Soviet pavilions of the VDNKh , the Metro holds up as one of Moscow’s finest museums. Just avoid rush hour.

The Metro is stunning and provides an unrivaled insight into the city’s psyche, past and present, but it also happens to be the best way to get around. Moscow has Uber, and the Russian version called Yandex Taxi , but also some nasty traffic. Metro trains come around every 90 seconds or so, at a more than 99 percent on-time rate. It’s also reasonably priced, with a single ride at 55 cents (and cheaper in bulk). From history to tickets to rules — official and not — here’s what you need to know to get started.

A Brief Introduction Buying Tickets Know Before You Go (Down) Rules An Easy Tour

A Brief Introduction

Moscow’s Metro was a long time coming. Plans for rapid transit to relieve the city’s beleaguered tram system date back to the Imperial era, but a couple of wars and a revolution held up its development. Stalin revived it as part of his grand plan to modernize the Soviet Union in the 1920s and 30s. The first lines and tunnels were constructed with help from engineers from the London Underground, although Stalin’s secret police decided that they had learned too much about Moscow’s layout and had them arrested on espionage charges and deported.

The beauty of its stations (if not its trains) is well-documented, and certainly no accident. In its illustrious first phases and particularly after the Second World War, the greatest architects of Soviet era were recruited to create gleaming temples celebrating the Revolution, the USSR, and the war triumph. No two stations are exactly alike, and each of the classic showpieces has a theme. There are world-famous shrines to Futurist architecture, a celebration of electricity, tributes to individuals and regions of the former Soviet Union. Each marble slab, mosaic tile, or light fixture was placed with intent, all in service to a station’s aesthetic; each element, f rom the smallest brass ear of corn to a large blood-spattered sword on a World War II mural, is an essential part of the whole.

The Metro is a monument to the Soviet propaganda project it was intended to be when it opened in 1935 with the slogan “Building a Palace for the People”. It brought the grand interiors of Imperial Russia to ordinary Muscovites, celebrated the Soviet Union’s past achievements while promising its citizens a bright Soviet future, and of course, it was a show-piece for the world to witness the might and sophistication of life in the Soviet Union.

It may be a museum, but it’s no relic. U p to nine million people use it daily, more than the London Underground and New York Subway combined. (Along with, at one time, about 20 stray dogs that learned to commute on the Metro.)

In its 80+ year history, the Metro has expanded in phases and fits and starts, in step with the fortunes of Moscow and Russia. Now, partly in preparation for the World Cup 2018, it’s also modernizing. New trains allow passengers to walk the entire length of the train without having to change carriages. The system is becoming more visitor-friendly. (There are helpful stickers on the floor marking out the best selfie spots .) But there’s a price to modernity: it’s phasing out one of its beloved institutions, the escalator attendants. Often they are middle-aged or elderly women—“ escalator grandmas ” in news accounts—who have held the post for decades, sitting in their tiny kiosks, scolding commuters for bad escalator etiquette or even bad posture, or telling jokes . They are slated to be replaced, when at all, by members of the escalator maintenance staff.

For all its achievements, the Metro lags behind Moscow’s above-ground growth, as Russia’s capital sprawls ever outwards, generating some of the world’s worst traffic jams . But since 2011, the Metro has been in the middle of an ambitious and long-overdue enlargement; 60 new stations are opening by 2020. If all goes to plan, the 2011-2020 period will have brought 125 miles of new tracks and over 100 new stations — a 40 percent increase — the fastest and largest expansion phase in any period in the Metro’s history.

Facts: 14 lines Opening hours: 5 a.m-1 a.m. Rush hour(s): 8-10 a.m, 4-8 p.m. Single ride: 55₽ (about 85 cents) Wi-Fi network-wide

Buying Tickets

• Ticket machines have a button to switch to English.
• You can buy specific numbers of rides: 1, 2, 5, 11, 20, or 60. Hold up fingers to show how many rides you want to buy.
• There is also a 90-minute ticket , which gets you 1 trip on the metro plus an unlimited number of transfers on other transport (bus, tram, etc) within 90 minutes.
• Or, you can buy day tickets with unlimited rides: one day (218₽/ US$4), three days (415₽/US$7) or seven days (830₽/US$15). Check the rates here to stay up-to-date.
• If you’re going to be using the Metro regularly over a few days, it’s worth getting a Troika card , a contactless, refillable card you can use on all public transport. Using the Metro is cheaper with one of these: a single ride is 36₽, not 55₽. Buy them and refill them in the Metro stations, and they’re valid for 5 years, so you can keep it for next time. Or, if you have a lot of cash left on it when you leave, you can get it refunded at the Metro Service Centers at Ulitsa 1905 Goda, 25 or at Staraya Basmannaya 20, Building 1.
• You can also buy silicone bracelets and keychains with built-in transport chips that you can use as a Troika card. (A Moscow Metro Fitbit!) So far, you can only get these at the Pushkinskaya metro station Live Helpdesk and souvenir shops in the Mayakovskaya and Trubnaya metro stations. The fare is the same as for the Troika card.
• You can also use Apple Pay and Samsung Pay.

Rules, spoken and unspoken

No smoking, no drinking, no filming, no littering. Photography is allowed, although it used to be banned.

Stand to the right on the escalator. Break this rule and you risk the wrath of the legendary escalator attendants. (No shenanigans on the escalators in general.)

Get out of the way. Find an empty corner to hide in when you get off a train and need to stare at your phone. Watch out getting out of the train in general; when your train doors open, people tend to appear from nowhere or from behind ornate marble columns, walking full-speed.

Always offer your seat to elderly ladies (what are you, a monster?).

An Easy Tour

This is no Metro Marathon ( 199 stations in 20 hours ). It’s an easy tour, taking in most—though not all—of the notable stations, the bulk of it going clockwise along the Circle line, with a couple of short detours. These stations are within minutes of one another, and the whole tour should take about 1-2 hours.

Start at Mayakovskaya Metro station , at the corner of Tverskaya and Garden Ring,  Triumfalnaya Square, Moskva, Russia, 125047.

1. Mayakovskaya.  Named for Russian Futurist Movement poet Vladimir Mayakovsky and an attempt to bring to life the future he imagined in his poems. (The Futurist Movement, natch, was all about a rejecting the past and celebrating all things speed, industry, modern machines, youth, modernity.) The result: an Art Deco masterpiece that won the National Grand Prix for architecture at the New York World’s Fair in 1939. It’s all smooth, rounded shine and light, and gentle arches supported by columns of dark pink marble and stainless aircraft steel. Each of its 34 ceiling niches has a mosaic. During World War II, the station was used as an air-raid shelter and, at one point, a bunker for Stalin. He gave a subdued but rousing speech here in Nov. 6, 1941 as the Nazis bombed the city above.

Take the 3/Green line one station to:

2. Belorusskaya. Opened in 1952, named after the connected Belarussky Rail Terminal, which runs trains between Moscow and Belarus. This is a light marble affair with a white, cake-like ceiling, lined with Belorussian patterns and 12 Florentine ceiling mosaics depicting life in Belarussia when it was built.

Transfer onto the 1/Brown line. Then, one stop (clockwise) t o:

3. Novoslobodskaya.  This station was designed around the stained-glass panels, which were made in Latvia, because Alexey Dushkin, the Soviet starchitect who dreamed it up (and also designed Mayakovskaya station) couldn’t find the glass and craft locally. The stained glass is the same used for Riga’s Cathedral, and the panels feature plants, flowers, members of the Soviet intelligentsia (musician, artist, architect) and geometric shapes.

Go two stops east on the 1/Circle line to:

4. Komsomolskaya. Named after the Komsomol, or the Young Communist League, this might just be peak Stalin Metro style. Underneath the hub for three regional railways, it was intended to be a grand gateway to Moscow and is today its busiest station. It has chandeliers; a yellow ceiling with Baroque embellishments; and in the main hall, a colossal red star overlaid on golden, shimmering tiles. Designer Alexey Shchusev designed it as an homage to the speech Stalin gave at Red Square on Nov. 7, 1941, in which he invoked Russia’s illustrious military leaders as a pep talk to Soviet soldiers through the first catastrophic year of the war.   The station’s eight large mosaics are of the leaders referenced in the speech, such as Alexander Nevsky, a 13th-century prince and military commander who bested German and Swedish invading armies.

One more stop clockwise to Kurskaya station,  and change onto the 3/Blue  line, and go one stop to:

5. Baumanskaya.   Opened in 1944. Named for the Bolshevik Revolutionary Nikolai Bauman , whose monument and namesake district are aboveground here. Though he seemed like a nasty piece of work (he apparently once publicly mocked a woman he had impregnated, who later hung herself), he became a Revolutionary martyr when he was killed in 1905 in a skirmish with a monarchist, who hit him on the head with part of a steel pipe. The station is in Art Deco style with atmospherically dim lighting, and a series of bronze sculptures of soldiers and homefront heroes during the War. At one end, there is a large mosaic portrait of Lenin.

Stay on that train direction one more east to:

6. Elektrozavodskaya. As you may have guessed from the name, this station is the Metro’s tribute to all thing electrical, built in 1944 and named after a nearby lightbulb factory. It has marble bas-relief sculptures of important figures in electrical engineering, and others illustrating the Soviet Union’s war-time struggles at home. The ceiling’s recurring rows of circular lamps give the station’s main tunnel a comforting glow, and a pleasing visual effect.

Double back two stops to Kurskaya station , and change back to the 1/Circle line. Sit tight for six stations to:

7. Kiyevskaya. This was the last station on the Circle line to be built, in 1954, completed under Nikita Khrushchev’ s guidance, as a tribute to his homeland, Ukraine. Its three large station halls feature images celebrating Ukraine’s contributions to the Soviet Union and Russo-Ukrainian unity, depicting musicians, textile-working, soldiers, farmers. (One hall has frescoes, one mosaics, and the third murals.) Shortly after it was completed, Khrushchev condemned the architectural excesses and unnecessary luxury of the Stalin era, which ushered in an epoch of more austere Metro stations. According to the legend at least, he timed the policy in part to ensure no Metro station built after could outshine Kiyevskaya.

Change to the 3/Blue line and go one stop west.

8. Park Pobedy. This is the deepest station on the Metro, with one of the world’s longest escalators, at 413 feet. If you stand still, the escalator ride to the surface takes about three minutes .) Opened in 2003 at Victory Park, the station celebrates two of Russia’s great military victories. Each end has a mural by Georgian artist Zurab Tsereteli, who also designed the “ Good Defeats Evil ” statue at the UN headquarters in New York. One mural depicts the Russian generals’ victory over the French in 1812 and the other, the German surrender of 1945. The latter is particularly striking; equal parts dramatic, triumphant, and gruesome. To the side, Red Army soldiers trample Nazi flags, and if you look closely there’s some blood spatter among the detail. Still, the biggest impressions here are the marble shine of the chessboard floor pattern and the pleasingly geometric effect if you view from one end to the other.

Keep going one more stop west to:

9. Slavyansky Bulvar.  One of the Metro’s youngest stations, it opened in 2008. With far higher ceilings than many other stations—which tend to have covered central tunnels on the platforms—it has an “open-air” feel (or as close to it as you can get, one hundred feet under). It’s an homage to French architect Hector Guimard, he of the Art Nouveau entrances for the Paris M é tro, and that’s precisely what this looks like: A Moscow homage to the Paris M é tro, with an additional forest theme. A Cyrillic twist on Guimard’s Metro-style lettering over the benches, furnished with t rees and branch motifs, including creeping vines as towering lamp-posts.

Stay on the 3/Blue line and double back four stations to:

10. Arbatskaya. Its first iteration, Arbatskaya-Smolenskaya station, was damaged by German bombs in 1941. It was rebuilt in 1953, and designed to double as a bomb shelter in the event of nuclear war, although unusually for stations built in the post-war phase, this one doesn’t have a war theme. It may also be one of the system’s most elegant: Baroque, but toned down a little, with red marble floors and white ceilings with gilded bronze c handeliers.

Jump back on the 3/Blue line  in the same direction and take it one more stop:

11. Ploshchad Revolyutsii (Revolution Square). Opened in 1938, and serving Red Square and the Kremlin . Its renowned central hall has marble columns flanked by 76 bronze statues of Soviet heroes: soldiers, students, farmers, athletes, writers, parents. Some of these statues’ appendages have a yellow sheen from decades of Moscow’s commuters rubbing them for good luck. Among the most popular for a superstitious walk-by rub: the snout of a frontier guard’s dog, a soldier’s gun (where the touch of millions of human hands have tapered the gun barrel into a fine, pointy blade), a baby’s foot, and a woman’s knee. (A brass rooster also sports the telltale gold sheen, though I am told that rubbing the rooster is thought to bring bad luck. )

Now take the escalator up, and get some fresh air.

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Dodge Journey P0301: Cylinder 1 – Misfire (Causes + How to Fix)

P0301 is a fairly common trouble code with the Dodge Journey . It’s an OBD2 code and indicates that your vehicle’s first cylinder is misfiring.

P0301 is certainly a cause for concern and should be considered a threat to the drivability of your Journey. 

Fixing P0301 should be considered a high priority. Unlike a lot of the OBDII codes, this code has to do directly with engine combustion. It also can cost money to ignore it, since driving with a misfire can damage the Journey’s catalytic converter.

The most common fix for P0301 is to replace the spark plugs, coil packs, or (if equipped) plug wires. 

Table of Contents:

P0301 + Other Codes

Common questions, p0301 meaning:  cylinder 1- misfire detected.

P0301 is a cylinder-specific misfire code, meaning it’s only the first cylinder that has a misfire.  Cylinder one is typically the closest to the front of the engine.  

On “V” configuration engines, it’ll usually be the first cylinder on the head closest to the front of the engine.  A quick google image search will confirm the correct cylinder (include your Journey’s model year).

Misfire Detected

In order for an engine to burn fuel efficiently, each cylinder needs:

• Fuel – In the right quantity (around 14.7 parts air to one part fuel).
• Air – It needs to be metered by the mass air flow sensor or MAP sensor, so the powertrain control module (PCM) knows exactly how much air to let into the combustion chamber.
• Spark – The spark plug needs to fire at the right time and at the right temperature.
• Compression – The air-fuel mixture must be compressed during the engine’s power stroke.

If one of the above variables is off, your Journey’s first cylinder will misfire, or it won’t fire at all.

Journey P0301 OBDII Code Symptoms

Here are the most common symptoms of P0301 in the Dodge Journey.

• The P0301 trouble code will trigger your Journey’s check engine light.
• The vehicle itself may begin to run rough. It depends on how serious the misfire is.
• The vehicle may produce excess vibration, especially at lower RPM.
• Fuel mileage may suffer.
• You may smell raw gas coming from the tailpipe.
• The Journey may backfire.

P0301 Trouble Code Causes: Dodge Journey

There are quite a few things that can cause the P0301 trouble code to trigger the Dodge Journey.

Here are the most common problems that may cause it. They are presented somewhat in order from most to least likely to be causing the code:

• Bad Spark Plugs – A fouled spark plug is the most common cause of P0301. Look at the electrodes and see if they are in good shape. Most vehicles now come with iridium plugs that need to be changed very infrequently. That being said, a bad spark plug is the number one offender when it comes to P0301 . Here’s a great video on verifying a spark plug is bad.
• Spark Plug Wires – On most modern engines, the plug wires are not nearly as long as they once were (if your vehicle even has them), but they can still go bad. Here’s how to tell if your plug wires are bad (video).
• Coil Packs – Coil packs rarely go bad, but when they do, they can cause P0301 in your Dodge Journey. Replacing a set can be very expensive. Here’s how to test them .
• Bad Fuel Injector – If you have a fuel injector that has failed, it won’t be able to properly atomize fuel, and you’ll get P0301. Here’s a good video on how to diagnose an injector ; it can be a little tricky. You’ll likely see P0171 with a bad injector.
• Vacuum leak – If your Journey has a vacuum leak, it can be difficult for the PCM to get the right air/fuel mixture. This will cause the cylinders to misfire, and it’ll throw P0301 if the leak is around that specific cylinder on the intake manifold. Popular Mechanics : How to find a vacuum leak . You’ll likely see P0171 and P0300 when there’s a vacuum leak.
• Cam or Crank Sensors – This one is unlikely, but it does happen. If the ECU is not getting the right signal from these sensors, the vehicle’s timing will not sync up, and it’ll misfire. You’ll likely get P0300 and a cam/crank correlation code too.
• Mechanical Issue – If your Journey has a leaking head gasket, bent valve, cracked head, etc… that would cause compression to not be as high as it should be, you’re going to get P0301. You should also feel that your vehicle is down on power as well.

How to Fix P0301 in the Dodge Journey

If P0301 is the only code you get when you plug an OBD II scanner into your Journey, this section should help you determine what is causing the code.

If you have multiple codes with P0301, jump down a section.

1. Swap Test

There’s a quick and easy test to determine what is causing your Journey’s cylinder one to misfire. Swap ignition parts to another cylinder. Here’s how to do it.

• Identify the first cylinder.
• Remove the spark plug.
• Swap it with the most convenient cylinder to access’s spark plug.
• Clear your Journey’s trouble codes with a scanner.
• Start the engine and wait for the check engine light to come back on. If it changed to a different P030X code, the plug was bad.
• If nothing changed, do this for the coil packs and plug wires (if equipped).
• If the code stays P0301, you’ve ruled out ignition-related issues.

2. Diagnosis

Here’s what to look for when the swap test didn’t change your vehicle’s misfire code number.

• Check the wiring harness going to the cylinder one coil pack. If it’s damaged or loose, repair it. Ignition wiring is a common rodent damage area.
• Check for a vacuum leak.
• Verify injector one is working (there’s a link to how to test one above).
• Do a compression test.
• Perform a leak-down test.

P0301 + P0300

The most likely reason your Journey will get P0300 and P0301 simultaneously is faulty spark plugs.

P0300 indicates random multiple misfiring, which means that multiple cylinders are misfiring at the same time. 

If your Dodge Journey has P0300 and P0301 error codes, it’s best to diagnose why cylinder one is misfiring and see if that will fix the P0301 code. 

Try doing the swap test from the previous section. Make note of the condition of BOTH spark plugs as you swap them. If they look fouled, new plugs will likely clear this code.

P0301 + P0171

Look for a vacuum leak around the first cylinder or a bad fuel injector.

P0171 is one of the most common trouble codes there is. While there are many potential causes for P0171, the most prevalent is a vacuum leak.

When your Journey has P0301 and P0171 together, it’s often caused by a clogged or underperforming fuel injector.

P0301 + Other Cylinder Misfire Codes

Treat P0301 with these codes like it has P0300.

P0301 will often be accompanied by codes P0302 , P0303 , P0304 , P0305, etc… These codes indicate a misfire in cylinders two, three, four, and five, respectively.

Treat P0301 with these codes like it has P0300. Suspect an ignition-related cause or a vacuum leak.

Is P0301 a serious concern?

P0301 is cause for concern and, left unfixed, can leave you stranded. Your Journey will be virtually undrivable if the first cylinder stops firing altogether. The raw fuel can also damage the catalytic converter.

Can you drive your Journey with P0301?

We do not advise driving your Journey with P0301. It can cause damage to your vehicle.

Is P0301 hard to repair?

Most of the time, P0301 is not hard to repair, as you’ll be swapping out ignition parts. It’s a great first-time project for a shade tree mechanic. If the problem ends up not being ignition related, that’s when you might have to bring it into a shop.

Replacing the spark plugs is the most common fix for P0301 in the Dodge Journey. There are other causes, but the swap test can help narrow them down considerably.