2003 Rough Misfire, P0303/4

Discussion in 'Generation 1 Prius Discussion' started by Bill Cossaboom, May 6, 2026.

  1. Bill Cossaboom

    Bill Cossaboom Junior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 26, 2022
    19
    5
    0
    Location:
    Long Beach, CA. USA
    Vehicle:
    2003 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Hi. Need help on a misfire. 2003, 136k miles, original battery. Getting a rough misfiring on a warm engine. P0304 and P0303, kinda alternates between the two, 04 recorded then 03 live, then back. New-ish (<10k, OEM) coils, plugs. Swapping doesn't show anything. Compression test fine. No signs or smells, etc of coolant leaks. Never need to add any fluids. MAF/throttle body done a couple years ago. Techron run through 6 months ago. I've had it for about 4 years. I know the original owners so it was treated well.
    Note, I have a P1437 from a stolen cat that's been there for ~6 months. Misfire just started ~2 weeks ago, mild shimmy ("did I just feel something") then on a road trip 30-35 miles in came on for real. Limped to a mechanic I knew, not a Prius whisperer, tho. He's stumped. Injectors? Trying a swap or test. Vacuum leaks, manifold or lines...
    TIA.
     
    #1 Bill Cossaboom, May 6, 2026
    Last edited: May 6, 2026
  2. Trombone

    Trombone Active Member

    Joined:
    Oct 26, 2019
    371
    127
    0
    Location:
    Allentown, Pennsylvania
    Vehicle:
    2002 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Do a search for "2003 Prius DTC P1437" and all kinds of help will come up. You will need to replace the cat, for starters.
     
  3. ronlewis

    ronlewis Active Member

    Joined:
    Dec 5, 2016
    1,056
    204
    1
    Location:
    texas
    Vehicle:
    2001 Prius
    Model:
    One
    You probably got an aftermarket cat after the OEM got stolen, unless you're in a CARB state, or it was long ago and insurance paid for an OEM. If recently, insurance co would have totaled the car for a stolen cat. If so, it doesn't have the VAV vacuum reservoir. I just explained to the another post here the easy fix. If yours is OEM, and you live in snowy area, that VAV is probably rusted and not operating. It throws the 1346 or 7 depending on whether if rusts open or closed. Easiest fix is to spray it down and clean it up to operate again, or just use bolt cutters to cut the rod that VAV pushes so the ECU thinks it's operating. If aftermarket, just trick it with another reservoir of the same approx volume.

    I would be amazed if you really have the OEM battery on a 25-year old car. 10 years is typical, and that's on cars that are used a lot so the the battery is kept charged. 136k mileage is around 400 miles a month - I just don't see it happening.

    But, that's OK, whatever battery you got is working. Just probably not the original.

    Otherwise, the codes are typical and straightforward to diagnose. Swap the plugs and coils from the 3 and 4 to 1 and 2 and see if the codes follow to identify which is the issue.