Yes I have read numerous posting on this but I figured I will tell my story and maybe someone else had this happen.

I had the dreaded spark plug blow out in cylinder #3. I ended up having to put a new insert in as the threads were gone. When I tapped it out, I added grease to to tap and I would go a few turns back it out clean it off and re-grease it. I vacuumed out all the shavings which was very little from what I was able to see on top of the piston. I then put it back together and things were great for 3 days.

Today I got the P0303 code. I have a MSD coil and Magnacor wires. I just installed brand new NGK 4285 (BKR7EQUP) plugs. I had my scanguage clear the codes and restarted the car. You can feel the low rpm hesitation, but as you rev it it goes away. I know the check engine light will come on again.

So I am thinking of trying a new coil tomorrow, as I moved plugs and wires around with no luck.

Anybody got any other suggestions? I don't have a compression gauge to check the cylinder and I don't want to pull the valve cover unless I really have too.

 

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so you tapped the plug hole with the head on and vacuumed the cylinder clean? It is very possible a small piece is in their and wiping out a ring, I would wonder if a cylinder pressure test or leak down would help here.

 

Is this for gen1? I think it is in the wrong section.

Most people seem to use time sert to fix this.

 

I believe you are right slinger...

If this is a 1st Gen, check and make sure your plug is seated and then check your wires and pack. I just dropped a screaming demon on mine and have noticed a difference (new pack made a huge difference over a pack with 98000 miles on it).

How old is your coil pack? How old are the wires?

 

Yes this is gen1 Sorry I posted in wrong area. I installed the MSD coil 24k miles 1 1/2 year ago with wires at same time. I just installed new plugs (4285 BKR7EQUP) 100 miles ago.
I am going to see if I can borrow a compression tester later today. I don't have another coil, but I will be picking one up later today also.

 

Does the starter sound "even" when it is cranking? I know that a "dead hole" (one zero-compression cylinder) will make for an uneven sound when the starter is cranking.

Compression testers aren't that expensive, so it might be worth picking one up.