P0300 - but only after cold starts

ThatGermanGuy · 03-13-2024, 05:24 PM

Hey guys, hope y´all doing well!

So i have a 2016 2SS 6MT Camaro and i truly love it.
However, i have encountered a few issues in the last month.

I live in germany with harsh winters and also periods with really bad weather where i don´t want to drive the car, so it tends to sit from time to time and only get used when weather is good.

A few month ago it started acting up and giving me a "Service Stabilitrak" notification aswell as (sometimes) a CEL.
However, only if it sat a few days/weeks and only on the first cold start.
The Stabilitrak fault usually goes away after rolling just a few feet but the CEL stays.
It only turns off after unhooking the battery and putting it back on.

Also, it likes to cough up rather dark smoke from the exhaust, but only on the cold start.

I don´t know if the plugs got pulled/replaced yet and the car has about 40k miles on it by now.
Other than that it runs fine! Without any other issues.

I was thinking about pulling the plugs and replacing them but also wanted to adress the hive mind in the forum if i might be on a completely wrong path....

Do you think that the Sparkplugs might be done? Or is it maybe an issue with the battery, which is also still the first from the factory? Or maybe even something completely differen?

Thank you guys and Greetings from Munich!

SomeGeoffGuy · 03-14-2024, 07:03 AM

I wouldn't unhook the battery - I would get a good trickle charger. When I first got my 2016 I had all kinds of problems the first couple years storing it with the battery unhooked (like I had always done with previously owned sports cars). They all went away when I put it on a trickle charger over the winter. Low voltage causes weird things to happen on these cars.

-Geoff

arpad_m · 03-14-2024, 07:40 AM

Seconding the trickle charger idea instead of regularly disconnecting the battery. I started with the OEM branded CTEK charger that GM sells as an accessory, then switched to a much more refined Tecmate Optimate 6 unit, and never had any issue, it keeps the battery in great condition.

Also, spurious codes after battery disconnect/reconnect events occur regularly with my car, too, I had to clear random electrical "faults" that never returned almost every time I disconnected with the battery (I always do that when installing parts anywhere near airbags, for example).

ctrlz · 03-15-2024, 10:06 AM

I would put a voltmeter on the battery and see what you get.
If this is the original battery in a 2016, it is 8 years old. That's pushing it even for an AGM. You could also remove it and get it load tested, but I would hesitate to reinstall an 8 year old battery even if it tested fine.

Not sure your problem is due to the battery, but it is so old you have to take a look there first.

I have a 2017 Acura MDX still on the original battery. i got an emissions code last week, which was probably related to driving through some deep water. Code went away and did not return, but when I put a meter on my "fully charged" battery (also happens to take a group 48 AGM), I got 12.3 volts!

03-13-2024, 05:24 PM	#1
ThatGermanGuy Drives: 2016 Camaro 2SS Coupé Join Date: Jan 2022 Location: Munich, Germany Posts: 17	P0300 - but only after cold starts Hey guys, hope y´all doing well! So i have a 2016 2SS 6MT Camaro and i truly love it. However, i have encountered a few issues in the last month. I live in germany with harsh winters and also periods with really bad weather where i don´t want to drive the car, so it tends to sit from time to time and only get used when weather is good. A few month ago it started acting up and giving me a "Service Stabilitrak" notification aswell as (sometimes) a CEL. However, only if it sat a few days/weeks and only on the first cold start. The Stabilitrak fault usually goes away after rolling just a few feet but the CEL stays. It only turns off after unhooking the battery and putting it back on. Also, it likes to cough up rather dark smoke from the exhaust, but only on the cold start. I don´t know if the plugs got pulled/replaced yet and the car has about 40k miles on it by now. Other than that it runs fine! Without any other issues. I was thinking about pulling the plugs and replacing them but also wanted to adress the hive mind in the forum if i might be on a completely wrong path.... Do you think that the Sparkplugs might be done? Or is it maybe an issue with the battery, which is also still the first from the factory? Or maybe even something completely differen? Thank you guys and Greetings from Munich!

03-14-2024, 07:03 AM	#2
SomeGeoffGuy Drives: 2023 2SS Convertible Join Date: May 2009 Location: Metro Detroit Posts: 1,062	I wouldn't unhook the battery - I would get a good trickle charger. When I first got my 2016 I had all kinds of problems the first couple years storing it with the battery unhooked (like I had always done with previously owned sports cars). They all went away when I put it on a trickle charger over the winter. Low voltage causes weird things to happen on these cars. -Geoff __________________ '12 2SS RS Convertible - Traded in. '16 2SS Convertible - White on white, mag-ride, NPP, nav. Sold! '23 2SS Convertible -Same as above except orange.

03-14-2024, 07:40 AM	#3
arpad_m Drives: 2018 Camaro 2SS A8 Join Date: Jul 2017 Location: East Tennessee Posts: 11,621 View My Garage	Seconding the trickle charger idea instead of regularly disconnecting the battery. I started with the OEM branded CTEK charger that GM sells as an accessory, then switched to a much more refined Tecmate Optimate 6 unit, and never had any issue, it keeps the battery in great condition. Also, spurious codes after battery disconnect/reconnect events occur regularly with my car, too, I had to clear random electrical "faults" that never returned almost every time I disconnected with the battery (I always do that when installing parts anywhere near airbags, for example). __________________ 2018 Camaro 2SS — G7E MX0 NPP F55 IO6 735 rwhp \| 665 rwtq Magnuson TVS 2300 80mm pulley \| Kooks 1 7/8" LT headers \| JRE smooth idle terminator cam \| LT4 FS & injectors \| TSP forged pistons & rods JMS PowerMAX \| DSX flex fuel kit \| Roto-Fab CAI \| Soler 95mm LT5 TB \| 1LE wheels \| 1LE brakes \| BMR rear cradle lockout \| JRE custom tune 1100 - 1/30/18 \| 2000 - 1/31/18 3000 - 2/06/18 TPW 2/26/18 3400 - 2/19/18 \| 3800 - 2/26/18 4300 - 2/27/18 \| 4B00 - 3/01/18 4200 - 3/05/18 \| 4800 - 3/14/18 5000 - 3/16/18 \| 6000 - 3/19/18

03-15-2024, 10:06 AM	#4
ctrlz Drives: 2017 2SS, 50th pkg, M6, MRC, NPP Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Ocean City, NJ Posts: 3,181	I would put a voltmeter on the battery and see what you get. If this is the original battery in a 2016, it is 8 years old. That's pushing it even for an AGM. You could also remove it and get it load tested, but I would hesitate to reinstall an 8 year old battery even if it tested fine. Not sure your problem is due to the battery, but it is so old you have to take a look there first. I have a 2017 Acura MDX still on the original battery. i got an emissions code last week, which was probably related to driving through some deep water. Code went away and did not return, but when I put a meter on my "fully charged" battery (also happens to take a group 48 AGM), I got 12.3 volts!

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