What causes cylinder misfire on a 5.3 chevy engine

P0300 Random/Multiple Cylinder Misfire Detected P0301 Cylinder 1 Misfire Detected P0302 Cylinder 2 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 P0313 Misfire Detected with Low Fuel P0314 Single Cylinder Misfire (Cylinder not Specified) P0315 Crankshaft Position System Variation Not Learned P0316 Misfire Detected On Startup (First 1000 Revolutions)

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P2195 O2 Sensor Signal Stuck Lean Bank1 Sensor 1 P2196 O2 Sensor Signal Stuck Rich Bank1 Sensor 1 P2197 O2 Sensor Signal Stuck Lean Bank2 Sensor 1 P2198 O2 Sensor Signal Stuck Rich Bank2 Sensor 1

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If it was just cylinder 2 or 3, the code would be 0302 or 0303. Instead, you have random misfires (probably) such that you should be checking things that affect the whole engine. Vacuum leaks, bad plug wires, bad coil(s) or ignition module are most likely, but even clogged exhaust, O2 sensors and bad battery can cause these problems. Yes, a battery can be good enough to start your car but still be bad enough to affect performance. If I had to guess, I would start by testing the ignition module. Most parts stores can test this if you remove it and carry it to them.

No a knock sensor can not make a misfire. Check the coils, plugs and fuel pressure .The random misfires are cause the knock sensor to throw the code.

take it back to the dealer they didnt install the coil or electric distubutor properly because of the misfire its causes o2 sensor to give bad reading .

Check Engine Light Codes and Meanings
Long blinks Short blinks Problem
1 1 Camshaft position sensor
1 2 Mass air flow sensor
1 3 Engine coolant temperature sensor
1 4 Speed sensor
1 11 EVAP control system (flow)
1 14 Fuel injection system right bank (too rich)
1 15 Fuel injection system right bank (too lean)
2 1 Ignition circuit
2 3 Closed throttle position switch
2 5 Idle speed control
2 9 Fuel Injection system left bank (too rich)
2 10 Fuel Injection system left bank (too lean)
3 1 ECU
3 2 Exhaust gas recirculation system flow problem
3 3 Front left O2 sensor
3 4 Knock sensor
3 5 Exhaust gas recirculation temperature sensor
3 6 EGRC-BPT valve
3 7 Closed loop control
3 8 Closed loop control
4 1 Air intake temperature sensor
4 2 Fuel tank temperature sensor
4 3 Throttle position sensor
4 7 Crankshaft position sensor
5 3 Front right O2 sensor
5 4 Automatic transmission control unit
6 3 Cylinder #6 misfire
6 4 Cylinder #5 misfire
6 5 Cylinder #4 misfire
6 6 Cylinder #3 misfire
6 7 Cylinder #2 misfire
6 8 Cylinder #1 misfire
7 1 Multiple cylinder misfire
7 2 Three way catalytic converter (right side)
7 3 Three way catalytic converter (left side)
7 4 Evaporative emission control system pressure sensor
7 5 Evaporative emission control system
7 7 Rear O2 sensor
8 1 Vacuum cut valve bypass valve
8 2 Crank position sensor
8 3 Absolute pressure sensor
8 4 Automatic transmission control unit
8 6 Evaporative emission canister purge control solenoid valve
8 7 Evaporative emission Canister purge control solenoid valve circuit
9 1 Front Right O2 sensor
9 3 Evaporative emission Canister vent control valve
9 5 Crankshaft position sensor
9 8 Engine coolant temperature sensor
10 1 Front left O2 sensor
10 3 Park and Neutral position switch
10 5 EGRC solenoid valve
10 8 Evaporative emission canister purge volume control valve
11 1 Inhibitor switch
11 2 Revolution sensor
11 3 Improper shifting to first gear (Automatic transmission)
11 4 Improper shifting to second gear (Automatic transmission)
11 5 Improper shifting to third gear (Automatic transmission)
11 6 Improper shifting to fourth gear (Automatic transmission)
11 7 Solenoid valve lock up function
12 1 Shift solenoid B (Automatic transmission)
12 3 Overrun clutch solenoid valve (Automatic transmission)
12 4 Torque converter clutch solenoid valve (Automatic transmission)
12 5 Line pressure solenoid valve (Automatic transmission)
12 6 Throttle position sensor (Automatic transmission)
12 7 Engine speed signal
12 8 Fluid temperature sensor
13 2 MAP/BARO Switch Solenoid Valve
13 5 Fuel pump control module
13 8 Cooling fan

A Bad Knock Sensor will not cause a misfire, unless the advance is off due to a faulty Knock Sensor. The O2 Sensor will cause a random misfire.

Good luck on this repair.

Generic OBD II Diagnostic Trouble Codes

DTC CODES P0300 to P0399

P0300....Random/Multiple Cylinder Misfire Detected

P0301....Cylinder 1 Misfire Detected

P0302....Cylinder 2 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

P0313....Misfire Detected with Low Fuel

P0314....Single Cylinder Misfire (Cylinder not Specified)

P0320....Ignition/Distributor Engine Speed Input Circuit

P0321....Ignition/Distributor Engine Speed Input Circuit Range/Performance

P0322....Ignition/Distributor Engine Speed Input Circuit No Signal

P0323....Ignition/Distributor Engine Speed Input Circuit Intermittent

P0324....Knock Control System Error

P0325....Knock Sensor 1 Circuit (Bank 1 or Single Sensor)

P0326....Knock Sensor 1 Circuit Range/Performance (Bank 1 or Single Sensor)

P0327....Knock Sensor 1 Circuit Low Input (Bank 1 or Single Sensor)

P0328....Knock Sensor 1 Circuit High Input (Bank 1 or Single Sensor)

P0329....Knock Sensor 1 Circuit Input Intermittent (Bank 1 or Single Sensor)

P0330....Knock Sensor 2 Circuit (Bank 2)

P0331....Knock Sensor 2 Circuit Range/Performance (Bank 2)

P0332....Knock Sensor 2 Circuit Low Input (Bank 2)

P0333....Knock Sensor 2 Circuit High Input (Bank 2)

P0334....Knock Sensor 2 Circuit Input Intermittent (Bank 2)

P0335....Crankshaft Position Sensor A Circuit

P0336....Crankshaft Position Sensor A Circuit Range/Performance

P0337....Crankshaft Position Sensor A Circuit Low Input

P0338....Crankshaft Position Sensor A Circuit High Input

P0339....Crankshaft Position Sensor A Circuit Intermittent

P0340....Camshaft Position Sensor 'A' Circuit (Bank 1 or Single Sensor)

P0341 Camshaft Position Sensor 'A' Circuit Range/Performance (Bank 1 or Single Sensor)

P0342....Camshaft Position Sensor 'A' Circuit Low Input (Bank 1 or Single Sensor)

P0343....Camshaft Position Sensor 'A' Circuit High Input (Bank 1 or Single Sensor)

P0344....Camshaft Position Sensor 'A' Circuit Intermittent (Bank 1 or Single Sensor)

P0345....Camshaft Position Sensor 'A' Circuit (Bank 2)

P0346....Camshaft Position Sensor 'A' Circuit Range/Performance (Bank 2)

P0347....Camshaft Position Sensor 'A' Circuit Low Input (Bank 2)

P0348....Camshaft Position Sensor 'A' Circuit High Input (Bank 2)

P0349....Camshaft Position Sensor 'A' Circuit Intermittent (Bank 2)

P0350....Ignition Coil Primary/Secondary Circuit

Most likely you do not have bad O2 sensor or coil sience you have P0300 code.
Check for vacuum leaks first , this is very common problem(vacuum leak) , lean mixture will cause misfire. I'm tallking about V6 engine , 4cyl have same problems but for misfire it may have bad coil (they under recall now).
Also check condition of air mass sensor , if it's dirty ,
buy air flow sensor cleaner and clean it according to user manual on the can.(air mass sensor can cause
O2 sensor code)
Check vacuum hose to fuel pressure regulator.
There are many more things to check , but that for mechanic shops after you try this.

If you have someone scan it with a scan tool that gives you data stream they can tell you exactly what cylinder is doing it. You might have a bad coil or wire.

P1320 Ignition Signal
Signal wire from distributor
P0325 Knock Sensor 1 Circuit Malfunction (Bank 1 or Single Sensor)
O2 senor ( The one before the cat converter )
P0300 Random/Multiple Cylinder Misfire Detected
The misfire detection monitor, a software strategy built into the computer, is designed to detect an engine misfire. The computer can also normally identify the specific cylinder in which the misfire has occurred. A misfire is nothing more than a lack of combustion, which can be caused by poor fuel quality or metering, low compression, lack of spark or unmetered air entering the engine. There are other possible, less obvious causes as well, such as uncommanded Exhaust Gas Recirculatin (EGR), flow. When the misfire monitor detects a misfire, it will trigger the check engine light with the specific cylinder number as the last digit in the P030X code. For instance cylinder 1 misfire is P0301, cylinder 2 is P0302 etc. In this case we have either multiple cylinders misfiring, or the computer simply can't determine the specific cylinder, and as such we are left with the P0300 in computer memory.
Possible Causes:
Fuel injectors, related wiring, sensors and computer issues
Running out of gas, or poor fuel quality
Evaporative emissions system (EVAP) concerns: fuel vapors leaking into engine
Incorrect fuel pressure

EGR system concerns: leaking EGR valve or restricted ports
Base engine concerns: low compression, valve train problems and timing issues
Ignition system concerns including, but not limited to:
Faulty spark plugs
Faulty coil or related wiring
Ignition module or related wiring issues
Ignition related sensor faults or wiring issues