The proper working of your engine is vital to run the vehicle smoothly. When one or more of your engine’s cylinders misfire, it may lead to severe issues. The misfiring most commonly takes place when the air-fuel mixture reaction doesn’t burn properly into your combustion chamber.
When your powertrain control module (PCM) constantly monitors the performance of your engine. When any of your engine’s cylinders misfire at the startup, the PCM triggers the P0316 code. This article explains the P0316 code meaning, causes, and symptoms.
What Does the P0316 Code Mean?
The P0316 code stands for “Engine Misfire Detected on Startup (First 1000 Revolutions).”
Diagnostic trouble code (DTC) stands for “Engine Misfire Detected on Startup (First 1000 Revolutions).” Basically, if one or more of the engine’s cylinders misfires during the engine’s first 1,000 revolutions, the PCM sets code P0316.
The PCM may disable the misfiring cylinder or cylinders in order to prevent further damage to the engine. Code P0316 is often listed in addition to one or more of the P0300 series codes that are associated with the misfiring cylinder/s.
For instance, P0301 is triggered when cylinder #1 misfires repeatedly. Notice that the last two numbers of the trouble code indicate the affected cylinder.
If you want to learn more about how the engine computer identifies which cylinder is misfiring, you can read our technical explanation about cylinder misfires and OBD codes.
Got other codes on your scan tool? Search our OBD2 codes list. Continue reading to know the most likely causes of code P0316.
Note: While code P0316 is a generic code specified by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), its definition may change according to the car manufacturer.
Causes of the P0316 Code
The P0316 code represents the engine misfires. The engine misfire can occur due to different reasons. The following are the most common causes of the P0316 engine code.
- Bad spark plugs
- Faulty ignition coils
- Insufficient fuel pressure
- Lean or rich air-fuel ratio
- Poor fuel quality, such as dirty or contaminated fuel
- Insufficient fuel supply to the engine
- Clogged or damaged fuel system lines
- Vacuum leaks
- An issue with the exhaust gas recirculation (ERG) system
- Bad catalytic converter
- Faulty fuel injector
- A bad crankshaft position sensor
- A bad camshaft position sensor
- An issue with the PCM
Symptoms of the P0316 Code
A vehicle with the P0316 code triggers one or more of the following symptoms:
- Illuminated check engine light
- Rough idle
- Hard to start the engine
- Poor fuel efficiency
- A reduction in the engine performance
- Engine misfires
- Poor acceleration
- Failed emissions tests
How Easy Is It to Diagnose a P0316 Code?
The first step in diagnosing a P0316 code is having a qualified technician assess the live data gathered from the vehicle to determine if the PCM is actually registering a misfire before they swap out any components.
They will swap components to validate that there is a mechanical issue in the engine or ignition system. Your catalytic convertor will usually take longer to allow for any restrictions to cause a misfire, but it’s still something they will inspect.
Finally, the camshaft and crankshaft sensors are inspected with advanced scanning tools that have built in tests to look for correlation issues and sensor faults.
The technician can also check your vehicle for lean fuel conditions caused by low fuel pressure. Checking for vacuum leaks is the next step in this diagnosing process, followed by checking to see how the fuel injectors are working.
They will then check how the Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) valve operates and monitor the catalytic convertor for any clogs. Finally, they will check the camshaft and crankshaft for damage to the sensors, wiring, or connectors.
How to diagnose the P0316 Code?
The P0316 code is a serious trouble code. Therefore, it is recommended to fix it as soon as possible. Follow the following steps to diagnose the P0316 engine code:
- Verify the presence of the P0316 code by using an OBD-II scan tool.
- Utilize the freeze data to find out the main cause of the code. After freeze data analysis, clear the PCM memory, and test drive the vehicle. If the code still exists, perform further inspection.
- Properly examine the electrical wires and connections for signs of damage or wear.
- Properly examine the service record of your car to ensure all maintenance and tune-ups are up-to-date.
- Properly inspect the quality of the fuel. Your fuel must be contaminated-free.
- Check the spark plugs for damage by changing them from one cylinder to another to verify if a certain cylinder is misfiring.
- Check the fuel level in the fuel tank.
- Inspect the ignition coils and fuel system for damage or leak.
- Check the fuel pressure by using a pressure gauge.
- Check fuel conditions for a lean fuel condition, which may be caused by the low fuel pressure.
- If your air-fuel mixture is lean, check for a vacuum leak.
- Inspect the fuel injector for damage.
- Check the functionality of the EGR valve.
- Inspect the catalytic converter for a blockage.
- Use an inline spark tester at each individual cylinder to examine for proper ignition system function.
- Inspect the camshaft and camshaft position sensor for damage.
- Check the functionality of the crankshaft position sensor.
- Perform a compression test if you still are unable to find the problem. This test reveals the internal engine damage if there is any.
Common P0316 Code Diagnostic Mistakes
- Unnecessary replacement of ignition system components.
- Replacing the camshaft position sensor or crankshaft position sensor before inspecting the wiring and connections.
- Not clearing the powertrain control module (PCM) after fixing the issue
- Not checking the fuel condition before replacing the ignition system components.
What repairs can fix the P0316 Code?
One or more of the following repairs can fix the P0316 code:
- Clear the PCM/ECM memory and perform a test drive.
- Replace the faulty crankshaft position sensor
- Replace the bad camshaft position sensor
- Add more fuel into the fuel tank if needed
- Replace the faulty spark plugs
- Drain the dirty engine oil and add fresh oil
- Repair the damaged wires or loose connections
- Replace the faulty fuel injector
- Repair or replace the faulty EGR system
- Clean the clogged fuel lines
- Replace the bad catalytic converter
- Fix the vacuum leaks
- Replace the faulty EGR valve
- Clean the clogged throttle body
- Replace the faulty throttle position sensor
- Fixing the issues related to the PCM
Repair Costs for P0316
To fix the P0316 code, you need to repair one or more of the below-given parts. The estimated cost of each part is given below:
| Parts | Cost |
| Spark plug wiring repair | $170 to $250 |
| Ignition coil replacement | $220 to $650 |
| Vacuum leak repair | $90 to $210 |
| Fuel pump replacement | $250 to $1,090 |
| Fuel injector replacement | $1400 to $2000 |
| Fuel pressure regulator | $190 to $410 |
| Spark plug replacement | $60 to $260 |
How serious is the P0316 code?
The P0316 trouble code is considered to be very serious, mainly because this trouble code is indicative of a mechanical or electrical problem that typically worsens over time.
This trouble code mainly indicates engine misfiring, which is very dangerous for your engine. The misfiring may produce various drivability issues, such as poor fuel economy, poor acceleration, and/or reduction in engine performance.
In some cases, an unrepaired misfire may cause another mechanical failure. For example, a bad ignition system that results in a misfire, if not fixed quickly, can result in downstream fuel over-metering. As a result, it can severely damage the catalytic converter, which is very expensive to replace.
Therefore, as your vehicle triggers the P0316 code, you should stop driving and fix it as soon as possible.