What it means
Misfires concentrated on cylinder 10. A cylinder-specific code points away from shared causes (fuel pressure, MAF) toward components dedicated to that cylinder — coil, spark plug, injector, compression.
At a glance
- Usually lights the check-engine light
- Affects emissions; the car can fail an emissions test
How it works
The engine control module estimates misfires by monitoring crankshaft speed changes as each cylinder fires. P0310 sets when those changes repeatedly indicate that cylinder 10 is not contributing normally, if the engine is equipped with one; its plug, coil, injector, wiring, or compression may be involved.
Common causes
Most likely first.
- Faulty spark plug or ignition coil for cylinder 10
- Clogged or faulty cylinder 10 fuel injector
- Damaged wiring or connector at the cylinder 10 ignition or injector
- Low compression in cylinder 10
Symptoms
- Check engine light on or flashing
- Rough idle and uneven running
- Power loss, hesitation under acceleration
- Increased fuel consumption
- Possible smell of unburned fuel from exhaust
How to diagnose it
- Check freeze-frame data and live misfire counts to confirm that cylinder 10 is affected and identify when the misfire occurs.
- Locate cylinder 10 using the vehicle's cylinder identification information, then inspect its spark plug, coil, injector connector, and wiring.
- If parts can be interchanged, swap cylinder 10's plug or coil with another cylinder and check whether the misfire moves.
- Check cylinder 10 injector operation and circuit using the manufacturer's procedure.
- If ignition and fuel checks pass, measure cylinder 10 compression and compare it with the other cylinders.
Common fixes
- Replace a worn or fouled cylinder 10 spark plug.
- Repair loose or damaged cylinder 10 ignition or injector wiring.
- Replace a failed cylinder 10 ignition coil if the misfire follows it during a swap.
- Clean or replace a faulty cylinder 10 injector.
- Repair the cause of low compression in cylinder 10.
Can I keep driving?
If the check-engine light flashes or the engine shakes, stop driving when safe because an active misfire can damage the catalytic converter. If the light is steady and running is smooth, limit driving and avoid hard acceleration until cylinder 10 is diagnosed.
A code shows where the control module detected a fault, not always which part failed. Check the causes in order and confirm with a test before replacing parts. Have several codes? Check them together
This is a generic code: it means the same on every make. The car’s maker may add more detail in its own service information.