What it means
An electrical fault has been detected in the ignition coil circuit for cylinder 3 — open primary winding, short to ground, or short to supply. The ECU disables the coil to protect its driver and the cylinder misfires.
At a glance
- Usually lights the check-engine light
- Affects emissions; the car can fail an emissions test
How it works
The ignition module switches current through the primary winding of coil C, which serves cylinder 3, to create the spark for that cylinder. The control module monitors the coil circuit and sets P0353 when it detects an open or a short to ground or supply in the cylinder 3 coil circuit.
Common causes
Most likely first.
- Coil primary winding open or shorted
- Wiring or connector fault
Symptoms
- Check-engine light
- Rough running or misfire
- Hard starting
- Reduced engine power
How to diagnose it
- Record freeze-frame data with a scan tool and check cylinder 3 misfire counts to see when the fault occurs.
- Inspect coil C and its connector and wiring for loose terminals, corrosion, heat damage, or chafing.
- Check the cylinder 3 coil supply and control circuits for opens or shorts using the wiring diagram and manufacturer's specification.
- Test coil C's primary winding against the manufacturer's specification.
- If the coil and wiring are sound, test the control module driver and connections for coil C using the manufacturer's procedure.
Common fixes
- Reconnect or secure the cylinder 3 coil connector.
- Repair damaged wiring or terminals in the coil C circuit.
- Replace coil C if its primary winding is out of specification.
- Repair the coil C driver circuit or replace the control module if testing confirms an internal driver fault.
Can I keep driving?
Avoid driving with a severe cylinder 3 misfire or a flashing check-engine light, because unburned fuel can damage the catalytic converter. If the engine runs smoothly and the light is steady, keep driving to a minimum and have the fault diagnosed soon.
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.