P0313: Misfire detected with low fuel level
The engine misfired while the fuel tank was nearly empty. Usually the pump is drawing air or the fuel gauge sender is reading higher than it should.
| Code | P0313 |
|---|---|
| System | Engine and transmission |
| Group | P03xx, Ignition and misfires |
| Type | Generic: it means the same on every make |
| Can you keep driving? | With care |
What P0313 means
The ECU has detected misfires at a time when the fuel level was low. With little fuel in the tank, cornering, braking or climbing hills can make the pump draw in air, so the engine gets less fuel than it needs. If the misfires carry on with a full tank, look at the usual causes of a misfire.
Most common causes
- Driving on the reserve, which leaves the pump sucking air
- Fuel level sender reading more fuel than there really is
- Weak fuel pump or blocked pump inlet strainer
- Dirty fuel filter
- Usual misfire causes: spark plugs, coils or air leaks
Symptoms
- Jerking or loss of power when the tank is low
- Engine cutting out on bends or hills
- Engine warning light on
- Problem goes away or improves after filling up
Can you drive with P0313?
With care You can drive, but refuel as soon as possible and avoid running the tank low. If the misfires continue with a full tank or the light flashes, take it to a workshop.
Open the bonnetthe in-depth explanation
How to check it
Fill the tank, clear the code and drive for a few days: if it does not come back, running low on fuel was the cause. Also compare what the gauge shows with how many litres go in when you fill up.
How to read and clear P0313 with Final OBD
Plug an OBD2 scanner in under the steering wheel, switch the ignition on and open Final OBD. Under Faults you’ll see P0313 with its description and whether it’s confirmed, pending or permanent.
If the engine stores it over standard OBD, with FREE you read this code with its explanation for nothing and clear it. With PRO you also read the faults of every control unit and clear them in all of them.
Clearing the code only turns the light off: if the cause is still there, it comes back. Clear it once it’s fixed, and not right before an inspection. It’s all in how to read and clear fault codes and in inspections and OBD.
Similar codes
- P030D The ignition control signal B has a broken or disconnected wire
- P030E The ignition control signal B gives a lower signal than normal
- P030F The ignition control signal B gives a higher signal than normal
- P0311 Ignition in cylinder 11 does not follow the correct sequence
- P0314 One unspecified cylinder has misfires
- P0315 The crankshaft position system variation needs its learning procedure
- P0316 Misfire detected on start-up (first 1000 revolutions)
- P0317 The hardware that detects rough roads is absent
- P0300 Random or multiple cylinder misfire
- P0301 Misfire detected in cylinder 1
- P0302 Misfire detected in cylinder 2
- P0303 Misfire detected in cylinder 3
What does code P0313 mean?
The ECU has detected misfires at a time when the fuel level was low. With little fuel in the tank, cornering, braking or climbing hills can make the pump draw in air, so the engine gets less fuel than it needs. If the misfires carry on with a full tank, look at the usual causes of a misfire.
Can you drive with P0313?
You can drive, but refuel as soon as possible and avoid running the tank low. If the misfires continue with a full tank or the light flashes, take it to a workshop.
How do you clear P0313?
With an OBD2 scanner and an app like Final OBD, which clears it for free if it’s stored by the engine control unit. But clearing it only turns the light off: if the cause isn’t fixed, P0313 comes back.
Read it on your car
Final OBD reads and clears engine faults through standard OBD for free, each one explained in plain English. With PRO it also reads the faults of every control unit, each make’s own codes included, and clears them in all of them.
