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P0353: Ignition coil C circuit fault

The ECU has found an electrical fault in ignition coil C or its wiring. The cylinder it feeds may stop firing, making the engine shake.

Code P0353 at a glance
CodeP0353
SystemEngine and transmission
GroupP03xx, Ignition and misfires
TypeGeneric: it means the same on every make
Can you keep driving?With care

What P0353 means

Each coil turns the battery’s 12 volts into the high voltage that makes the spark plug fire. The primary circuit is the low voltage side controlled by the ECU; the secondary is the high voltage side that goes to the plug. This code points to a fault in either one on coil C, which usually serves cylinder 3, although the exact layout is set by each manufacturer.

Most common causes

  • Loose, dirty or corroded coil connector
  • Broken or chafed coil control or supply wire
  • Failed coil (crack, moisture or internal fault)
  • Worn spark plug or damaged boot overloading the coil
  • Faulty ignition module or ECU driver stage

Symptoms

  • Engine shaking or juddering, especially at idle
  • Noticeable loss of power
  • Engine warning light on or flashing
  • Higher fuel consumption and a smell of unburnt petrol

Can you drive with P0353?

With care You can drive gently to a garage, but if the warning light flashes or the engine shakes badly, stop driving: unburnt fuel can damage the catalytic converter.

How to check it

With a scan tool, watch the live misfire counters per cylinder: if cylinder 3 is building up misfires and the others are not, suspicion falls on that coil, its plug or its wiring.

How to read and clear P0353 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 P0353 with this same explanation and whether it’s confirmed, pending or permanent.

With Free you read this code with its short description for nothing, and clear it if the engine stores it over standard OBD. With Pro you get the full explanation, how the car was running when it was logged (revs, temperature, load) and clearing in every control unit.

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 the ITV. It’s all in how to read and clear fault codes and in the ITV and OBD.

Similar codes

P0353 is a generic code, so it means the same on any make, for example on Abarth, Cupra, Jeep, Mini, Nissan, Seat. See what Final OBD does on your car in makes and models.

What does code P0353 mean?

Each coil turns the battery’s 12 volts into the high voltage that makes the spark plug fire. The primary circuit is the low voltage side controlled by the ECU; the secondary is the high voltage side that goes to the plug. This code points to a fault in either one on coil C, which usually serves cylinder 3, although the exact layout is set by each manufacturer.

Can you drive with P0353?

You can drive gently to a garage, but if the warning light flashes or the engine shakes badly, stop driving: unburnt fuel can damage the catalytic converter.

How do you clear P0353?

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, P0353 comes back.