P0316 Engine misfire detected on start-up (first 1,000 revolutions)
What P0316 means
The engine computer counted misfires during the first 1,000 crankshaft revolutions after the engine started. It is usually stored together with a cylinder-specific code such as P0301 to P0308, which shows where to look. Misfires only at cold start often point to moisture, leaking fuel or coolant in a cylinder.
P0316 is a generic SAE J2012 code: it means the same on every make. The exact cause still depends on the car, so read the freeze-frame data before replacing parts.
At a glance
- Severity
- High
- Typical repair cost
- 40–600 €
- Workshop time
- 0.3–3 h
- Repair difficulty
- Easy
- DIY possible
- Yes
- Check engine light
- Yes
- Affects emissions test
- Yes
Parts and labour at an independent workshop in Europe. Main dealers charge more; the cause decides the bill, not the code.
Symptoms
- Check engine light on or flashing
- Rough idle and shaking
- Power loss or hesitation when accelerating
- Higher fuel consumption
Common causes
- Worn spark plugs or failing ignition coils
- Moisture in the spark plug wells or coils
- Leaking injector flooding a cylinder while the car stands
- Coolant entering a cylinder from a leaking head gasket
- Low compression in one or more cylinders
Can I keep driving with P0316?
Have it checked within a few days. Repeated misfires at start-up can damage the catalytic converter, and coolant in a cylinder can point to a head gasket problem.
What to check first
- Check which cylinder-specific misfire codes are stored alongside P0316.
- Inspect spark plugs and coils on the affected cylinder for wear, water or oil in the plug well.
- Check the coolant level for unexplained loss and look for white smoke at cold start.
- Check that injectors are not leaking and that fuel pressure holds after the engine is switched off.
Related codes
- P0315 Crankshaft position system variation not learned
- P0320 Ignition/distributor engine speed input circuit
- P0308 Cylinder 8 misfire detected
- P0307 Cylinder 7 misfire detected
- P0325 Knock sensor A circuit (bank 1 or single sensor)
- P0306 Cylinder 6 misfire detected
- P0326 Knock sensor A circuit range/performance (bank 1 or single sensor)
- P0327 Knock sensor 1 circuit low (bank 1 or single sensor)
Data: TORKO fault-code catalogue, built on OBDex (CC0-1.0) and reviewed against workshop practice. Informational only — it does not replace a diagnosis by a mechanic.
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