P0314: Single Cylinder Misfire (Cylinder not Specified)
Quick Answer
Not safe to drive
P0314 means the engine computer has detected repeated misfires on one cylinder but has not identified which cylinder it is. The cause is the same as for any single-cylinder misfire, most often a worn spark plug, a failing ignition coil, an injector fault, an intake leak at one cylinder or low compression; the extra work is finding the cylinder. Many engine computers name the cylinder instead, with P0301 to P0308, so check for one of those stored alongside it.
- Severity
- High · Misfire
- Estimated repair cost
- From €40 to €1700+, varies by vehicle
€40 or €1700, depending on your car.
- Replace one ignition coil€40–€180
- Head gasket or valve repair€550–€1700
A scan shows whether P0314 is really stored on your car, which codes sit next to it and how urgent each one is. You can do this parked, with the ignition on.
A scan needs a Bluetooth OBD2 adapter (Bluetooth LE on iPhone), about €25-60; the built-in demo runs without one. See which adapter to buy
What does P0314 mean?
P0314 is a misfire-related diagnostic trouble code classified as high severity.
What are the symptoms of P0314?
- Check engine light on, or flashing while the misfire is active
- Rough or shaking idle with a regular stumble
- Vibration felt through the seat or steering wheel
- Hesitation and loss of power when accelerating
- Higher fuel consumption
- Fuel or rotten-egg smell from the exhaust
What causes P0314?
Worn or fouled spark plug on one cylinder
: high
Failing ignition coil, or oil or water in a spark plug well
: high
Clogged, leaking or sticking fuel injector on one cylinder
: medium
Intake air leak at one runner or intake gasket
: medium
Low compression on one cylinder from a burnt or tight valve, worn rings or a head gasket leak
: low
Crankshaft position sensor or tone wheel problem confusing the misfire count
: low
Is it safe to drive with P0314?
No - address this immediately. A misfiring cylinder sends unburned fuel into the exhaust, which can overheat and ruin the catalytic converter, and the engine can lose power at an awkward moment. If the check engine light is flashing, stop as soon as it is safe. If it is steady and the engine still runs smoothly enough, drive only the short distance to a workshop, gently and without heavy loads.
How do you diagnose P0314?
- Read every stored code and the freeze frame. A cylinder-specific code such as P0301 to P0308 stored at the same time or later tells you the cylinder straight away, and the freeze frame shows the engine speed, load and temperature when the misfire happened
- On many newer cars the Mode 06 test results, which a generic OBD2 reader can show, include a misfire count for each cylinder. The cylinder with a count far above the rest is the one to test first
- If the misfire is happening now, listen and feel for the stumble at idle, and on engines with individual coils unplug one coil at a time with the engine idling: the cylinder whose coil makes no difference to the idle when unplugged is the one not firing. Do this briefly, because it adds unburned fuel to the exhaust
- Remove and inspect the spark plugs. A plug that looks different from the others (wet, oily, sooty or with a worn or damaged electrode) points to its cylinder
- Swap the suspect cylinder's coil with a neighbour, clear the codes and drive. If the misfire moves with the coil, replace the coil
- If ignition is ruled out, check that cylinder's injector for sound and resistance, smoke-test the intake for leaks, and run a compression test to compare all cylinders
- If no cylinder stands out and the misfire is not reproducible, check the crankshaft position sensor, its wiring and the tone wheel, because an irregular signal can be counted as a misfire
How much does P0314 cost to fix?
| Repair | Parts Cost | Labor Cost | Total Estimate | DIY Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Replace spark plugs (full set) | €20–€80 | €40–€150 | €60–€230 | Easy |
| Replace one ignition coil | €20–€120 | €20–€60 | €40–€180 | Easy |
| Clean or replace one fuel injector | €40–€180 | €60–€200 | €100–€380 | Moderate |
| Fix vacuum leak | €10–€80 | €60–€200 | €70–€280 | Moderate |
| Replace crankshaft position sensor | €20–€100 | €50–€200 | €70–€300 | Moderate |
| Head gasket or valve repair | €150–€500 | €400–€1200 | €550–€1700 | Professional |
Prices estimated as of October 2026. Costs vary by region, vehicle, and shop.
P0314 on specific vehicles
P0314 on Volkswagen
Volkswagen Golf
Related diagnostic codes
Common questions about P0314
- What does P0314 mean?
- P0314 means the engine computer has counted repeated misfires on a single cylinder but has not identified which one. The underlying fault is the same as for any single-cylinder misfire: something is stopping that cylinder from burning its fuel properly, usually ignition, fuel delivery, an air leak or compression.
- What is the difference between P0314 and P0300?
- P0300 means the engine computer sees misfires on more than one cylinder, or cannot pin them down, and points to a cause that affects the whole engine, such as a vacuum leak or low fuel pressure. P0314 says the misfire is on one cylinder only, so the cause is local to that cylinder, even though the code does not say which one it is.
- How do I find which cylinder is misfiring?
- Start with the other stored codes, because a P0301 to P0308 code names the cylinder. A generic OBD2 reader can also show the Mode 06 test results, which on many newer cars include a misfire count for each cylinder. Beyond that, inspecting the spark plugs, unplugging coils one at a time at idle, and swapping a suspect coil to another cylinder usually find it.
- Is it safe to drive with P0314?
- It is not recommended. A misfiring cylinder pushes unburned fuel into the exhaust, which can overheat the catalytic converter, a far more expensive repair than a plug or coil. If the check engine light flashes, stop driving as soon as it is safe. If it is steady, drive only the short distance to a workshop. A stored misfire code can also get a car rejected at a roadworthiness or emissions test; rules vary by country.
- How much does it cost to fix P0314?
- A full set of spark plugs costs about €60 to €230 fitted, and one ignition coil about €40 to €180. Cleaning or replacing one fuel injector is roughly €100 to €380, a vacuum leak repair about €70 to €280 and a crankshaft position sensor about €70 to €300. If the cause is low compression, a head gasket or valve repair can run from about €550 to €1,700.
Read our detailed guides
Sources
- wiki.ross-tech.com wiki.ross-tech.com/wiki/index.php/Misfire_Diagnosis