P0316: Misfire Detected On Startup (First 1000 Revolutions)
Quick Answer
Safe to drive (short-term)
P0316 means the engine computer counted misfires during the first 1,000 crankshaft revolutions after the engine started, which at a cold idle is roughly the first minute of running. The code is generic and means the same on all makes. It often comes with a cylinder-specific code (P0301, P0302 and so on) that tells you which cylinder is involved, and the freeze frame shows the engine temperature when it happened.
- Severity
- Moderate · Misfire
- Estimated repair cost
- From €50 to €700+, varies by vehicle
€50 or €700, depending on your car.
- Compression or leak-down test with diagnosis€50–€150
- Replace one petrol fuel injector€200–€700
A scan shows whether P0316 is really stored on your car, which codes sit next to it and how urgent each one is.
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 P0316 mean?
P0316 is a misfire-related diagnostic trouble code classified as moderate severity.
What are the symptoms of P0316?
- Check engine light on, often after a cold start
- Engine shakes or stumbles for the first seconds, then smooths out
- Long or rough start after the car stood overnight
- Smell of fuel from the exhaust right after starting
- A cylinder-specific misfire code alongside it
- Slightly higher fuel use
What causes P0316?
Worn spark plugs or a weak ignition coil that only fails on a cold start
: high
Fuel pressure bleeding down overnight (leaking injector, weak pump or check valve), so the first start runs lean or rich
: medium
Vacuum or intake leak, or a dirty or faulty air flow sensor, upsetting the first mixture
: medium
Poor or contaminated fuel
: medium
Worn valve, burnt valve seat or low compression on one cylinder
: low
Coolant leaking into a cylinder through a head gasket or crack
: low
Faulty crankshaft or camshaft position sensor causing a false count
: low
Is it safe to drive with P0316?
Generally yes, for short-term driving. If the engine shakes only briefly after a cold start and the check engine light stays steady, a short trip to a workshop is fine. If the light flashes, the car loses power or you smell raw fuel, stop: raw fuel from a misfiring cylinder can overheat and damage the catalytic converter.
How do you diagnose P0316?
- Read all codes and the freeze frame. Note the coolant temperature, rpm and load: a cold-start-only misfire points to fuel, ignition or mixture, a warm one to wear
- Look for a cylinder-specific code. If P0301 to P0304 is stored with P0316, start with that cylinder's plug and coil
- Inspect the spark plugs for wear, wet fuel, oil or coolant deposits, and check the gap if the maker lists it
- Swap the suspect coil to another cylinder and see whether the misfire code follows it
- Check fuel pressure at key on, and after the car has stood for several hours. A fast pressure drop points at a leaking injector or a failing pump check valve
- Smoke test the intake for leaks and look at the MAF reading at idle against the manual's range
- If plugs, coils and fuel are good, run a compression or leak-down test, and look for coolant loss or white smoke that would suggest a head gasket
How much does P0316 cost to fix?
| Repair | Parts Cost | Labor Cost | Total Estimate | DIY Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Replace spark plugs (full set) | €20–€80 | €40–€150 | €60–€230 | Moderate |
| Replace one ignition coil | €30–€200 | €40–€120 | €70–€320 | Easy |
| Replace one petrol fuel injector | €100–€400 | €100–€300 | €200–€700 | Professional |
| Smoke test and intake leak repair | €10–€80 | €60–€200 | €70–€280 | Moderate |
| Replace air flow (MAF) sensor | €40–€300 | €30–€80 | €70–€380 | Easy |
| Compression or leak-down test with diagnosis | €0–€0 | €50–€150 | €50–€150 | Professional |
Prices estimated as of October 2026. Costs vary by region, vehicle, and shop.
Related diagnostic codes
Common questions about P0316
- What is P0316 and how is it different from P0300?
- P0300 reports random misfires at any time the engine runs. P0316 is the same kind of fault but only counts misfires in the first 1,000 revolutions after starting, so it points at conditions that exist while the engine is cold or just started.
- Why does P0316 appear only when I start the car?
- The computer runs a separate misfire check right after start-up, when the mixture and ignition are hardest to keep stable. A weak coil, tired plug, a fuel pressure drop overnight or a small intake leak can all hide once the engine is warm.
- Can bad fuel cause P0316?
- It can, because poor or contaminated fuel burns badly on a cold start. Running the tank down and refilling with fresh fuel from a different station is a cheap first test: if the code does not return, the old fuel was the cause.
- Will P0316 go away on its own?
- The warning may clear after several clean drive cycles if the cause was temporary, but a worn plug, coil or injector will bring it back. Do not rely on it clearing, because a misfire can damage the catalytic converter.
- Is it safe to drive with P0316?
- For a short trip with a steady light, yes. A flashing check engine light, a strong fuel smell or a major loss of power means stop, because unburnt fuel is entering the exhaust.