P0352: Ignition Coil B Primary/Secondary Circuit Malfunction
Quick Answer
Not safe to drive
P0352 means the ECU saw an abnormal voltage pattern on the primary control circuit of ignition coil #2. In plain terms: cylinder 2 isn't getting a reliable spark command, so it misfires.
- Severity
- Moderate · Ignition
- Estimated repair cost
- From €60 to €850+, varies by vehicle
€60 or €850, depending on your car.
- Replace single ignition coil€60–€210
- Replace full coil set + all spark plugs€260–€850
A scan shows whether P0352 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 P0352 mean?
P0352 is a ignition-related diagnostic trouble code classified as moderate severity.
What are the symptoms of P0352?
- Rough idle with a distinct shake from one cylinder
- Check engine light on, flashing under load if the misfire is active
- Power loss on acceleration, especially above 3,000 RPM
- Fuel economy drop of roughly 10 to 20%
- Cold-start hesitation or stumble that clears once warm
- Occasional stall at idle or when coming to a stop
- Fuel smell from the tailpipe and hot exhaust downstream of the manifold
What causes P0352?
Failed coil-on-plug or coil pack on cylinder 2
: high
Worn spark plug with wide gap forcing the coil to arc harder until it fails
: high
Cracked coil boot arcing to the valve cover or head
: medium
Corroded or backed-out pin in the coil connector
: medium
Oil in the plug well from a leaking valve cover gasket shorting the coil
: medium
Open or shorted wire between PCM and coil primary, or failed PCM ignition driver
: low
Is it safe to drive with P0352?
No - address this immediately. You can limp home, but continued driving with a misfiring cylinder dumps raw fuel into the catalytic converter. A new cat runs €400 to €1,500+, versus €30 to €120 for a coil. Don't push it.
How do you diagnose P0352?
- Scan for all stored codes and freeze frame data. If P0302 is also present, you've confirmed cylinder 2 is the misfiring one
- Pull coil #2 and inspect the boot for cracks, carbon tracking, and oil. Check the connector pins for green corrosion or a backed-out terminal
- Swap coil #2 with coil #1 or #3, clear codes, drive and rescan. If the P0352 becomes P0351 or P0353, the coil is bad
- If the code stays on cylinder 2, pull spark plug #2. Look for wide gap, oil fouling, cracked insulator, or wrong heat range
- Measure primary resistance across the coil terminals (typical 0.4 to 2.0 ohms) and secondary if accessible (5k to 15k ohms). Compare to service manual spec, not gut feel
- Key on, engine off: back-probe the coil connector for switched 12V on the supply pin. Cranking: verify the PCM is pulsing the trigger wire (test light flicker or scope)
- If supply, ground, trigger, coil, and plug all check out, scope the primary waveform. A missing or flat trigger points to the PCM ignition driver
- After repair, clear codes and run a drive cycle covering idle, part-throttle, and full-throttle to confirm the misfire counter stays at zero
How much does P0352 cost to fix?
| Repair | Parts Cost | Labor Cost | Total Estimate | DIY Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Replace single ignition coil | €30–€120 | €30–€90 | €60–€210 | Easy |
| Replace coil + spark plug on cylinder 2 | €45–€160 | €40–€120 | €85–€280 | Easy |
| Replace full coil set + all spark plugs | €180–€600 | €80–€250 | €260–€850 | Moderate |
| Repair or replace coil harness / connector pigtail | €15–€60 | €60–€180 | €75–€240 | Moderate |
| Valve cover gasket + coil + plug (oil-fouled well) | €60–€220 | €150–€400 | €210–€620 | Moderate |
Prices estimated as of October 2026. Costs vary by region, vehicle, and shop.
Full repair guides
P0352 on specific vehicles
P0352 on Ford
Ford F-150
Toyota
Toyota Camry
2002-2011
2AZ-FE 2.4L and 1MZ-FE 3.0L V6 both develop valve cover gasket and spark plug tube seal leaks that flood the plug well with oil and short the coil.
Volkswagen
VW Golf Mk5/Mk6
2006-2014
2.0 TSI (CCTA/CBFA) and 2.5L five-cylinder engines are known for coil failures, and several coil versions fit these engines, so check the current part for your engine code when replacing.
BMW
BMW 3-Series (E90/E92)
2006-2013
N52 and N54 engines run pencil coils that fail with age and heat. Cylinder 2 is second back from the radiator on the inline-six.
Honda
Honda Civic (8th/9th gen)
2006-2015
R18 1.8L SOHC has a durable coil-on-plug setup. When P0352 shows up here it's more often the plug or a loose connector than a dead coil.
Related diagnostic codes
Common questions about P0352
- Which cylinder is coil B on my engine?
- Coil B is cylinder 2 by the engine's factory numbering, not the second coil from the front of the valve cover. On transverse V6s, boxer fours, and some inline sixes the numbering isn't obvious. Check the service manual or a decal on the intake before you start swapping parts.
- Can I just swap coils and drive on it?
- Swapping coil #2 with coil #1 to see if the code follows is a legit diagnostic step. But if the CEL is flashing, you're melting the catalytic converter every kilometer. Do the swap, then either fix it or park it within a day or two.
- I replaced the coil and P0352 came back the next day. Why?
- Three usual suspects: a replacement coil that was faulty from new, a worn spark plug you didn't replace, or a wiring/connector fault that killed the original and just killed the new one. Check the plug and connector before buying a third coil.
- Should I replace all coils at once or just #2?
- If the coils are original and past 150,000 km, replacing the set saves you from chasing P0351, P0353, and P0354 over the next year. If the car is newer or the coil failed from something external like oil intrusion, just do the one.
- Will P0352 fail a technical inspection?
- It can. Roadworthiness and emissions testing is organised nationally rather than under one common test, but an active check engine light with a stored ignition fault can be recorded as a deficiency, and a misfiring cylinder can push the measured exhaust readings out of range too. Clearing the code right before the test rarely helps, since the readiness monitors will not be set.
Read our detailed guides
Sources
- f150online.com f150online.com/forums/v8-engines/480174-dg511-new-style-dg521-coils-when-exactly
- ford-trucks.com ford-trucks.com/forums/334724-cylinder-numbers-for-5-4-a.html
- engineneeds.com engineneeds.com/ford-5-4-cylinder-numbers/