P0359

Code

GWM P — Powertrain

- Malfunction in primary / secondary circuit of ignition coil I

Brand: GWM

Type: P — Powertrain

Views: UK: 1 EN: 15 RU: 4

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Page language: EN

Causes

Failed ignition coil (open or shorted primary/secondary windings)
Damaged or corroded coil connector or wiring harness
Short to ground or short to battery in the coil circuit
Poor or intermittent ground or power supply to the coil
Faulty ignition driver in the PCM/ECU
Faulty or fouled spark plug creating excessive load or arcing

Symptoms

Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL/CEL) illuminated
Rough idle or engine misfire on the affected cylinder
Loss of power or hesitation under load
Poor fuel economy and increased emissions
Difficulty starting or intermittent stalling
Audible popping or uneven exhaust from affected cylinder

What to check

Read and record freeze-frame and live data (cylinder misfire counters, RPM, load)
Scan for related codes (other coil/cylinder codes, misfire codes P0300–P0309)
Visual inspection of coil, boot, connectors and wiring for damage, corrosion or oil
Check for arcing marks on coil/boot or ignition wires
Measure coil primary and secondary resistance with DMM and compare to spec
Wiggle test harness/connectors with engine running to reproduce fault

Signal parameters

Primary winding resistance: typically ~0.4–2 Ω (varies by coil design) — consult factory specs
Secondary winding resistance: typically ~5 kΩ–15 kΩ (varies) — consult factory specs
Supply voltage at coil power terminal: battery voltage (~11–14 V during cranking/run)
Coil primary drive: pulsed voltage from ECU; pulse frequency varies with engine speed
Expected coil primary waveform: sharp primary current pulse with rapid collapse (use oscilloscope for detail)
High-voltage secondary: several kV peak (use appropriate HV probe/equipment if necessary)

Diagnostic algorithm

Connect an OBD-II scanner and confirm P0359 and any related codes. Record freeze-frame data.
Perform a visual inspection: check coil, boot, spark plug, connector pins and wiring for damage, corrosion or contamination.
With ignition off, unplug the coil connector and inspect pins for corrosion, bent pins or loose terminals. Repair as needed.
Measure coil primary resistance across the coil primary terminals with a digital multimeter. Compare to factory spec. Replace coil if out of range.
Measure coil secondary resistance between high-voltage output and primary terminal where accessible. Compare to spec.
Verify battery voltage at the coil power supply pin (key ON/crank). Check for poor power or intermittent loss.
Check continuity to chassis ground from coil ground circuit. Repair any high-resistance ground.
If bench tests look OK, swap the suspect coil with a known-good coil from another cylinder. Clear codes and test drive. If code moves, replace coil.
If code does not follow the coil, backprobe the coil primary while cranking and observe waveform with an oscilloscope or use a lab scope module on a scan tool to confirm ECU drive signal and coil response.
If no ECU drive or abnormal waveform, inspect wiring harness for opens/shorts between coil and ECU. Repair as needed.
If wiring and coil are good but no drive signal, consider PCM/ECU ignition driver failure. Confirm with manufacturer's diagnostic procedures before replacing PCM.
After repairs, clear codes and verify the repair by road test and re-scan for return of the code.

Likely causes

Open or high resistance in the coil primary winding
Shorted secondary winding causing no proper high-voltage output
Loose/cracked connector pin or broken wire between coil and PCM
Engine wiring harness damage (chafing, rodent chew, corrosion)
Coil-on-plug boot oil contamination or carbon tracking
Intermittent PCM output driver failure (less common)

Fault status

⚠️ Status

Ignition Coil I primary/secondary circuit malfunction detected — check coil, wiring, power/ground and ECU driver.

🟡 Repair difficulty: Medium

⏱️ Diagnostic time: 0.5-2.0 hours

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P0359 — - Malfunction in primary / secondary circuit of ignition coil I