Code
P0361
GWM
P — Powertrain
- Malfunction in the ignition coil primary / secondary circuit K
Views:
UK: 1
EN: 1
RU: 2
AI status
Completed
Completed
100%
Causes
- Faulty ignition coil (coil K)
- Open or shorted wiring in the coil primary or secondary circuit
- Poor connector connection or corroded pins at the coil
- Loss of power supply or ground to the coil
- Faulty ignition control module or ECM driver
- Bad spark plug or plug wire (if separate)
Symptoms
- Check Engine Light (MIL) illuminated
- Single-cylinder misfire or rough idle
- Reduced power and acceleration
- Poor fuel economy
- Intermittent stalling or difficulty starting (if coil fails intermittently)
- Noise or popping from exhaust in severe misfire
What to check
- Read and record freeze-frame and live data (misfire counts, coil command status, related codes).
- Visual inspection of coil K, its connector, and wiring harness for damage, corrosion, or loose pins.
- Check for proper battery voltage at coil power supply pin with key ON.
- Check for good ground at coil ground circuit (engine/PCM ground).
- Back-probe coil primary/secondary while cranking to verify pulsed signal (use oscilloscope if available).
- Measure coil primary and secondary resistance and compare to OEM specification.
Signal parameters
- Primary circuit: switched pulses from ECM between 0V and battery voltage (dwell-controlled).
- Primary continuity: coil primary should show continuity (no open circuit) per OEM spec.
- Secondary circuit: high-voltage pulse delivered to spark plug when primary is switched off.
- Supply voltage: constant battery voltage present at the coil power feed with key ON/cranking.
- Ground reference: low-resistance ground path from coil return to chassis/ECM.
- Oscilloscope: clean primary square/pulse waveform with expected dwell; noisy, clipped, absent or erratic pulses indicate problem.
Diagnostic algorithm
- Connect a scan tool and confirm P0361. Note freeze-frame data, misfire counts and whether other ignition/MISFIRE codes are present.
- Perform a visual inspection of coil K, connector and wiring. Repair any obvious damage or corrosion before further testing.
- With ignition OFF, disconnect coil K connector and inspect pins. Reconnect and wiggle harness while monitoring for intermittent faults.
- Check for battery voltage at the coil power pin (key ON) and verify a good ground reference. Repair power/ground faults as needed.
- Measure coil primary and secondary resistance and compare to OEM values. If out of spec, replace the coil.
- Back-probe the coil primary while cranking or running. Use an oscilloscope to confirm pulsed control signal from the ECM and appropriate dwell behavior.
- Swap coil K with a known-good coil from another cylinder. If the code and misfire move to the swapped cylinder, replace the coil.
- If coil and wiring test good, check the ECM/ignition driver outputs and related sensors (cam/crank) and consider module replacement or reprogramming only after verifying harness and coils.
- Clear codes and perform road/test drive to confirm repair. Re-scan for return of code and verify misfire counts are resolved.
Likely causes
- Damaged connector or wiring to coil K (most common)
- Defective ignition coil K
- ECM/ignition driver failure (less common)
- Faulty spark plug or secondary ignition component causing apparent coil fault
Fault status
Status
Ignition Coil K Primary/Secondary Circuit Malfunction detected (P0361)
Repair difficulty: Medium
Diagnostic time: 1-3 hours
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