Code
P1338
CITROEN
P — Powertrain
Cylinder 2 ignition fail malfunction
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EN: 5
RU: 1
AI status
Completed
Completed
100%
Causes
- Failed ignition coil (coil pack or coil-on-plug) for cylinder 2
- Worn, fouled or incorrect spark plug in cylinder 2
- Open/short or poor connection in ignition wiring or coil connector
- Faulty ignition driver in the engine control module (ECU)
- Faulty or intermittent crankshaft/camshaft position sensor or timing correlation issues
- Fuel injector fault (stuck/blocked or electrical fault) for cylinder 2
Symptoms
- Check Engine MIL illuminated (stored P1338 and possibly misfire counters)
- Rough idle or visible vibration at idle
- Reduced engine power and hesitation under load
- Surge or stumble during acceleration; poor throttle response
- Higher fuel consumption and increased exhaust emissions
- Possible misfire-related noise and, if prolonged, catalytic converter overheating/damage
What to check
- Read all stored and pending DTCs and view freeze-frame data (engine speed, load, temp)
- Monitor live data: misfire counters per cylinder, ignition dwell, crank/cam correlation, injector pulse width
- Visually inspect ignition coil, coil connector, spark plug and spark plug well for oil/contamination
- Check wiring harness for chafing, corrosion or damage from ECU to coil and injector for cylinder 2
- Swap ignition coil (or coil-on-plug) with another cylinder and see if DTC/misfire follows the coil
- Check spark plug condition and replace if fouled or out of spec; verify correct gap
Signal parameters
- Misfire counter (cylinder 2) — increments when misfire detected
- Ignition coil primary supply voltage (~11–14 V at battery voltage)
- Ignition coil primary resistance and current draw — compare to manufacturer spec
- Ignition coil secondary resistance and waveform shape (oscilloscope)
- Ignition dwell time and coil driver duty (ms) as reported by ECU
- Crankshaft/Camshaft position correlation (timing sync) and crank angle at misfire event
Diagnostic algorithm
- Retrieve all codes and freeze-frame; note conditions when fault occurred (RPM, load, temp).
- Perform a visual inspection of ignition components for cylinder 2 (coil, plug, boot), wiring and connectors; repair obvious damage or corrosion.
- Swap the ignition coil (or coil-on-plug) from cylinder 2 with another known-good cylinder. Clear codes and run engine. If fault follows the coil, replace coil.
- Inspect and, if suspect, replace the spark plug in cylinder 2; verify correct type and gap.
- With a multimeter, check supply voltage to the coil connector (battery voltage with key on/crank) and continuity to ECU ground/driver. Repair wiring as necessary.
- Use an oscilloscope to examine coil primary/secondary waveforms while cranking/running to confirm proper spark energy and timing. Compare to reference waveforms.
- Test injector operation for cylinder 2 (resistance, activation, spray pattern if accessible) and check fuel pressure if multiple cylinders affected.
- If electrical and fuel systems test OK, perform a compression or leak-down test on cylinder 2 to evaluate mechanical condition.
- Check crank/cam sensor signals and timing correlation if misfire occurs with timing anomalies.
- After repairs, clear codes and perform a test drive under conditions that previously triggered the fault; re-scan to confirm resolution.
- Safety note: When checking spark be cautious to avoid shock and follow safe procedures; prefer using diagnostic tools (scope/inductive pickup) over exposed spark testing.
Likely causes
- Ignition coil pack or coil-on-plug failure on cylinder 2
- Spark plug fouling or incorrect gap
- Loose or corroded coil-to-ECU wiring or connector
- Fault follows a swapped coil (indicating coil or plug problem)
- Intermittent wiring short to ground or battery feed loss to coil driver
Fault status
Status
ECU detected repeated ignition failures on cylinder 2. Misfire recorded; engine management may limit performance until fault is resolved.
Repair difficulty: Medium
Diagnostic time: 1.0-3.0 hours
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