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P1338 — Cylinder 2 ignition fail malfunction

Detailed page for trouble code P1338.

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Code

P1338

CITROEN P — Powertrain

Cylinder 2 ignition fail malfunction

Brand: CITROEN
Views: UK: 0 EN: 5 RU: 1
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Page language: EN

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

  1. Retrieve all codes and freeze-frame; note conditions when fault occurred (RPM, load, temp).
  2. Perform a visual inspection of ignition components for cylinder 2 (coil, plug, boot), wiring and connectors; repair obvious damage or corrosion.
  3. 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.
  4. Inspect and, if suspect, replace the spark plug in cylinder 2; verify correct type and gap.
  5. 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.
  6. Use an oscilloscope to examine coil primary/secondary waveforms while cranking/running to confirm proper spark energy and timing. Compare to reference waveforms.
  7. Test injector operation for cylinder 2 (resistance, activation, spray pattern if accessible) and check fuel pressure if multiple cylinders affected.
  8. If electrical and fuel systems test OK, perform a compression or leak-down test on cylinder 2 to evaluate mechanical condition.
  9. Check crank/cam sensor signals and timing correlation if misfire occurs with timing anomalies.
  10. After repairs, clear codes and perform a test drive under conditions that previously triggered the fault; re-scan to confirm resolution.
  11. 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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