Code
P1353
BUICK
P — Powertrain
IC Output High/Pulse Detected When Grounded Cyl.3
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UK: 26
EN: 64
RU: 30
AI status
Completed
Completed
100%
Causes
- Faulty ignition coil (cylinder 3)
- Short to battery voltage on the coil driver circuit
- Damaged, frayed, or pinched wiring harness to coil (chafing to a hot/positive source)
- Corroded or loose coil connector or poor ground
- Failed PCM/ignition driver MOSFET for cylinder 3
- Water intrusion or contamination in connector/coil boot
Symptoms
- Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) illuminated
- Misfire on cylinder 3; rough idle
- Hesitation, lack of power, or poor acceleration
- Hard starting or extended crank time
- Decreased fuel economy
- Intermittent or persistent misfire codes for cylinder 3
What to check
- Read and record all stored DTCs and freeze-frame data with a scan tool; note misfire counts and engine RPM at fault occurrence
- Inspect coil-on-plug (COP) boot and tower for carbon tracking, oil, or moisture
- Visually inspect the wiring harness and connector for cylinder 3 for damage, corrosion, exposed conductors, or pinched sections
- Unplug coil connector and check for corrosion, bent pins, and proper mating
- Measure coil primary and secondary resistance (compare to service spec or typical ranges)
- Back-probe the coil connector and observe driver/wiring voltages with a digital volt meter and/or oscilloscope while cranking/running
Signal parameters
- Key On Engine Off (KOEO): coil battery feed should show ~11–14 V; coil driver (low-side) should be high (open) — typically near battery voltage
- During cranking/running when PCM fires coil: coil driver (low-side) pulses to near 0–1 V (ground) then returns to ~12 V between pulses
- Expected primary pulse amplitude: ~0–1 V on the driver when active; ~11–14 V when driver OFF
- Pulse frequency varies with engine speed (tens to hundreds of Hz depending on RPM and firing order)
- Primary coil resistance (typical): ~0.4–2 Ω (varies by design); secondary resistance: usually in the kΩ range (check vehicle spec)
Diagnostic algorithm
- Retrieve and record codes, freeze-frame, and live data. Confirm code P1353 and any related misfire codes (e.g., P0303).
- Visually inspect coil, connector, and wiring for cylinder 3. Look for corrosion, oil, water, melted insulation, or chafing against engine components.
- With ignition OFF, disconnect the coil. Inspect pins for corrosion/bent pins. Wiggle test harness while observing pins.
- Measure coil primary and secondary resistance (bench spec). If grossly out of range, replace coil.
- With connector connected, back-probe coil connector: verify battery feed (~11–14 V) and monitor driver pin while cranking/running. Use an oscilloscope if available to confirm proper pulsed pattern to ground.
- If the driver line shows a constant high/voltage or unexpected pulses when the coil should be grounded, inspect the wiring for shorts to battery or switched power. Disconnect harness from PCM and check for voltage on the driver wire—there should not be battery voltage present at the driver pin when PCM should be grounding it.
- Swap the suspect coil with a known-good coil from another cylinder. If the code or misfire follows the coil, replace the coil. If it stays on cylinder 3, continue wiring/PCM tests.
- Perform continuity and resistance checks from the coil driver pin to the PCM connector; check for short to battery (+) and short to ground. Repair any damaged wiring or connectors.
- If wiring and coil check good but driver behavior is incorrect, consider PCM/ignition driver failure. Confirm with manufacturer diagnostics before replacing PCM.
- After repair, clear codes and perform a road test / extended cranking to verify the code does not return and misfire is resolved.
Likely causes
- Defective ignition coil on cylinder 3
- Short to voltage on the low-side (driver) wire for cylinder 3
- Corroded/loose connector at the coil causing intermittent high/pulse signals
- Wiring harness damage (chafe to battery or switched 12V)
- PCM driver failure (less common)
Fault status
Status
Ignition driver output for cylinder 3 is indicating a high voltage or pulsed signal when it should be pulled to ground. Possible causes include a faulty coil, wiring short to battery, connector/corrosion issues, or PCM driver failure.
Repair difficulty: Medium
Diagnostic time: 1-3 hours
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