Code
P1360
DS
P — Powertrain
Ignition coil 4 control short circuit to positive
Views:
UK: 3
EN: 1
RU: 1
AI status
Completed
Completed
100%
Causes
- Short in the coil 4 control wiring to battery positive (pin-to-power short)
- Damaged or contaminated coil 4 connector or terminal causing unintended positive feed
- Internal short in the ignition coil (coil pack) on cylinder 4
- Corroded, chafed or pinched harness near engine or firewall contacting +12V
- Faulty or damaged engine control module (ECM) driver transistor (less common)
- Aftermarket stereo/alarms or recent electrical work introducing a back-feed
Symptoms
- Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) / Check Engine Light illuminated
- Rough idle or noticeable misfire on cylinder 4
- Reduced engine power and drivability issues
- Intermittent or constant misfire code(s) (e.g., P0304)
- Possible hard start or no-start if circuit fails completely
What to check
- Read ECU freeze frame and live data for misfire counters and cylinder 4 status
- Visual inspection of coil 4 connector, wiring harness routing, and nearby components for damage or pinching
- Check for corrosion, bent pins or pushed-out terminals in coil connector
- Measure voltage at the coil 4 control pin with ignition ON (engine off) and while cranking/idle
- Check continuity between coil control pin and battery positive with ignition OFF (expect no direct continuity)
- Measure coil primary resistance per manufacturer spec and compare to same-vehicle coil
Signal parameters
- Expected: coil control line normally driven low-side by ECU (pulsed to ground during firing).
- Expected idle/cranking waveform: pulsed switching between ~0 V (ground) and near battery +12 V (supply) as coil discharges; pulse frequency varies with engine speed.
- Fault reading: steady battery voltage (~12 V) at control pin with ignition ON or during cranking indicates short to positive.
- Continuity: no direct continuity between coil control pin and battery positive with ignition OFF (infinite or high resistance).
- Resistance: coil primary resistance should match factory spec (compare to another coil)
Diagnostic algorithm
- Safety first: park vehicle, set parking brake, wear eye protection. Record stored freeze frame and codes.
- Visually inspect coil 4 connector and wiring harness for obvious damage, rubbing or aftermarket splices near +12V sources.
- Disconnect coil 4 connector. With ignition OFF, test continuity between the coil control pin in the harness and battery positive. There should be no low-resistance path. If low resistance exists, trace and repair the short.
- With connector disconnected, turn ignition ON (engine off) and measure voltage at the harness control pin. A healthy circuit will not show a steady +12 V. If it reads battery voltage, locate short to +12 V in wiring or terminal.
- Reconnect coil. Backprobe coil control pin with engine cranking or idling. Use a scope or DMM (AC/Max-Min) to observe switching. Expect pulsed ground switching. If the signal is held high or absent, suspect wiring/coil or ECU driver.
- Swap coil 4 with a known-good coil from another cylinder if coils are identical. Clear codes and run engine. If the code follows the coil, replace the coil. If it remains on cylinder 4, continue wiring/ECM checks.
- Inspect and repair damaged wiring, connectors or splices found. Replace corroded terminals and secure harness away from heat or moving parts.
- If wiring and coil test good, test or replace the ECM output driver per manufacturer procedures (may require dealer-level diagnostics).
- After repair, clear codes and road test to confirm the fault does not return and misfire count is resolved.
Likely causes
- Wiring abrasion where the coil control wire contacts a fused +12V source
- Damaged coil 4 internal electronics allowing battery positive onto the control terminal
- Poor connector seating or corrosion at the coil harness introducing +12V
- Shorted splice or accessory circuit tied into the coil control circuit
- ECM output stage failure (if wiring and coil check good)
Fault status
Status
P1360 - Ignition Coil 4 Control Short to Positive (coil 4 driver circuit at +12V)
Repair difficulty: Medium
Diagnostic time: 0.5-2.0 hours
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