P0316 Code: Misfire Detected on Startup (First 1000 Revolutions)
The engine misfired right after starting, when the catalytic converter is cold and emissions are highest.
At a glance
Severity: Low
- Meaning
- Misfire Detected on Startup (First 1000 Revolutions)
- System
- Ignition & Misfire · Powertrain
- Safe to drive?
- Yes, short term
- Typical repair cost
- $80–$5,500
- DIY difficulty
- Moderate
Right after a start the catalytic converter is still cold and can't clean the exhaust, so the engine computer runs a separate, stricter misfire check over the first 1,000 crankshaft revolutions, which is roughly the first 30 to 60 seconds of running. P0316 means that check counted too many misfires. The code is used most widely by Ford, though other makers set it too. It rarely names a cylinder by itself, so look for a companion P0301 to P0308. Because the problem appears when the engine is cold, the likely causes differ from a normal misfire: a coil or plug that only fails when cold and damp, fuel pressure that bleeds off overnight, an injector that leaks into a cylinder while parked, or coolant seeping into a cylinder. Once the engine is warm it often runs perfectly.
Can I keep driving? Usually safe to drive once the engine smooths out. Let it idle for 20 to 30 seconds after a cold start instead of pulling away under load. If you see white exhaust smoke with a sweet smell, or the coolant level keeps dropping, stop using the car until the cooling system has been checked.
How to read P0316
- P Powertrain
- 0 Generic (SAE)
- 3 Ignition / misfire
- 16 Specific fault
Symptoms
- Shaking or stumbling for the first seconds after a cold start, then normal running
- Longer cranking than usual, especially after the car has sat overnight
- Puff of white, sweet-smelling smoke at startup (coolant in a cylinder)
- Strong fuel smell at startup (leaking injector)
- Check-engine light on with no driveability problem once warm
Possible causes
Ranked by how often each cause is behind this code (editorial estimate).
- Worn plugs or a weak coil that misfires when cold or damp, often shown by a companion cylinder code
- Fuel pressure bleeding off while parked (leaking pump check valve, regulator or injector), so the engine starts lean
- Injector dripping into one cylinder overnight, flooding it at the next start
- Coolant seeping into a cylinder through a head gasket or cracked head or block
- Carbon deposits on the intake valves of a direct-injection engine soaking up fuel when cold
- Weak crankshaft signal at cranking speed or low battery voltage confusing the misfire count
- Faulty coolant temperature sensor giving the wrong cold-start fuel mixture
Diagnosis step by step
Read the freeze frame and companion codes
Check the coolant temperature and engine run time recorded when P0316 set, and look for any cylinder-specific codes. A companion code narrows it to one cylinder. No companion code and a very cold freeze frame point toward fuel pressure, temperature sensor or battery issues that affect all cylinders.
Tools: OBD-II scanner
Do a fuel pressure hold test
On engines with a test port on the rail, connect a gauge, cycle the key to prime the pump and note the pressure. Turn the key off and watch it for 10 minutes. It should drop only slowly. If it falls quickly, clamp the supply line: if it then holds, the pump check valve is leaking; if it still falls, an injector or regulator is leaking.
Tools: Fuel pressure gauge
Pull the plugs after an overnight cold soak
Before the first start of the day, remove the plugs and compare them. A plug wet with fuel points to a dripping injector on that cylinder. A plug that is unusually clean or steam-cleaned, or droplets of coolant, points to coolant intrusion, and a cooling system pressure test is next.
Tools: Spark plug socket, Flashlight
Check battery and cranking voltage
Measure battery voltage while cranking; it should stay above about 9.6 volts. Low voltage slows cranking and weakens both the crank sensor signal and the coils. Also make sure the coolant temperature and intake air temperature readings agree within a few degrees after the car has sat overnight.
Tools: Multimeter, OBD-II scanner
Swap the suspect coil and test cold
If a companion code names a cylinder, swap that coil with a neighbor and wait for the next overnight cold start before judging the result. A coil that only fails cold will look fine on a warm test.
Tools: Screwdriver, OBD-II scanner
Where the parts are
- 1Ignition coil
- 2Spark plug
- 3Fuel injector
- 4Camshaft sensor
- 5Crankshaft sensor
- 6Engine computer (ECM)
- 7Intake manifold
Repair options & costs
| Repair | DIY? | Estimated cost |
|---|---|---|
| Replace spark plugs and any weak coil | Yes | $150–$550 |
| Replace leaking fuel injector | No | $200–$650 |
| Replace fuel pump module with a leaking check valve | No | $450–$1,200 |
| Replace coolant temperature sensor | Yes | $80–$220 |
| Head gasket or block repair for coolant intrusion | No | $1,500–$5,500 |
Rough US estimates for parts and labor; shop rates vary by region. Not a quote.
Notes by brand
Ford
P0316 is a common Ford code. On some 1.5L and 2.0L EcoBoost engines in the Escape, Fusion and Edge, coolant seeping into a cylinder is a known cause: the engine misfires for a few seconds after a cold start, often with white smoke, while coolant slowly disappears. Check the coolant level and pull the plugs before replacing coils.
Field data
| Ford | 129 |
|---|
Source: NHTSA Complaints API (US government open data), analyzed by DTC mention.
Emissions / smog test impact
Will fail
Once P0316 has turned on the check-engine light, the car fails an OBD emissions test even if it runs perfectly when warm. Because the code only sets on cold starts, a proper repair has to be confirmed over several overnight cold starts before you retest.
Frequently asked questions
Why does the misfire only happen on cold starts?
A cold engine needs extra fuel and a strong spark. Worn plugs, a coil with a hairline crack, low residual fuel pressure or a leaking injector all show up most at that moment. Once the engine is warm, the mixture and spark requirements are easier to meet and the misfire disappears.
Why doesn't P0316 tell me which cylinder?
It reports that the startup check failed, not where. Most engines set a cylinder-specific code alongside it. If yours doesn't, check the misfire counters with a scan tool right after a cold start to see which cylinder is counting.
Could it be coolant in the cylinder?
Yes, and it's worth ruling out early because it gets worse. Signs are a coolant level that drops with no visible leak, white sweet-smelling smoke at startup, and a plug that looks steam-cleaned. A cooling system pressure test overnight confirms it.
Will a new battery fix P0316?
Only if slow, low-voltage cranking is the cause. A weak battery can make the misfire count unreliable and weaken the spark at startup. Test the battery under load first, but don't expect it to cure a leaking injector or worn plugs.
Sources
- SAE J2012 – Diagnostic Trouble Code Definitions
- ISO 15031-6 – Road vehicles, diagnostic trouble code definitions (EOBD)
- Manufacturer public service information (cross-checked)
- NHTSA Complaints API
- Methodology: How We Build Code Pages · Data Sources We Use · Editorial Policy