Faulty ignition coil with an open primary winding or failed internal driver; Damaged, chafed or broken wiring in the coil control circuit between the control unit and the coil; Corroded, loose or pushed-out pins in the coil connector or control unit connector; Open circuit or poor connection in the coil's power supply or earth feed; Heat or vibration damage to the harness near the engine, such as wiring touching hot components; Faulty engine control unit output driver; Incorrect identification of coil K because of an engine or model-specific cylinder layout, leading to the wrong part being replaced.

P0361

Ignition Coil K Primary Control Circuit/Open.

Generic
Powertrain
Generic code
Medium severity

How this code is built

P: SystemPowertrain
0: Defined bySAE, the same on every car
3: AreaIgnition system or misfire
61: FaultThe specific fault in that area

What it means

P0361 means the engine control unit has detected an open circuit in the primary control circuit of ignition coil K, which is the eleventh coil on engines with individually numbered coils. The control unit monitors the coil driver signal and sets the code when the expected electrical response is missing, indicating a break or very high resistance. Which cylinder coil K serves depends on the vehicle, so check the manufacturer's information for the model and engine.

Symptoms

Engine misfire on one cylinder, especially under load
Rough idle or hesitation on acceleration
Malfunction indicator lamp on or flashing
Reduced power and poor fuel economy
Difficult starting or occasional stalling
Possible fuel smell from unburnt fuel at the exhaust

Possible causes

Faulty ignition coil with an open primary winding or failed internal driverlikely
Damaged, chafed or broken wiring in the coil control circuit between the control unit and the coillikely
Corroded, loose or pushed-out pins in the coil connector or control unit connectorlikely
Open circuit or poor connection in the coil's power supply or earth feedpossible
Heat or vibration damage to the harness near the engine, such as wiring touching hot componentspossible
Faulty engine control unit output driverrare
Incorrect identification of coil K because of an engine or model-specific cylinder layout, leading to the wrong part being replacedrare

How to diagnose

Read all stored and pending codes and note the freeze frame data, including engine load, speed and temperature when the fault set
Check the manufacturer's information to confirm which cylinder coil K serves on this engine and where it is located
Inspect the coil connector and harness for damage, corrosion, heat damage, loose pins or fluid contamination
Check for any misfire codes on the same cylinder and review live misfire counters if available
Carry out a wiggle test on the harness and connector with the engine running while watching for changes in idle quality or misfire counts
Test the coil's power supply and earth, and check the control circuit for continuity and shorts between the control unit connector and the coil connector using the wiring diagram
Swap the suspect coil with a known good one from another cylinder and see whether the fault and misfire follow it
Check the control unit connector and output signal with an oscilloscope if the wiring and coil test good

How to fix

Replace the faulty ignition coil, and inspect the spark plug in that cylinder at the same time
Repair or replace the damaged section of wiring in the control circuit, using proper soldered or crimped and sealed joints
Clean, repair or replace corroded or loose connector terminals
Restore the coil's power or earth supply by repairing the supply wiring or connection
Re-route and secure the harness away from heat and moving parts
Replace or repair the engine control unit only after all wiring and coil faults have been ruled out, following the manufacturer's procedure

Can I keep driving?

Medium severity

The car can usually be driven short distances for repair, but avoid heavy loads and long journeys. Persistent misfire can overheat and damage the catalytic converter, so stop driving if the warning lamp flashes.

Guide written by AI from the code's definition. Confirm with a diagnosis before replacing parts.