Open circuit or high resistance in the coil control wire between the control unit and the coil; Corroded, loose or damaged coil connector terminals; Faulty ignition coil with an internal open circuit or failed driver (on coils with built-in driver); Missing or poor power supply or earth to the coil; Chafed or heat-damaged wiring loom near the engine; Fault in the engine control unit output driver.

P0362

Ignition Coil L 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
62: FaultThe specific fault in that area

What it means

P0362 means the engine control unit has detected an open circuit in the primary control circuit of ignition coil L (the twelfth coil in the manufacturer's numbering, generally on a multi-cylinder engine with individual coils). The control unit monitors the coil driver or its feedback signal and saw no current flow or an out-of-range voltage when it commanded the coil to fire. Which cylinder coil L relates to depends on the engine and manufacturer.

Symptoms

Engine misfire on one cylinder, especially under load
Rough idle or hesitation
Malfunction indicator lamp on, possibly flashing during a severe misfire
Loss of power or poor acceleration
Hard starting or occasional stalling
Raised fuel consumption

Possible causes

Open circuit or high resistance in the coil control wire between the control unit and the coillikely
Corroded, loose or damaged coil connector terminalslikely
Faulty ignition coil with an internal open circuit or failed driver (on coils with built-in driver)likely
Missing or poor power supply or earth to the coilpossible
Chafed or heat-damaged wiring loom near the enginepossible
Fault in the engine control unit output driverrare

How to diagnose

Read all stored and pending codes and note freeze frame data (engine load, speed, temperature) to see when the fault occurs.
Check for other misfire or coil codes and confirm which cylinder coil L refers to for this engine using the manufacturer's information.
Visually inspect the coil connector and wiring for corrosion, bent or pushed-back pins, chafing, and heat or oil damage.
With the connector wiggled and the engine running, see if the misfire or fault changes, which points to a wiring or terminal fault.
Check the coil's power supply and earth with a multimeter against the wiring diagram for the model.
Test the control wire for continuity and for shorts to earth or supply between the coil and control unit connector.
Swap the suspect coil with a known good one on another cylinder and see whether the fault follows the coil.
Check the control unit signal at the coil connector using an oscilloscope or a suitable test lamp, as the procedure allows for the model.

How to fix

Repair or replace damaged wiring in the coil control circuit.
Clean or replace the corroded or damaged connector and terminals.
Replace the faulty ignition coil, and check the spark plug in that cylinder at the same time.
Restore the correct power supply or earth to the coil, including fuses or relays if the wiring diagram shows them.
Replace the engine control unit only if the circuit and coil are proven good and the driver fault is confirmed.

Can I keep driving?

Medium severity

The car can be driven gently for a short time to get it repaired, but avoid heavy loads. A misfire can overheat and damage the catalytic converter, so if the warning lamp flashes, reduce power and stop driving as soon as it is safe.

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