P0354 indicates that ignition coil “D” is has is malfunctioning on the primary/secondary side. This code is typically caused by a bad coil pack or wiring harness issue, and is a generic. This means that it has the same meaning regardless of what vehicle throws the code. It is typically caused by a bad coil pack, spark plug, or wiring problem. There can be other less common causes as well.
Primary or Secondary?
The first thing that you need to do when diagnosing P0354 is to figure out if the issue is coming from the primary or secondary wiring system.
Primary
The primary wiring is the wiring harness leading from the PCM to the ignition system itself. A short, open, or poorly ground wiring harness is almost always what causes P0354 when it is the primary wiring side that has thrown the code. Look for visible damage.
Secondary
The secondary side of the equation is the spark side. Which means that plugs, plug wires (if so equipped) or the spark plug itself are causing the code. Ignition Coil D indicates the problem is in cylinder four. You’ll need to look up where cylinder 4 is in your engine. Different manufacturers use different methods. Here’s a pretty good explanation of how how to locate the fourth cylinder .
See Also: P0353: Coil Pack “C” Malfunction
P0354: Common Symptoms
- Service Engine Light– The check engine light may be all that you notice when you have this code, particularly if it is caused by an intermittent wiring issue.
- Misfiring– P0354 might be accompanied by P0304. P0304 indicates that there is a misfire in cylinder 4. Resolving P0354 will typically clear P0303. A misfire can lead to a lack of power, and/or engine hesitation.
- Rough Idle– You vehicle may idle rough if the fourth cylinder isn’t getting enough spark. You may smell raw fuel as the engine runs as well, as it is no longer igniting fuel efficiently.
P0354 Causes
These are the most common reasons that P0354 may have appeared in your car or truck.
- Wiring Issues (short, open, or bad ground)
- Bad Coil Pack
- Loose Connection at the coil
- Bad PCM
P0354 Diagnosis
Diagnosing P0354 is pretty straightforward. Finding out if the primary or secondary wiring harness is the problem should be the first thing that you do. It’s easy to do, even with no specialty tools.
Voltage Test (Optional, but time saving)
The first place that you would want to start looking for what could be causing P0354 in your vehicle would be the wiring harness. You can use a digital voltmeter to check if the coil pack “D” is getting the proper signal. You would want to set it for A/C hertz and check to see if it is between 5-20hz.
If it was between 5-20hz, it’s highly likely that the coil pack has gone bad. Although, it could also be a bad plug or plug wire as well. If you don’t have a voltmeter, no problem. Just check out the parts swap method below ↓.
Parts Swap
A great way to determine if it is an ignition related component, and not a wiring issue, is to reset the trouble code and swap the coil, plug, and plug wire (if equipped) with another cylinder. If the misfire returns in the cylinder that you’ve just swapped your ignition components into, then you know that you are looking at is a coil, plug wire, or (most likely) coil pack failure.
If the misfire did move cylinders, you can go ahead and replace the plug, plug wire, and coil pack. If you are on a tight budget, you can keep resetting the code and swap the ignition parts back one at a time until the misfire returns to cylinder four. Start with the coil pack unless you noticed that the plug looked foul.
Wiring
If the misfire failed to move from cylinder four, then you know that you most likely have an issue with the wiring harness going from the coil pack to the PCM. Take a look at where the harness plugs into the coil pack. Is it damaged or loose feeling in relation to the other cylinder’s connections? If so it may need to be replaced.
If the misfire is intermittent, go ahead and jiggle the wiring harness and see if it has an impact on the way the engine is running. If it does start or stop misfiring, you know you’ve found your problem. Look anywhere that the harness bends or touches anything sharp. Check for damage and repair the wiring accordingly.
Make sure that it has a solid ground.
PCM/ECM
If you still can’t find the problem, it’s time to take a look at the PCM. This is the least likely answer, but with everything else eliminated it needs to be looked at.
Wrapping Up: P0354
P0354 is usually pretty easy to diagnose through the swap test, even if you don’t have any specialty diagnostic tools. Good luck repairing your vehicle