P1367 — Ignition Coil C Secondary Circuit Malfunction

For Ford vehicles

distributorless electronic ignition system

powertrain (engine/transmission)

Is it safe to drive?

Drive with caution Drive with caution and avoid load. Ignition faults cause misfires that quickly overheat and destroy the catalytic converter; if the Check Engine Light flashes, stop and fix it first.

How to diagnose with an OBD scanner

  1. Read the code and freeze frame Connect an OBD2 scanner, confirm P1367 is stored, and save the freeze frame data — it shows engine conditions when the fault was detected.
  2. Check for companion codes and TSBs Related codes often reveal the real root cause. Also check manufacturer technical service bulletins (TSB) for your make and model — many P0xxx issues have factory fixes or software updates. Search by VIN on the manufacturer site or nhtsa.gov.
  3. Inspect wiring and connectors Visually inspect the wiring harness and connectors related to the ignition system for damage, corrosion, chafing or poor contact.
  4. Subsystem check Run the module's actuator test for the ignition coil c secondary if your scanner supports it — a component that does not respond to a direct command is confirmed faulty.
  5. Subsystem check Swap the coil to another cylinder and see if the fault code follows it.
  6. Subsystem check Inspect spark plugs for wear, oil or carbon tracks and check plug gaps.
  7. Verify the repair Clear the code, complete a full drive cycle including the conditions from the freeze frame, and confirm P1367 does not return.

Approximate repair cost

Repair cost depends on which component actually failed. Typical scenarios for P1367 (parts and labor, USD, independent shop rates): Replace an ignition coil: $150–$380; Repair coil wiring or connector: $80–$250; Replace spark plugs: $90–$250. Overall, fixing P1367 usually costs between $80 and $380. An accurate diagnosis before buying parts saves money — the most expensive scenario is rarely the first one to check.

Common questions

What are the symptoms of P1367?

Drivers most often notice: hard starting, especially in damp weather, misfires under load or at idle, loss of power and jerking, increased fuel consumption.

How do I diagnose P1367 myself?

Start with a scan: confirm P1367, save the freeze frame and note any companion codes. Then inspect the wiring and connectors related to the ignition coil c secondary, and verify the suspect component against live data before buying parts.

Will P1367 clear itself?

Sometimes P1367 clears after a few drive cycles if the fault was intermittent — for example a loose connector or a tank of bad fuel. The underlying cause usually remains, so the code tends to return. Clear it once; if it comes back, diagnose rather than erase it repeatedly.

Is it safe to drive with P1367?

Drive with caution and avoid load. Ignition faults cause misfires that quickly overheat and destroy the catalytic converter; if the Check Engine Light flashes, stop and fix it first.

How much does it cost to fix P1367?

Replace an ignition coil — $150–$380; Repair coil wiring or connector — $80–$250; Replace spark plugs — $90–$250. Exact cost depends on the root cause, your vehicle and local labor rates — a proper diagnosis is the cheapest first step.

P1367 is a powertrain trouble code that signals a fault with the secondary circuit of ignition coil C. When your engine control module runs its continuous self-diagnostics, it watches the voltage and behavior of the ignition system very closely. If the readings from coil C's secondary circuit fall outside the expected range for long enough, the module logs P1367 and illuminates the Check Engine Light. Unlike codes that point directly to a wiring problem, P1367 tells you the self-test failed — which could mean a bad coil, a bad connection, or even an issue inside the module itself. That's why a logical, step-by-step approach matters more than guessing.

Your ignition coil takes low-voltage power from the battery and transforms it into the high-voltage surge that jumps the spark plug gap, igniting the air-fuel mixture. The secondary circuit is the part of the coil that generates that high voltage. The ECU constantly monitors this circuit while the engine runs. When the voltage pattern doesn't match what the module expects, it flags the fault and stores a freeze frame snapshot — capturing RPM, engine load, coolant temperature, and vehicle speed at the exact moment the problem appeared. That snapshot is your most valuable starting point for diagnosis, because it tells you under what conditions the fault occurred.

The moment the ECU decides the abnormality is real and persistent enough, it saves P1367 and turns on the warning light. In some cases the light may flash, particularly if the misfire is severe — flashing means the catalytic converter is at risk and you should address it immediately.

Common symptoms of P1367

  • The engine may be difficult to start, especially in damp or rainy conditions when moisture can interfere with the spark.
  • Misfires are typical, showing up either under acceleration load or even at idle.
  • Drivers often notice a loss of power and a jerking sensation during acceleration.
  • Fuel economy tends to drop noticeably because unburned fuel passes through the cylinder without ignition.
  • The Check Engine Light is illuminated, and on some vehicles it may flash continuously during a severe misfire.
  • In rare cases, the engine may stall entirely if the coil failure is complete.

What causes P1367?

The root causes of P1367 range from simple and inexpensive to more involved. Before replacing any major components, check the obvious culprits first.

  • Ignition coil C has failed internally. This is one of the most frequent reasons for P1367, and the coil may show visible cracks, carbon tracking, or oil contamination.
  • Damaged wiring or a poor connector. Frayed wires, corroded terminals, or loose plugs in the harness leading to coil C will cause the module's self-test to fail.
  • Worn or incorrectly gapped spark plugs. If the spark plug gap is too wide or too narrow, the coil works harder and can trigger a secondary circuit fault.
  • Moisture or oil inside the spark plug well. Water intrusion from a leaking valve cover gasket or oil entry from low oil levels can short the secondary circuit.
  • A fault inside the ECM or PCM itself. In rare cases, the ignition control driver within the module has failed, causing the self-test to register a phantom malfunction.
  • A software or calibration issue in the control module. Some vehicles have known firmware glitches that set P1367 falsely, which a reflash or update can resolve.
  • A failing coil pack that shares circuits with coil C. On some designs, coil C is part of a multi-coil pack, and one bad coil can affect the others electrically.

How to diagnose P1367

Diagnosing P1367 correctly means ruling out wiring and plugs before you spend money on a new coil.

  1. Hook up an OBD2 scanner and confirm P1367 is active. Record the freeze frame data — it tells you exactly what the engine was doing when the fault was detected, which guides your next steps.
  2. Scan for any other stored trouble codes. Related codes in the same ignition family can point to the real culprit, and a single code rarely tells the whole story.
  3. Visually inspect the wiring harness and connector at coil C. Look for chafed insulation, bent pins, corrosion, or any sign the connector is not fully seated.
  4. Pull the spark plugs from cylinder C and examine them. Check the gap with a proper gap tool, and look for oil fouling, carbon buildup, or a cracked insulator — each tells a different story.
  5. If your scanner supports actuator or bi-directional tests, command the coil on and off. A coil that ignores the command is very likely failed.
  6. Swap coil C with a known-good coil on another cylinder, clear the code, and drive the vehicle. If the fault moves to the new cylinder, the coil itself is bad.
  7. After any repairs, clear the code and complete a full drive cycle, especially under the conditions captured in the freeze frame. The code must stay cleared for the repair to be confirmed.

Repair options and costs for P1367

The repair path depends entirely on what your diagnosis reveals. The good news is the least expensive fix is also the most common one.

  • Replace the ignition coil — The most common repair. Parts and labor run $150 to $380 depending on your vehicle and whether you use OEM or aftermarket parts.
  • Repair wiring or replace the connector — If the harness is damaged, soldering a new connector or splicing the wires costs $80 to $250.
  • Replace spark plugs — Four new plugs plus labor typically fall between $90 and $250.

How much does it cost to fix P1367?

Total repair costs for P1367 generally land between $80 and $380 when you work with an independent shop. Swapping the ignition coil yourself can bring the price down significantly if you're comfortable doing the work, since parts alone are often under $80 per coil. Diagnostic time at a shop usually runs one to two hours at local labor rates. The most expensive scenario — a wiring harness replacement combined with an ECM update — can push toward the upper end, but that situation is uncommon. Always confirm the diagnosis before replacing the coil, because misdiagnosis is the biggest source of wasted money on this code.

Can you drive with P1367?

Proceed with caution. P1367 indicates a partial or intermittent ignition failure on cylinder C, which means raw fuel is entering the exhaust stream unburned. That fuel can overheat and destroy your catalytic converter in a short amount of time. If the Check Engine Light is flashing rather than steady, stop driving immediately and have the vehicle towed. Even when the light is steady, limit hard acceleration and heavy loads until the fault is diagnosed and repaired.

Related OBD2 codes