OBD-II code guide

P0303 Cylinder 3 Misfire Detected

P0303 indicates a misfire isolated to cylinder 3.

What it means

Cylinder 3 is not burning the air-fuel mixture reliably.

Common symptoms

  • Rough running
  • Reduced power
  • Check engine light
  • Shaking under load
  • Hard starting in some cases

Likely causes

  • Spark plug wear
  • Coil failure
  • Fuel injector fault
  • Vacuum leak
  • Mechanical valve or compression problem

First checks

  • Record all codes before replacing parts.
  • Compare cylinder 3 plug and coil condition.
  • Check for coolant or oil contamination on the plug.
  • Stop driving if misfire is severe.