P0302: Cylinder 2 Misfire Detected
The computer sees that cylinder 2 is misfiring, meaning its fuel is not burning completely on enough power strokes.
What P0302 means
When P0302 sets, the engine computer has timed the crankshaft slowdowns and traced them to cylinder 2 on more firing events than it allows. On a four cylinder engine that is the second cylinder from the front; on V6 and V8 engines the numbering changes by maker, so check a diagram before pulling parts. A common pattern with P0302 and other single cylinder codes is oil getting into the spark plug well. A leaking valve cover gasket or plug tube seal lets oil soak the coil boot, the boot breaks down, and spark jumps to ground instead of the plug. Shops confirm the cause with a coil swap, a plug inspection and, if needed, a fuel injector and compression test. Fixing it early usually means a coil or plug. Ignoring it can foul the plug for good, wash oil off the cylinder wall with raw fuel, and overheat the catalytic converter.
Common symptoms
- Check engine light on, or flashing when the misfire is bad
- Rough or shaky idle
- Hesitation or jerking when you accelerate
- Loss of power, especially going uphill or merging
- Worse gas mileage
Most common causes
- Bad ignition coil or coil boot on cylinder 2
- Worn or oil-fouled spark plug
- Oil in the spark plug well from a leaking valve cover or tube seal
- Faulty or clogged cylinder 2 fuel injector
- Intake leak near cylinder 2
- Burnt valve or low compression
What to check yourself first
Pull the cylinder 2 coil and look down the plug well. Engine oil in the well usually means a leaking valve cover or tube seal that is soaking the coil boot. Swap the coil with cylinder 1 and see whether the code moves to P0301.
Typical fixes and what they cost
| Fix | Typical cost | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Replace ignition coil | $238-$320 | Coil boots that sit in oil break down and arc, so fix the oil leak at the same time. |
| Replace spark plugs | $288-$399 | An oil soaked plug points to a valve cover or spark plug tube seal leak. |
| Replace fuel injector | $768-$953 | Replace if the injector fails a resistance or balance test. |
| Check engine light diagnosis at a shop | $125-$183 | Covers compression testing if the coil and plug swap tests do not move the misfire. |
Typical US price ranges for parts and labor, not quotes. Your shop should confirm the cause with a diagnostic before replacing parts.
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Related codes
- P0300 Random/Multiple Cylinder Misfire Detected
- P0301 Cylinder 1 Misfire Detected
- P0303 Cylinder 3 Misfire Detected
- P0202 Injector Circuit/Open - Cylinder 2
- P0420 Catalyst System Efficiency Below Threshold (Bank 1)