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P2311

Ignition Coil D Secondary Circuit

Ignition system Generic OBD-II Medium

What it means

P2311 indicates a fault in the secondary (high-voltage output) circuit of ignition coil "D" — the side that delivers spark to the plug. A weak or breaking-down secondary circuit means that cylinder gets little or no spark, causing a misfire, rough running, and lost power. The cause is usually the coil itself, the spark plug, or the connection between them.

Medium

Can I keep driving? Usually yes short-term, but the cylinder may misfire; running a misfire for long risks catalytic-converter damage, so fix it soon.

Real-world scan data

Seen in
96
scans in the past year
Found in
<0.1%
of scans
<0.1%
of scans that found faults

Appears alongside · share of P2311 scans

P2312in 71.9% of scans

Figures reflect only diagnostic scans recorded through our own apps and tools. Cars are typically scanned because a symptom or warning light prompted it, so these counts describe our scan records — not the incidence of faults in any model, and not the quality, reliability, or safety of any vehicle. No comparison between manufacturers or models is implied. All trademarks belong to their respective owners; no affiliation or endorsement is implied.

Common symptoms

What you'll notice

Common causes

Most likely first

  1. Faulty ignition coil 'D' (secondary winding breakdown)
  2. Worn or fouled spark plug on that cylinder
  3. Damaged coil boot, spark-plug wire, or connection
  4. Carbon tracking/arcing at the coil or plug
  5. Poor connector or wiring at the coil

How to diagnose & fix

Work through it in order

  1. Identify the cylinder coil 'D' serves; inspect the plug, boot, and coil for wear or arcing.
  2. Swap the coil (and plug) with a known-good one to see if the fault follows the part.
  3. Replace a failed coil boot, spark-plug wire, or fouled plug.
  4. Check the coil connector and wiring.
  5. Clear the code and confirm the misfire clears.

FAQ

Quick answers

Is it safe to drive with P2311?+
Short term, but a misfire can damage the catalytic converter. Repair the coil or plug promptly, especially if the light flashes.
Can I just clear P2311?+
It comes back once the secondary circuit fails again. Replace the failing coil or plug first.

Related codes

Read & clear P2311 yourself

Scan your car, confirm the code, and clear it once it's fixed — with OBD DashX on your phone.

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Verified name — SAE J2012 / ISO 15031-6Guidance reviewed by OBD DashX