Cylinder 2 misfire.
P0302 — also written PO3O2, P 0302, 0302 — is the OBD-II code for cylinder 2 misfire detected. Same code, same fix: this page covers every spelling of it.
P0302 means the engine's brain has clocked that cylinder number 2 (second from the belt end) isn't pulling its weight. It's a bread-and-butter job for us, usually down to a tired plug or a burnt-out coil pack, especially on high-mileage Fords.
P0302 is a ignition fault code, typically costing £30–£800 to put right in a UK garage.
What P0302 actually feels like to drive
- The car feels like a 'kangaroos' when you're pulling away from traffic lights.
- A violent shudder or 'judder' specifically under heavy load, like climbing a hill in 4th gear.
- The engine light starts flashing—that's the car telling you the catalytic converter is melting.
- Lumpy idle that feels like the car is 'coughing' through the seat.
- A distinctive 'putt-putt' sound from the exhaust tailpipe when parked.
What causes P0302?
- Spark plug
- Coil
- Injector
UK vehicles that throw P0302 most often
- Ford Fiesta 1.25 Zetec (2008-2017) - Very common coil failure.
- Vauxhall Corsa D/E 1.2 & 1.4 (2010-2019) - Look for the single-piece ignition rail.
- Volkswagen Golf Mk7 1.4 TSI - Often carbon buildup on valves.
- BMW 1 Series (N43 engine) - Usually failing Piezo injectors.
- Mini Cooper (R56) 1.6 - Often high-pressure fuel pump or coked-up valves.
- Nissan Qashqai 1.2 DIG-T - Known for piston ring and oil consumption issues.
How P0302 is fixed
- Replace plug & coil
- Injector test
The P0302 misdiagnosis that wastes money
I see it all the time: a lad comes in having already spent £60 on a new coil pack and four Bosch plugs, yet the skip's still there. They assume it's spark, but on these Direct Injection (GDI) VAG and Ford engines, P0302 is frequently a carbon-clogged intake valve or a failing injector. Don't just throw bits at it; I’ve seen people replace 4 coils when the real culprit was a £15 vacuum leak on a perished breather pipe near the cylinder 2 runner.
What a UK garage should charge for P0302
For a basic diagnostic plug-in, expect to pay £40-£70 at an indie. A single spark plug and Bosch coil pack for a Focus will run you about £90 including labour. However, if it's a BMW injector, you're looking at £350 per part easily. A full carbon 'walnut blast' on a Mini or VW to clear this code usually sits around £300-£400. Main dealers will easily double these rates with their £150+ hourly labour charge.
P0302 repair cost in the UK
Most P0302 repairs land between £30–£800 including parts and labour. The spread is wide because the cheap fix (a sensor, a hose, a leak) and the expensive fix (a major component) throw the same code — which is why a proper diagnosis before parts are bought saves the most money.
Bob's tip on P0302
Before you let a garage sell you a 'full engine overhaul', ask them to do a 'coil swap' test. I move the coil from cylinder 2 to cylinder 1. If the code stays P0302, the coil was fine and you've saved 80 quid. If you've got a Ford Ecoboost or a Vauxhall 1.4 turbo, insist they check the spark plug for 'tracking'—little black lines on the white porcelain. It's a dead giveaway for a cracked plug that costs tenner to fix, rather than a whole ECU.
Can you drive with P0302?
Drive gently.
Urgency: high.