Misfire is being flagged because the fuel tank is nearly empty and pickup is starving.
P0313 — also written PO313, P 0313, 0313 — is the OBD-II code for misfire detected with low fuel. Same code, same fix: this page covers every spelling of it.
This code means your engine is sucking air instead of fuel because the tank is too low, usually seen on older BMWs and Vauxhalls when the sender unit starts lying to you.
P0313 is a fuel & air fault code, typically costing £20–£400 to put right in a UK garage.
What P0313 actually feels like to drive
- Engine splutters or 'coughs' when you go around a sharp roundabout or up a steep hill.
- The car 'kangaroos' for a second when the fuel light is on, then recovers.
- Hard starting on a Monday morning if parked on a slope with a low tank.
- Management light pops on just as you're coasting into the petrol station.
- Sudden loss of power that clears up as soon as you put £20 of super-unleaded in.
What causes P0313?
- Very low fuel level
- Failing fuel pump
UK vehicles that throw P0313 most often
- BMW 3 Series (E46/E90) 318i/320i 2000-2012
- Vauxhall Corsa D 1.2/1.4 (A12XER/A14XER) 2006-2014
- Ford Fiesta 1.25 Zetec 2008-2017
- Mini Cooper (R50/R56) 2001-2013
- Volkswagen Golf Mk5 1.6 FSI 2004-2008
How P0313 is fixed
- Fill up and clear code
- Test fuel pressure if it returns
The P0313 misdiagnosis that wastes money
I see folk panicking and throwing a set of Bosch spark plugs or expensive coil packs at this, thinking it’s a standard ignition misfire. But P0313 is the car literally telling you it’s thirsty. The biggest mistake is ignoring the fuel level and assuming the pump is dead. In the real world, it’s often just someone driving on 'fumes' or a dodgy fuel sender unit showing a quarter tank when the bottom of the tank is actually bone dry. Always check the fuel level sensor data on the scan tool before you touch a spanner.
What a UK garage should charge for P0313
If it’s just a clear-down and a top-up, most local indies will charge you £40-£60 for the diagnostic scan. If the fuel pump is actually shot, you're looking at £180 to £350 for a decent Delphi or Bosch unit plus two hours labour (£120-£160). If you go to a main dealer like BMW or Audi, expect that bill to double instantly. A fuel filter swap—which often solves the 'starving' issue—is usually a quick £60-£90 job including the part.
P0313 repair cost in the UK
Most P0313 repairs land between £20–£400 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 P0313
If your car is throwing P0313 but your gauge says you've got fuel, don't let a garage talk you into a new engine or injectors straight away. Insist on a fuel pressure test and a 'sweep' of the fuel sender unit. Sometimes the float gets stuck, and the car thinks it has fuel when it doesn't. If the pressure is low, it’s usually the pump or a clogged filter. Also, check your service history—if you haven't changed the fuel filter on a diesel in 40,000 miles, that’s your culprit right there. Fix it before it kills your high-pressure pump.
Can you drive with P0313?
Yes — put fuel in.
Urgency: low.