Misfire detected during the first 1000 revolutions after starting.
P0316 — also written PO316, P 0316, 0316 — is the OBD-II code for misfire detected on startup. Same code, same fix: this page covers every spelling of it.
This one means your engine is tripping over its own feet within the first 1,000 revolutions of firing up. It’s a classic cold-start headache, most common on Ford Ecoboosts and older Vauxhall Astra 1.4 turbos.
P0316 is a ignition fault code, typically costing £60–£600 to put right in a UK garage.
What P0316 actually feels like to drive
- Rough as a badger’s back for the first 30 seconds after a cold start.
- Clears up and runs sweet as a nut once you're out of the driveway.
- The dreaded 'Engine Management' light flashing temporarily then going solid.
- A faint whiff of unburnt petrol or sweet coolant from the exhaust on startup.
- Hesitation when you try to pull away from the kerb first thing in the morning.
What causes P0316?
- Cold-start fuelling
- Worn plugs
- Injector seal
UK vehicles that throw P0316 most often
- Ford Focus 1.0 Ecoboost (2012-2018) - The big one for this code.
- Vauxhall Astra J 1.4 Turbo (A14NET) 2010-2015.
- Ford Fiesta 1.25 Zetec (2008-2017) - Usually dirty throttle bodies here.
- Land Rover Discovery Sport 2.0 Si4 (2015 onwards).
- Mazda 3 2.0 SkyActiv (2013-2018) - Carbon buildup on the valves.
- Vauxhall Insignia 2.0 CDTi (A20DTH) - Glow plug pressure sensors failing.
How P0316 is fixed
- Replace plugs
- Injector inspection
The P0316 misdiagnosis that wastes money
I see lads constantly throwing a set of cheap sparks or a generic coil pack at this because it’s an 'ignition' code on the reader, but that's a mug's game. On the Ford Ecoboost especially, P0316 is often the first "knock at the door" from a leaking head gasket or a cracked block letting tiny amounts of coolant into the cylinder overnight. You fire it up, it misses for ten seconds while it burns off the glycerine, then clears. If you just swap plugs, the light stays off for a week and then the customer is back at your desk fuming because you missed the real drama.
What a UK garage should charge for P0316
You’re looking at £60-£90 for a proper diagnostic plug-in and a borescope check. If it's just a set of top-tier NGK plugs and a bit of cleaning, you'll get away for under £150. However, if I find a leaky Bosch injector or a hairline crack in a Ford coil pack, you're looking at £250 to £400. If we're talking about the 'Internal Coolant Leak' nightmare on a 1.0L Focus, you're into the £1,200+ bracket for a head-off job. Main dealers will easily double these labour rates.
P0316 repair cost in the UK
Most P0316 repairs land between £60–£600 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 P0316
Ask your garage to do a 'cold overnight soak' pressure test. They need to pump up the cooling system to 15psi while the engine is stone cold and leave it for a few hours. If the pressure drops and they see moisture on the piston tops with a borescope, you’ve caught a head gasket failure before it cooked your engine. Also, insist on OE-spec plugs like NGK or Bosch; modern 1.0L and 1.2L engines are fussy as anything about the resistance in cheap 'Motor Factor' specials.
Can you drive with P0316?
Drivable.
Urgency: medium.