P0313: Misfire Detected with Low Fuel

When the tank is nearly empty the fuel pump can draw air in corners or on gradients, which causes misfires. CARB allows misfire detection to be switched off at 15 % fuel or less; some manufacturers instead report misfires detected in this state under P0313 rather than P030x. Ford's normal misfire monitor runs from 15 % fuel, Saab's ME9 from 12 %; Saab's T8 sets P0313 below 5 litres with the same tests as P0300 (3 % per 1,000 revolutions, flashing light at a catalyst-damaging rate). GM petrol engines simply suspend the monitor without their own code. After refuelling the symptoms usually disappear – if not, look for a real misfire cause.

Symptoms

• Check engine light on (flashing at a catalyst-damaging rate)
• Jerking or power loss with an almost empty tank, especially in corners or uphill
• Usually no symptoms after refuelling

Most likely causes

• Tank nearly empty – the fuel pump draws air (corners, gradients, braking)
• Actual misfire cause (ignition, injector, false air) that happened at low fuel
• Weak fuel pump, clogged strainer or filter, faulty swirl pot
• Fuel level sender reading too low

What to check, in order

Start with the simplest. You can tick off each step.

1. See whether the light is flashing: if so, reduce engine load and avoid driving
2. With the connector unplugged, check whether the signal wire is making contact with ground.
3. Inspect the spark plugs, coils, and connectors
4. Swap the coil with another cylinder and see if the misfire moves with it
5. Check the injector and look for air leaks
6. Run a compression test if everything above checks out

Good to know

• Repair difficulty: easy
• It affects emissions.

What each character of P0313 means

• P: Powertrain: engine and transmission
• 0: Generic code: same on every make
• 3: Ignition and misfires
• 13: Specific fault in that system

Frequently asked questions

Can I keep driving with code P0313?

Avoid driving if the light is flashing or the engine is shaking: unburned gasoline can damage the catalytic converter.

What causes code P0313?

The most common causes are: tank nearly empty – the fuel pump draws air (corners, gradients, braking); actual misfire cause (ignition, injector, false air) that happened at low fuel; weak fuel pump, clogged strainer or filter, faulty swirl pot.

Related codes

• P0300Random/Multiple Cylinder Misfire Detected
• P0460Fuel Level Sensor A Circuit
• P0461Fuel Level Sensor A Circuit Range/Performance
• P0087Fuel Rail/System Pressure - Too Low
• P0171System Too Lean Bank 1
• P0230Fuel Pump Primary Circuit

Sources

• law.cornell.edu: 13 CCR 1968.2
• fordservicecontent.com: OBD Operations Summary Gasoline 2020 2023
• saabwisonline.com: p0313 00
• saabwisonline.com: p0313 00

Values and procedures vary by manufacturer. If it affects brakes, steering, fuel or high voltage, see a professional. Updated: 2026-11-04. How we build these pages.