P2328 OBD-II Trouble Code: High Voltage Condition on Ignition Coil J Primary Control Circuit

The Definition of Trouble Code P2328

A high voltage condition on the ignition coil J primary control circuit

The power-train control module (PCM) will store the trouble code P2328 when the sensor has detected a voltage condition that is higher than normal for the ignition coil primary control circuit with a designated letter J. When this condition occurs, the malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) is also going to be illuminated. You can find the specific “J” circuit on your vehicle by consulting the manufacturer’s guide.

The primary circuits refer to the wires that connect the battery to the ignition coil and supply the necessary battery voltage to the coils. The battery voltage uses fuses, relays, and other power sources to be delivered to the coils. Other things like spark plug boot, high-energy ignition boot, and spark plug wire are not included as a primary circuit.

Battery voltage and ground will be supplied to the ignition coil during normal operation. If the ground signal is experiencing interruption, a high voltage spark will be emitted from the ignition coil, which will lead to the ignition of the spark plugs. This operation is an important step to turn on the engine that uses the internal combustion mechanism. But, if the primary voltage gets to an excessive level, the high voltage emission will not function, and the cylinder will not work to produce the necessary horsepower to move the vehicle.

What Does Trouble Code P2328 Mean?

Trouble code P2328 means that the Engine Control Module has received a signal about the condition on the ignition coil J to the ignition coil. The signal states that there is a possible short circuit condition on the primary coil circuit and a high voltage signal has been sent to the ECM.

The Causes of Trouble Code P2328

• A high voltage signal has been detected by the ECM from the primary ignition coil circuit.
• The ignition coil is experiencing an internal shorted condition in the primary circuit.
• The wiring and connections related to the ignition coil or primary circuit might have a shorted condition.

The Symptoms of Trouble Code P2328

• The ECM will store the trouble code in the memory and the Check Engine Light will be turned on.
• A misfiring to the cylinder might also happen along with the trouble code P2328.
• The engine feels rough when the vehicle is being driven.
• The ECM is experiencing internal damage due to the short connection.

How Your Mechanics Should Diagnose Trouble Code P2328

• The trouble code in the ECM memory should be scanned and documented first.
• Diagnose the primary ignition coil circuit by referring to the manufacturer’s testing recommendation.
• The trouble code can be cleared from the memory before checking it again to see if the code reappears.
• Test the voltage level on the primary internal circuit to see if they work within specifications.
• Inspect the condition of the primary coil connector to see if they are shorted in the connection.

Common Mistakes in Diagnosing Trouble Code P2328

• The trouble code has been cleared from the ECM memory prior to the inspection of freeze frame data analysis.
• The trouble code P2328 is not cleared after the repair steps are taken.
• The condition of the spark plugs is not checked before replacing the defective coil.
• An incorrect sizing for the primary wiring replacements.

How Serious is Trouble Code P2328?

Trouble code P2328 is a sign that there is a failure on the primary ignition coil and it will not be able to ignite the spark plugs properly. Misfiring on the cylinder might occur if this problem is not fixed as soon as possible.

The Repair Steps for Trouble Code P2328

• Replace the ignition coil with a new one.
• Replace the wiring or connections that are related to the ignition coil component.
• Replace the ECM if it’s damaged from the internal primary circuit failure.

The inspection will require the use of a digital volt/ohmmeter (DVOM) along with a diagnostic scanner. Your vehicle information from the manufacturer is also required so you can diagnose this trouble code accurately.

You can also try by looking for the solutions for your problem on the technical service bulletins (TSB) for your specific vehicle model. There may be other users who have experienced the same problem and you can take the same solution to get your vehicle into working condition again. This will help you to save money and time for the repair.

Using the scanner to connect to the vehicle diagnostic port, you can then get all the readings to analyze the trouble code from the freeze frame data. Make sure that you write down all the necessary information from the scanner to help you compare data from time to time. You can then clear the code and do a test drive to see if the trouble code still persists. If the code is cleared after the test drive, then it means that the PCM has entered the readiness mode.

If the condition is intermittent or erratic, then the repair process might get more difficult since the result will be different from time to time. An accurate diagnosis might be hard to get because sometimes the trouble code P2328 will not be stored on the PCM. But if the code reappears, you can then proceed with the diagnosis steps.

You can also refer to the vehicle information source to see the connector face views, component locator charts, connector pin-out charts, and diagnostic flow charts. Those things will make you stick with the repair recommendations from the manufacturer.

A visual inspection is also necessary on the wiring and connectors to find out if they have been damaged, burnt, or accidentally cut. If you live in cold climates, rodents and other wildlife animals might be the cause of accidental cuts on the wiring’s then they try to get warm inside the vehicle.

You can then use the DVOM to check the condition of voltage and ground circuit to the ignition coil. Inspect the relay and fuses if you can’t detect any voltage. You might need to replace the components that are not working as they should.

If you can indeed detect voltage on the ignition coil, you can proceed by checking the ground circuit after turning the engine on. If the circuit gives out a ground pulse, then there might be an open circuit in the connection between the PCM and the ignition coil. Meanwhile, a defective PCM might be the source of the problem if no ground pulse can be detected.

But in most cases, the trouble code P2328 is stored due to the damages from the wildlife activities that cut the wiring’s.

Additional Comments Regarding the Trouble Code P2328

The trouble code P2328 usually occurs on vehicles that have a 12-cylinder motor design featuring ignition coils on each cylinder unit. The ignition coils are powered by the primary circuit, and shorted conditions might lead to fuses getting blown on some models.