P0301 on a Ford F-150

What P0301 usually means on a F-150

P0301 pins a misfire to cylinder 1 specifically, which makes diagnosis more targeted than a random P0300. On the Triton V8s the usual cause is that cylinder's coil-on-plug coil or spark plug, and swapping the coil to a neighboring cylinder to see if the misfire follows is the classic test. On EcoBoost trucks a single-cylinder misfire more often means a failed coil, a fouled plug, or a leaking injector on that hole. Because the fault is isolated, the parts you need are usually just for cylinder 1.

Most likely causes on this model

1. Failed coil-on-plug on cylinder 1

   Individual coils are a leading single-cylinder misfire cause on both Triton and EcoBoost F-150s. Move the suspect coil to another cylinder; if the misfire follows, the coil is bad.

2. Worn or fouled spark plug

   A cracked or worn plug on cylinder 1 misfires under load. On the 5.4L 3V, be mindful of the break-prone two-piece plug during removal.

3. Leaking or clogged fuel injector

   An injector delivering too much or too little fuel to cylinder 1 causes a persistent single-cylinder misfire, more common on the direct-injected EcoBoost.

4. Low compression on cylinder 1

   A burnt valve or worn rings on that cylinder produces a misfire that no coil or plug will cure, which a compression test reveals.

What it costs on a F-150

A single coil and plug for cylinder 1 is an inexpensive repair on most F-150 engines, and doing just the affected cylinder keeps costs down. The exception is the 5.4L 3V, where a plug that seizes and breaks during removal can turn a quick job into an extraction with special tools. If compression is low, the cost picture changes entirely toward internal engine work.

Fixing it

Swap the cylinder-1 coil with an adjacent one and recheck; if the misfire moves, replace the coil. If it stays on cylinder 1, look at the plug, then the injector, then compression before assuming anything major.

For the full step-by-step diagnosis order (any vehicle), see the main P0301 guide.

Other codes we cover on the Ford F-150

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