What Is the Firing Order on a 2015 3.6‑Liter Engine?

In most 2015 vehicles with a 3.6‑liter V6 in North America, the firing order is 1-2-3-4-5-6; notable exceptions include Volkswagen/Audi/Porsche 3.6 VR6 engines (1-5-3-6-2-4) and Subaru’s 3.6R flat-six (1-6-3-2-5-4). Because “3.6 L” spans several manufacturers and engine designs, the correct firing order depends on the make and engine family; confirming the exact model is essential before wiring coils or diagnosing misfires.

Why the Answer Depends on the Vehicle

Automakers use different 3.6‑liter engines with their own bank layouts, cylinder numbering, and ignition strategies. While GM’s High‑Feature V6 and Stellantis (Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep/Ram) Pentastar share a simple sequential 1-2-3-4-5-6 firing order, the Volkswagen Group’s narrow‑angle VR6 and Subaru’s flat‑six use different sequences due to their architectures. Mixing these up can lead to misfires, rough running, and fault codes.

Quick Reference: 2015 3.6‑Liter Engines and Their Firing Orders

The following list summarizes the correct firing orders for the most common 3.6‑liter engines found in 2015 model-year vehicles. Use it to match your vehicle’s brand/engine family before proceeding with any ignition or plug-wire work.

• Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep/Ram 3.6 Pentastar V6: 1-2-3-4-5-6
• General Motors 3.6 High‑Feature V6 (Buick/Cadillac/Chevrolet/GMC; LY7, LLT, LFX): 1-2-3-4-5-6
• Volkswagen/Audi/Porsche 3.6 VR6 (EA390 family; VW Passat/CC/Touareg, Audi Q7, Porsche Cayenne V6): 1-5-3-6-2-4
• Subaru 3.6R EZ36 flat‑six (Outback/Legacy): 1-6-3-2-5-4

If you’re unsure which engine you have, check the under‑hood emissions label, owner’s manual, or the 8th character of the VIN to identify the exact engine code and match it to the list above.

Cylinder Numbering and Bank Orientation (What Matters When You Wire or Diagnose)

Knowing only the firing order isn’t enough; you also need correct cylinder numbering and bank orientation, which vary by automaker and by transverse vs. longitudinal mounting. The pointers below help you avoid common mistakes when tracing misfires or swapping coils.

• Pentastar (Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep/Ram): Bank 1 is the side with cylinder 1; numbering is typically 1-3-5 on one bank and 2-4-6 on the other, front to rear. In many longitudinal layouts, Bank 1 is on the passenger side; in transverse layouts, Bank 1 is often the firewall side.
• GM High‑Feature 3.6 V6: Bank 1 contains cylinder 1 and may be at the rear (firewall side) on transverse vehicles; numbering is usually 1-3-5 (Bank 1) and 2-4-6 (Bank 2), front to rear relative to the engine.
• VW/Audi/Porsche 3.6 VR6: A narrow‑angle V6 with a single cylinder head; cylinder numbering and bank “rows” differ from conventional V6s. Follow the factory diagram—misidentifying the rows is a common cause of persistent misfire faults.
• Subaru EZ36 flat‑six: Horizontally opposed layout with left/right banks; verify the service manual diagram to locate cylinders 1 through 6 correctly before applying the 1-6-3-2-5-4 order.

Because numbering can flip with engine orientation, always verify the bank and cylinder layout for your specific model-year and drivetrain configuration before moving coil packs or spark plugs.

How to Confirm the Correct Firing Order for Your Specific Vehicle

When in doubt, these quick checks will confirm the exact firing order and cylinder layout for your car, preventing guesswork that can trigger misfires and check‑engine lights.

1. Under‑hood emissions or tune‑up label: Often lists firing order and cylinder numbering diagram.
2. Owner’s manual or factory service manual: Provides definitive diagrams and sequences.
3. VIN engine code lookup: The 8th character can identify the engine family; cross‑reference with a reliable database.
4. Scan‑tool data: Misfire counters per cylinder can help you verify you’ve mapped cylinders correctly after any work.

If the vehicle lacks an under‑hood label, a service manual or OEM technical database is the most reliable source for both firing order and numbering diagrams.

Why Getting the Firing Order Right Matters

Incorrect firing order or cylinder mapping will cause immediate drivability issues, including rough idle, loss of power, flashing MIL, and catalytic converter‑damaging misfires. On coil‑on‑plug engines, the risk is usually misplacing connectors after maintenance; on engines with plug wires, crossing leads is a common mistake. Always double‑check routing against the correct firing order and cylinder layout.

Bottom Line

For a 2015 3.6‑liter engine, the firing order is typically 1-2-3-4-5-6 on GM and Pentastar V6s, 1-5-3-6-2-4 on VW/Audi/Porsche 3.6 VR6s, and 1-6-3-2-5-4 on Subaru’s 3.6R flat‑six. Match the firing order to your vehicle’s make/engine family and verify cylinder numbering before any ignition work.

Summary

Most 2015 3.6‑liter V6s from GM and Chrysler/Jeep/Dodge/Ram use a 1-2-3-4-5-6 firing order; VW/Audi/Porsche 3.6 VR6s use 1-5-3-6-2-4; Subaru’s 3.6R flat‑six uses 1-6-3-2-5-4. Confirm using the under‑hood label, service manual, or VIN engine code to ensure correct cylinder mapping and avoid misfires.

What is the order of the cylinders on a Jeep 3.6 L V6?

So without wasting any more time let’s get started the firing order for the Dodge 3.6 Pennar engine is 1 2 3 4 5 6. This means cylinder 1 fires.

Which cylinder is number 1 on a 6 cylinder Jeep Wrangler?

I’m sorry to hear you’re having trouble with your vehicle. On your Wrangler with a V6 engine, cylinder 1 is located on the passenger side, at the front of the engine.

What is the firing order of the 3.6 GM V6?

Six. If you have a Charger or a Challenger or something like that and the engine is facing. Forward where the front is like this when you open up the hood on the left side on the passenger.

What is the firing order of the spark plugs on a 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee?

The 2015 Jeep Cherokee with a V6 engine typically uses a firing order of 1-2-3-4-5-6. Incorrect firing order can cause engine misfires, poor performance, and rough idling. To troubleshoot, verify spark plug wires or coil packs are connected to the correct cylinders.