A brace for David Norris sandwiched between two Steve Thompson strikes saw honours shared at Ninian Park.
Norris ended three goal-less months in the 34th minute with a low shot after Barry Hayles slid the ball to him.
After the break Thompson seized on Ricky Scimeca's pass to drive in a low shot, then got a second on 52 minutes.
Kevin McNaughton crossed from the right after a superb run and Thompson powered in a header, but Hayles and Norris again combined to force the equaliser.
Hayles and then Cardiff centre-back Roger Johnson both missed excellent late chances to claim all three points for their respective teams, leaving the Bluebirds without a Championship win in eight games.
"I gave them a rocket at the interval and in the second half we picked up and played the game more at our tempo.
"The players are low on confidence at the moment and the side needs help so hopefully we can bring in some fresh faces to liven up the squad."
"We would have taken two draws from the games against Cardiff at the start of the season but they have been on a poor run of form and it showed in their edgy first half performance - I'm disappointed we have not won the game.
"Credit to them for coming out after the break and scoring two quick goals and it must have been because of what the manager said to them in the dressing room.
"I still believe that football should close down over the Christmas period as everyone out there looked as though they wanted to be at home with their families."
Cardiff: Alexander, McNaughton, Purse, Johnson, Wright (Flood 64), Parry (Blake 80), McPhail, Scimeca, Ledley, Chopra, Thompson.
Subs Not Used: Howard, Campbell, Gunter.
Booked: Purse, Flood.
Goals: Thompson 47, 52.
Plymouth: Larrieu, Connolly (Samba 63), Aljofree, Doumbe, Seip, Capaldi, Norris, Nalis, Buzsaky, Ebanks-Blake, Hayles.
Subs Not Used: McCormick, Sawyer, Dickson, Summerfield.
Booked: Hayles, Ebanks-Blake, Doumbe, Aljofree.
Goals: Norris 34, 59.
Att: 17,299
Ref: P Walton (Northamptonshire).