P0202 medium Severity

P0202: Injector Circuit/Open – Cylinder 2

Engine may run rough, misfire, lose power, and exhibit poor fuel economy; prolonged operation can damage catalytic converter and other components.

Overview

OBD‑II DTC P0202 indicates an electrical malfunction in the #2 cylinder fuel injector circuit—open, short, high/low resistance, or PCM driver fault—leading to rough running, misfire, and poor performance.

Common Symptoms

  • Check Engine Light illuminated
  • Rough or unstable idle
  • Engine misfire on cylinder 2
  • Reduced engine power and acceleration
  • Poor fuel economy
  • Possible failure of emissions inspection

Most Common Causes

Faulty fuel injector on cylinder 2 high

Injector solenoid failure or internal fault prevents proper operation.

Open or short in injector wiring harness/connectors high

Broken wires, poor connections, corrosion, pin damage.

Faulty PCM injector driver circuit medium

Rare but possible; requires advanced diagnostics to confirm.

Corroded or loose electrical connectors at injector or PCM medium

High resistance at connection points can trigger code.

Low or absent supply voltage to injector circuit medium

Power feed issues (fuse/relay) affecting injector power.

Diagnostic Steps

  1. Use an OBD‑II scanner to confirm P0202 and check for related codes.
    Expected: P0202 confirmed; no additional conflicting injector or misfire codes.
    Interpretation: Ensures focus on cylinder 2 injector circuit.
  2. Visually inspect wiring and connectors to cylinder 2 injector for damage/corrosion.
    Expected: Properly seated connector with no visible damage.
    Interpretation: Eliminates obvious wiring issues.
  3. Measure injector resistance with multimeter and compare to manufacturer spec.
    Expected: Resistance within spec range.
    Interpretation: Within range suggests wiring/PCM instead of injector.
  4. Check supply voltage at injector with ignition on; test injector signal with noid light while cranking.
    Expected: Appropriate battery voltage on power feed; injector pulses flagged by noid light.
    Interpretation: No pulses indicate driver/wiring fault; no voltage indicates power feed issue.
  5. Swap #2 injector with another cylinder’s injector to see if code follows.
    Expected: If code moves, injector is faulty; if not, harness/PCM is likely.
    Interpretation: Helps isolate between injector and circuit.

Repair Solutions

Replace defective fuel injector #2 medium
Estimated Cost: $150 - $600

Cost varies by vehicle make/model and labor rates.

Repair or replace damaged wiring harness/connectors medium
Estimated Cost: $50 - $300

Depends on extent of damage and accessibility.

Repair PCM injector driver or replace PCM (only after eliminating other causes) hard
Estimated Cost: $500 - $1500

Requires advanced diagnostics; PCM replacement is typically a last resort.

Common Misdiagnoses

Avoid these common diagnostic mistakes:

  • Replacing spark plugs/ignition parts instead of diagnosing the injector circuit.
  • Assuming PCM failure without thorough wiring and injector tests.

Frequently Asked Questions

Technical definition of P0202 OBD-II Code

The P0202 code stands for Injector Circuit/Open – Cylinder 2. This generally indicates an issue with the Fuel System system.

Can P0202 cause engine damage?

You should treat P0202 as a medium issue. Engine may run rough, misfire, lose power, and exhibit poor fuel economy; prolonged operation can damage catalytic converter and other components.

What are the symptoms of P0202?

You may experience the following: Check Engine Light illuminated, Rough or unstable idle, Engine misfire on cylinder 2.

Why is my car throwing a P0202 code?

The most common causes are: Faulty fuel injector on cylinder 2, Open or short in injector wiring harness/connectors, Faulty PCM injector driver circuit.

What is the price difference for fixing P0202?

The cost varies significantly based on the root cause. For example, replacing a Repair or replace damaged wiring harness/connectors typically costs between $50 and $300, while fixing a Repair PCM injector driver or replace PCM (only after eliminating other causes) can range from $500 to $1500.

Is P0202 a generic or manufacturer-specific code?

P0202 is not specific to any one brand. It can appear on Ford, Dodge, Toyota, Honda, Jeep, and other vehicles.

User Comments (0)

Share your experience or ask a question about this code.

Be the first to share your experience with P0202!