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P0202: Injector circuit malfunction, cylinder 2

The ECU has found an electrical fault in the cylinder 2 injector or its wiring. That cylinder may not be getting fuel, so the engine runs rough.

Code P0202 at a glance
CodeP0202
SystemEngine and transmission
GroupP02xx, Fuel and injectors
TypeGeneric: it means the same on every make
Can you keep driving?With care

What P0202 means

The ECU opens each injector with an electrical signal and checks that the circuit responds as it should. On cylinder 2 it has seen something wrong, such as a broken wire, a short or a failed injector coil. Which cylinder counts as number 2 is set out by the manufacturer in the engine layout.

Most common causes

  • Loose, broken or corroded connector on the cylinder 2 injector
  • Broken or chafed wire between the injector and the ECU
  • Cylinder 2 injector with a failed coil
  • Injector supply cut by a fuse or relay
  • Fault in the driver circuit inside the ECU (rare)

Symptoms

  • Engine warning light on, sometimes flashing
  • Engine shaking, especially at idle
  • Loss of power
  • Higher fuel consumption

Can you drive with P0202?

With care If the engine still runs reasonably well you can drive carefully to a garage. If it shakes badly or the warning light flashes, stop driving to avoid damaging the engine or the catalytic converter.

How to check it

See whether code P0302, a misfire on the same cylinder, is also stored: together they confirm that cylinder is not working. With the engine off, check that the injector 2 connector is fully plugged in and free of corrosion.

How to read and clear P0202 with Final OBD

Plug an OBD2 scanner in under the steering wheel, switch the ignition on and open Final OBD. Under Faults you’ll see P0202 with this same explanation and whether it’s confirmed, pending or permanent.

With Free you read this code with its short description for nothing, and clear it if the engine stores it over standard OBD. With Pro you get the full explanation, how the car was running when it was logged (revs, temperature, load) and clearing in every control unit.

Clearing the code only turns the light off: if the cause is still there, it comes back. Clear it once it’s fixed, and not right before the ITV. It’s all in how to read and clear fault codes and in the ITV and OBD.

Similar codes

P0202 is a generic code, so it means the same on any make, for example on Alfa Romeo, Dacia, Jeep, Kia, Nissan, Škoda. See what Final OBD does on your car in makes and models.

What does code P0202 mean?

The ECU opens each injector with an electrical signal and checks that the circuit responds as it should. On cylinder 2 it has seen something wrong, such as a broken wire, a short or a failed injector coil. Which cylinder counts as number 2 is set out by the manufacturer in the engine layout.

Can you drive with P0202?

If the engine still runs reasonably well you can drive carefully to a garage. If it shakes badly or the warning light flashes, stop driving to avoid damaging the engine or the catalytic converter.

How do you clear P0202?

With an OBD2 scanner and an app like Final OBD, which clears it for free if it’s stored by the engine control unit. But clearing it only turns the light off: if the cause isn’t fixed, P0202 comes back.