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 |
|---|---|
| System | Engine and transmission |
| Group | P02xx, Fuel and injectors |
| Type | Generic: 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.
Open the bonnetthe in-depth explanation
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 its description and whether it’s confirmed, pending or permanent.
If the engine stores it over standard OBD, with FREE you read this code with its explanation for nothing and clear it. With PRO you also read the faults of every control unit and clear them in all of them.
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 an inspection. It’s all in how to read and clear fault codes and in inspections and OBD.
Similar codes
- P0200 Injector circuit malfunction
- P0201 Injector circuit malfunction, cylinder 1
- P0203 Injector circuit malfunction, cylinder 3
- P0204 Injector circuit malfunction, cylinder 4
- P0205 Injector circuit malfunction, cylinder 5
- P0206 Injector circuit malfunction, cylinder 6
- P0207 Injector circuit malfunction, cylinder 7
- P0208 Injector circuit malfunction, cylinder 8
- P0217 Engine overheating
- P0218 Transmission overheating
To understand it properly
We explain how that system works, with drawings and no waffle, in our mechanics guide: Fuel.
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.
Read it on your car
Final OBD reads and clears engine faults through standard OBD for free, each one explained in plain English. With PRO it also reads the faults of every control unit, each make’s own codes included, and clears them in all of them.
