P0281: Cylinder 7 contributes unevenly to engine power
Cylinder 7 contributes unevenly to engine power. Check combustion and fuel injection in that cylinder.
| Code | P0281 |
|---|---|
| System | Engine and transmission |
| Group | P02xx, Fuel and injectors |
| Type | Generic: it means the same on every make |
How to read and clear P0281 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 P0281 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
- P027D The fuel pump module B control gives a higher signal than normal
- P027E The cold start fuel injection quantity is below normal
- P027F The cold start fuel injection quantity is above normal
- P0280 The cylinder 7 injector gives a higher signal than normal
- P0282 The cylinder 8 injector gives a lower signal than normal
- P0283 The cylinder 8 injector gives a higher signal than normal
- P0284 Cylinder 8 contributes unevenly to engine power
- P0285 The cylinder 9 injector gives a lower signal than normal
- P0200 Injector circuit malfunction
- P0201 Injector circuit malfunction, cylinder 1
- P0202 Injector circuit malfunction, cylinder 2
- P0203 Injector circuit malfunction, cylinder 3
What does code P0281 mean?
Cylinder 7 contributes unevenly to engine power. Check combustion and fuel injection in that cylinder.
How do you clear P0281?
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, P0281 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.
