Fuel and air

P00BB — Fuel Injector Insufficient Flow, Limited Power Mode

Severity: medium Drive with care, to a shop

What P00BB means

The engine control module compares the fuel it expects to deliver with what actually reaches the cylinders, using fuel trims and cylinder balance. P00BB sets when an injector, or a group of injectors, flows less fuel than commanded. To protect the engine from running lean, the module switches to a limited power mode.

Symptoms

  • Check engine light on
  • Reduced power and sluggish acceleration
  • Delayed throttle response
  • Rough idle or shaking
  • Hard starting
  • Misfire on one or more cylinders
  • Higher fuel consumption

Possible causes

  1. Clogged or dirty fuel injector
  2. Clogged fuel filter or restricted fuel line
  3. Weak fuel pump or low rail pressure
  4. Damaged, corroded or loose injector wiring or connector
  5. Internal electrical or mechanical injector failure
  6. Intake air leak upsetting the air-fuel mixture
  7. Fuel system leak
  8. Rarely, a faulty injector driver in the ECM

How to diagnose

  1. Scan all codes and freeze frame data, noting any misfire or lean codes
  2. Review short and long term fuel trims at idle and under load
  3. Measure fuel rail pressure against spec and check that it holds after shutdown
  4. Inspect injector connectors and harness; test power, ground and coil resistance
  5. Compare cylinder balance and misfire counts with a scan tool
  6. Check the intake for air leaks with a smoke machine or visual inspection
  7. Check the fuel filter condition and line for restrictions
  8. Test injector flow on a bench or swap it with a neighboring cylinder to see if the fault follows

Common fixes

  • Professionally clean or replace the clogged injector
  • Replace the fuel filter and correct any restricted line
  • Replace the fuel pump if pressure is low
  • Repair injector wiring and connector terminals
  • Fix intake air leaks and fuel leaks
  • Clear codes and reset fuel adaptations after the repair

Questions and answers

What does P00BB mean?

The ECM found that a fuel injector is not flowing enough fuel and reduced engine power. The cause is usually the injector itself, fuel pressure or wiring.

Can I drive with code P00BB?

Only a short distance to a repair shop. A lean mixture can lead to misfires, overheated cylinders and a damaged catalytic converter.

Will fuel injector cleaner fix P00BB?

It may help if the cause is light deposit buildup. Check fuel pressure, the filter and the wiring first so you do not waste time and money.

This is general information about the code. The meaning can differ between makes and models: a scan tool and the repair manual for your car will show the exact cause.