Fuel and air

P01CE — Cylinder 2 Injection Timing Over-Advanced

Severity: medium Drive with care, to a shop

What P01CE means

The engine control module compares the actual start of fuel injection on cylinder 2 with the calculated target. P01CE sets when injection begins noticeably earlier than it should. The cause is usually the injector itself, its control circuit, or bad crankshaft or camshaft position signals. Early injection upsets combustion and makes the engine run roughly.

Symptoms

  • Check Engine light on
  • Rough or unstable idle
  • Reduced power and sluggish acceleration
  • Worse fuel economy
  • Possible misfire on cylinder 2
  • Harsh or noisy engine running

Possible causes

  1. Faulty cylinder 2 fuel injector (most likely)
  2. Damaged wiring or poor connection at the injector connector
  3. Faulty crankshaft or camshaft position sensor
  4. ECM software fault or internal failure
  5. Air leak affecting the mixture
  6. Fuel pressure or fuel supply problem
  7. Mechanical wear or cam timing error (uncommon)

How to diagnose

  1. Scan all codes and review freeze frame data; look for other cylinder or sensor codes
  2. Review fuel trims and mixture adaptation at idle and under load
  3. Run a cylinder balance test and check cylinder 2 contribution
  4. Inspect the cylinder 2 injector connector and harness; test power and ground
  5. Test the injector control signal and coil resistance with a scope or meter
  6. Check fuel pressure and look for intake air leaks
  7. Verify crankshaft and camshaft sensor signals and cam timing correlation
  8. Check for available ECM software updates

Common fixes

  • Replace the cylinder 2 fuel injector
  • Repair the wiring harness or replace a damaged connector
  • Replace a faulty crankshaft or camshaft position sensor
  • Fix air leaks or fuel supply problems
  • Reflash or replace the ECM as a last resort

Questions and answers

What does P01CE mean?

It means the ECM detected injection timing on cylinder 2 that is too early compared with what it expects. The injector, its wiring or the position sensors are the most common culprits.

Can I drive with code P01CE?

A short trip to a shop is usually fine if the engine runs smoothly. If you notice shaking, misfires or lost power, avoid driving to prevent catalytic converter and engine damage.

How is P01CE fixed?

Start by checking the cylinder 2 injector wiring and connector, fuel trims and fuel pressure. If those are fine, the injector or position sensors are replaced based on test results.

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.