Fuel and air

P0202 — Cylinder 2 Fuel Injector Circuit Malfunction

Severity: medium Drive with care, to a shop

What P0202 means

The engine control module fires each fuel injector by switching its circuit to ground with a driver, and it monitors that circuit for correct current and voltage. P0202 sets when the cylinder 2 injector circuit is out of range: open, shorted, abnormal resistance, or a driver fault inside the module. The cylinder may then get the wrong amount of fuel or none at all.

Symptoms

  • Check Engine light on
  • Rough or unstable idle
  • Cylinder 2 misfire, often with P0302
  • Loss of power and sluggish acceleration
  • Poor fuel economy
  • Hard starting
  • Fuel smell from the exhaust

Possible causes

  1. Failed cylinder 2 fuel injector (open or shorted coil)
  2. Open or shorted injector wiring
  3. Corroded or loose injector or PCM connector terminals
  4. Missing or low supply voltage to the injector circuit (fuse, relay)
  5. Faulty injector driver inside the PCM
  6. Wiring chafed or heat-damaged near the engine

How to diagnose

  1. Scan all codes and freeze frame data, and look for related codes such as P0302 or other injector codes
  2. Inspect the cylinder 2 injector connector and harness for corrosion, damage, chafing and a secure fit
  3. Measure injector coil resistance with a multimeter and compare it to the vehicle specification
  4. Check for supply voltage and a control pulse at the injector connector with a test light or scope
  5. Test the wires between the injector and PCM for opens and shorts to ground or power
  6. Swap the injector with a neighbor and see whether the code follows to the other cylinder
  7. Check fuel pressure and fuel trims
  8. If the injector and wiring are good, test the PCM driver

Common fixes

  • Replace the faulty cylinder 2 injector
  • Repair or replace the damaged harness or connector
  • Clean or replace corroded terminals
  • Repair or replace the PCM only after other causes are ruled out

P0202 on different brands

Ford · manuals
Ford's 2024–2025 gasoline OBD monitor strategy uses the extended code P0202:92, cylinder 2 injector circuit range/performance; it identifies the monitor condition that tripped, not a confirmed failed part.

Questions and answers

What does P0202 mean?

The engine computer detected an electrical fault in the cylinder 2 fuel injector circuit, such as an open, short or wrong resistance. The cause can be the injector, wiring, connector or, less often, the PCM.

Can I drive with P0202?

Only briefly and until it is repaired. A misfiring cylinder reduces power and can damage the catalytic converter, so don't put off diagnosis.

Do I need to replace the injector right away?

No. Check the connector, wiring and injector resistance first. Often the problem is a bad connection or harness and the injector itself is fine.

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.