Fuel and air

P020E — Cylinder 5 Injection Timing Fault

Severity: medium Drive with care, to a shop

What P020E means

Code P020E means the engine control module detected that fuel injection timing or behavior in cylinder 5 is outside the expected range. The module normally fires each injector at a precisely calculated moment based on crankshaft and camshaft sensor signals. When the injector's actual response or its circuit signal doesn't match the command, the code sets and the check engine light comes on.

Symptoms

  • Check Engine light on
  • Rough running or misfire
  • Unstable or uneven idle
  • Reduced power and sluggish acceleration
  • Increased fuel consumption
  • Possible stalling at idle

Possible causes

  1. Faulty cylinder 5 fuel injector (electrical or mechanical)
  2. Damaged wiring or corroded connector in the injector circuit
  3. Failed crankshaft or camshaft position sensor
  4. Mechanical timing problem such as a stretched chain or slipped belt
  5. Failed injector driver inside the PCM
  6. Low fuel pressure or fuel supply problem
  7. Intake air leak upsetting the mixture

How to diagnose

  1. Scan for all codes and freeze frame data, noting any misfire or sensor codes
  2. Review fuel trims and mixture adaptation values, especially for cylinder 5
  3. Inspect the cylinder 5 injector connector and harness for corrosion, chafing and poor contact
  4. Measure injector resistance and check supply voltage and the PCM control signal with a meter, scope or noid light
  5. Compare cylinder balance with a scan tool, or swap the injector with a neighboring cylinder to see if the fault follows
  6. Test fuel pressure and pressure hold
  7. Check crank and cam sensor signals and their correlation, and verify timing chain or belt condition
  8. Inspect the intake and exhaust for leaks

Common fixes

  • Replace, or clean and bench-test, the cylinder 5 injector
  • Repair damaged wiring and connectors and clean the terminals
  • Replace a faulty crankshaft or camshaft sensor
  • Correct the timing problem by replacing the chain or belt and setting the timing
  • Repair, replace or reflash the PCM if the injector driver is faulty

Questions and answers

What does code P020E mean?

The PCM found that fuel injection timing in cylinder 5 doesn't match what it expects. The usual culprits are the injector, its wiring, or the crank and cam position sensors.

Can I drive with P020E?

Only briefly and carefully, to reach a repair shop. Extended driving with misfires can damage the catalytic converter, and the engine may stall.

How do I tell if the injector is the problem?

Check its resistance and control signal, then swap it with the injector from another cylinder. If the fault follows the injector, that injector needs replacing.

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.