Fuel and air

P0262 — Cylinder 1 Injector Circuit High

Severity: medium Drive with care, to a shop

What P0262 means

The engine control module fires the cylinder 1 injector by switching its circuit to ground through an output driver, and it monitors voltage and current in that circuit. P0262 is set when the signal reads higher than expected, for example from a short to power, a failed injector coil, or a faulty driver inside the module.

Symptoms

  • Check Engine light on
  • Rough idle or misfire on cylinder 1
  • Loss of power or hesitation under acceleration
  • Worse fuel economy
  • Hard starting or stalling

Possible causes

  1. Failed cylinder 1 fuel injector (open or shorted coil)
  2. Damaged or corroded injector wiring or connector
  3. Loose or corroded terminals at the injector or ECM connector
  4. Injector control wire shorted to battery voltage
  5. Internal ECM injector driver failure (uncommon)

How to diagnose

  1. Scan for codes and freeze frame data and check for other injector-related codes
  2. Inspect the cylinder 1 injector connector and harness for chafing, heat damage and corrosion
  3. Measure injector coil resistance and compare it with the specification
  4. Check for supply voltage at the connector and for any short to power on the control wire
  5. Test the control wire from injector to ECM for opens and shorts
  6. Swap injector 1 with a neighbor and see whether the fault follows the injector
  7. Review fuel trims and check fuel pressure
  8. Check the circuit with a scope or noid light if available

Common fixes

  • Repair damaged wiring and replace corroded terminals or connectors
  • Replace the cylinder 1 fuel injector
  • Replace or reprogram the ECM if a driver failure is confirmed

Questions and answers

What does P0262 mean?

The ECM saw a high signal level in the cylinder 1 injector circuit. The usual culprits are the injector itself or damaged wiring, and less often the control module.

Can I drive with P0262?

Only briefly and carefully, for example to a shop. Misfires and incorrect fueling reduce power and can damage the catalytic converter.

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.