Fuel and air

P02C1 — Cylinder 10 Injector Leaking

Severity: medium Drive with care, to a shop

What P02C1 means

The engine control module has concluded, from fuel trims, cylinder balance and mixture behavior, that the cylinder 10 injector is letting fuel through when it should be closed. Normally an injector opens for a brief pulse and seals tightly between injections. A leak enriches the mixture and can wash oil off the cylinder wall. This code only applies to engines with ten or more cylinders, such as V10 and V12 designs.

Symptoms

  • Check Engine light on
  • Rough idle or misfire
  • Reduced power and sluggish acceleration
  • Higher fuel consumption
  • Fuel smell near the engine or exhaust
  • Black smoke from the tailpipe
  • Long cranking on a hot restart

Possible causes

  1. Internal leak or sticking needle in the cylinder 10 injector
  2. Worn or damaged injector seals or O-rings
  3. Wiring or connector fault at the injector
  4. High or unstable fuel pressure (regulator or pump)
  5. Inaccurate oxygen sensor readings skewing mixture evaluation
  6. Air leak shifting the air-fuel mixture

How to diagnose

  1. Scan all codes and freeze frame data, and look for other mixture or misfire codes
  2. Review short-term and long-term fuel trims for each bank
  3. Compare cylinder contribution or balance and locate cylinder 10 using the engine layout
  4. Inspect the injector connector and harness, and check coil resistance and power supply
  5. Measure fuel pressure and how well it holds after shutdown
  6. Look for fuel seepage around the injector and its seals
  7. Check the intake and exhaust for air leaks
  8. Swap the injector with a neighboring cylinder to see whether the fault follows it

Common fixes

  • Replace the leaking cylinder 10 injector
  • Replace the injector seals and O-rings
  • Repair or replace damaged wiring or the connector
  • Fix a faulty fuel pressure regulator or fuel pump
  • Change the oil if it is diluted with fuel, then clear the code after repair

Questions and answers

What does P02C1 mean?

The engine computer suspects the cylinder 10 injector is leaking fuel. It is not sealing when closed, so that cylinder runs richer than intended.

Can I drive with P02C1?

Only briefly and gently, to reach a repair shop. Leaking fuel can thin the oil by washing the cylinder walls and can overheat the catalytic converter.

Can I just clear the code?

Clearing it will not fix anything, and the code will return while the injector leaks. Find the cause first, then clear the code.

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.