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DTC codes / P02xx · Fuel and air metering (injector circuits) / P0205

P0205Injector Circuit/Open - Cylinder 5

P0205 means the engine computer has detected an open circuit or excessive resistance in the electrical path for the fuel injector on cylinder 5. The computer commands the injector to fire but sees no current flow or an unexpected voltage drop, so it flags the circuit as faulty.

SystemPowertrain
Code typeGeneric (all makes)
SeverityMedium
Fix difficultyIntermediate
AreaFuel and air metering (injector circuits)

Symptoms you may notice

  • Check engine light illuminated, often with no other symptoms besides the warning light
  • Rough idle or misfire felt as shaking or vibration, especially at low speeds
  • Noticeable loss of power and sluggish acceleration under load
  • Engine may stumble or hesitate during acceleration
  • Poor fuel economy due to the affected cylinder not receiving fuel
  • In some vehicles, the computer may enter limp mode or limit engine speed

Common causes, most likely first

  1. Faulty fuel injector on cylinder 5 with an open internal coil winding
  2. Damaged or disconnected electrical connector at the cylinder 5 injector
  3. Broken, chafed, or corroded wiring in the injector circuit between the computer and the injector
  4. Open or shorted injector driver circuit inside the engine control module (ECM)
  5. Poor electrical connection at the ECM harness connector affecting the injector ground or power feed
  6. Blown fuse or faulty relay supplying power to the injector circuit (on some vehicles)

How to diagnose and fix it

  1. Inspect the cylinder 5 injector connector for looseness, corrosion, or pushed-out pins and reseat or repair as needed
  2. Measure the resistance of the cylinder 5 injector with a multimeter and compare it to the manufacturer's specification
  3. Check for battery voltage at the injector connector with the key on and engine off to confirm power supply
  4. Perform a continuity and short-to-ground test on the injector control wire from the ECM to the injector
  5. Swap the cylinder 5 injector with a known-good injector from another cylinder to see if the code follows the injector
  6. Inspect the ECM harness and connectors for damage, water intrusion, or loose pins, and repair any faults found
  7. If all wiring and the injector test good, diagnose the ECM driver circuit or replace the ECM as a last resort

What a P0205 often really means

  • A loose or corroded injector connector is a far more common cause of P0205 than a failed injector, so always inspect the plug before condemning the part.
  • The code can set intermittently from vibration or heat-related wiring damage, so a wiggle test of the harness while watching live injector data often reveals the fault.
  • Some vehicles use a shared power feed for multiple injectors, so a blown fuse may set P0205 along with codes for other cylinders, pointing to a supply problem rather than the injector itself.
  • An open injector coil can sometimes test fine when cold but fail when hot, so resistance checks should be repeated after warming the engine if the fault is intermittent.
  • A P0205 does not always mean the injector is bad; a failed ECM driver or a shorted control wire can produce the same open-circuit indication.

Can I keep driving with P0205?

You can usually drive the vehicle a short distance to a repair shop, but avoid heavy acceleration, towing, or long trips because the misfire can overheat the catalytic converter and waste fuel. If the engine runs very rough or flashes the check engine light, stop driving and have it towed.

Tools that help

Tools we recommend are in the Auto Veteran shop on Amazon. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

Guidance is general and written for all OBD-II vehicles. Exact tests and values vary by model, so confirm the fault before replacing parts.

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