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DTC codes / P02xx · Fuel and air metering (injector circuits) / P0262

P0262Cylinder 1 Injector Circuit High

P0262 means the engine computer (ECU) has detected an abnormally high current or voltage on the electrical circuit that operates the fuel injector for cylinder number one. The computer monitors the injector driver circuit and flags this code when the current exceeds the expected range for the commanded pulse width, indicating a short to power, a failed injector coil, or a wiring fault.

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

Symptoms you may notice

  • Illuminated check engine light, often with no other noticeable symptoms
  • Rough idle or misfire that is most pronounced at idle and low engine speeds
  • Engine stumble or hesitation during acceleration
  • Reduced fuel economy and a noticeable loss of power
  • Strong fuel odor from the exhaust or a rich-running condition
  • In some cases, the engine may enter limp mode or shut down the affected cylinder

Common causes, most likely first

  1. Faulty fuel injector for cylinder one with an internally shorted coil
  2. Short to power in the injector wiring harness between the ECU and the injector
  3. Corroded, loose, or damaged electrical connector at the cylinder one injector
  4. Damaged or chafed wire insulation causing a short to a nearby power wire
  5. Failed injector driver inside the engine computer (less common)
  6. Aftermarket or incorrect injector installed that does not match the ECU calibration

How to diagnose and fix it

  1. Scan all modules and record freeze-frame data to confirm the code is current and not history
  2. Inspect the cylinder one injector connector and harness for corrosion, looseness, or chafing
  3. Measure injector coil resistance with a multimeter and compare to the manufacturer's specification
  4. Check for a short to power on the injector control wire with a multimeter or test light
  5. Swap the cylinder one injector with a known-good injector from another cylinder to see if the code moves
  6. If the code persists after swapping, perform a wiggle test on the harness while monitoring injector pulse width
  7. If all wiring and injectors test good, diagnose the ECU injector driver circuit or replace the ECU as a last resort

What a high injector circuit really means

  • A high current reading often points to a shorted injector coil rather than an open circuit, so resistance testing is more reliable than a simple continuity check.
  • The code can be set by a short to power in the harness that only occurs when the engine is hot or vibrating, so a cold static test may pass.
  • Swapping the injector to another cylinder is the fastest way to separate an injector fault from a wiring or ECU fault, but the code must be cleared and rechecked after the swap.
  • Some vehicles use a common power feed for all injectors, so a short on one injector circuit can affect others and set companion codes like P0201 or P0261.
  • A failed ECU driver is rare but possible, and replacing the ECU without first ruling out a shorted injector or harness can destroy the new computer.

Can I keep driving with P0262?

You can usually drive the vehicle short distances to a repair shop, but avoid heavy acceleration and prolonged driving because a rich-running cylinder can damage the catalytic converter and cause misfire-related stress on the engine. If the check engine light is flashing or the engine is running very rough, stop driving and have the vehicle 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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