Faulty fuel injector with an internally shorted coil; Short to power in the injector control wire between the computer and the injector; Damaged or corroded injector connector or pins; Open or high-resistance ground circuit for the injector; Failed engine computer driver for that injector circuit; Aftermarket or damaged wiring harness chafing against a power wire

DTC codes / P02xx · Fuel and air metering (injector circuits) / P0265

P0265Cylinder 2 Injector Circuit High

Q: What does code P0265 mean?

Cylinder 2 Injector Circuit High. P0265 means the engine computer has detected an abnormally high current or voltage on the electrical circuit that operates the fuel injector for cylinder number 2. The computer monitors the injector driver circuit and flags this code when the signal on the control wire stays higher than expected for too long, indicating a short to power, a faulty injector, or a wiring problem.

P0265 means the engine computer has detected an abnormally high current or voltage on the electrical circuit that operates the fuel injector for cylinder number 2. The computer monitors the injector driver circuit and flags this code when the signal on the control wire stays higher than expected for too long, indicating a short to power, a faulty injector, or a wiring problem.

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 may feel like a shake or stumble
Noticeable loss of power or hesitation during acceleration
Poor fuel economy compared to normal
Engine may run rich or emit black smoke from the tailpipe in severe cases
In some vehicles, the engine may enter limp mode or shut off the affected cylinder

Common causes, most likely first

Faulty fuel injector with an internally shorted coil
Short to power in the injector control wire between the computer and the injector
Damaged or corroded injector connector or pins
Open or high-resistance ground circuit for the injector
Failed engine computer driver for that injector circuit
Aftermarket or damaged wiring harness chafing against a power wire

How to diagnose and fix it

Inspect the cylinder 2 injector connector and wiring for obvious damage, corrosion, or loose pins
Measure the injector coil resistance with a multimeter and compare it to the manufacturer's specification
Check for a short to power on the injector control wire with the key on and the computer disconnected
Verify the injector ground circuit has low resistance back to the computer or chassis ground
Swap the cylinder 2 injector with a known-good injector from another cylinder to see if the code moves
If the injector and wiring test good, test the computer driver output with an oscilloscope or a noid light
Replace the faulty injector, repair the wiring, or replace the computer as needed, then clear the code and verify the repair

Why P0265 is often misdiagnosed

A shorted injector coil can test fine at room temperature but fail when hot, so a resistance check alone may miss the problem.
The code can be set by a poor ground connection at the engine block rather than by the injector itself, so always check grounds before replacing parts.
Some vehicles use a shared power feed for multiple injectors, and a short in one injector can affect others, so inspect the entire circuit.
A failed computer driver is rare but possible, and it is often misdiagnosed as a bad injector because the symptoms are identical.
Aftermarket injectors with incorrect resistance can trigger this code even when they are new and otherwise functional.

Can I keep driving with P0265?

You can usually drive the vehicle short distances to a repair shop, but avoid heavy acceleration or towing because the misfire can overheat the catalytic converter. If the engine runs very rough or stalls, stop driving and have it towed.

Tools that help

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