Faulty fuel injector on cylinder 10 with an open or shorted internal coil; Damaged or chafed injector wiring harness causing a short to ground; Corroded or loose electrical connector at the cylinder 10 injector; Failed driver circuit inside the engine control module (ECM) or powertrain control module (PCM); High resistance in the injector circuit due to a poor ground connection; Aftermarket or incorrect injector installed that does not match the engine's requirements

DTC codes / P02xx · Fuel and air metering (injector circuits) / P0288

P0288Cylinder 10 Injector Circuit Low

Q: What does code P0288 mean?

Cylinder 10 Injector Circuit Low. P0288 means the engine computer has detected an abnormally low current flow in the electrical circuit for cylinder 10's fuel injector, which usually indicates a short to ground or a failed injector coil. The computer monitors injector current and flags this code when the measured current falls below the expected threshold for that cylinder.

P0288 means the engine computer has detected an abnormally low current flow in the electrical circuit for cylinder 10's fuel injector, which usually indicates a short to ground or a failed injector coil. The computer monitors injector current and flags this code when the measured current falls below the expected threshold for that cylinder.

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
Reduced engine power or hesitation during acceleration
Poor fuel economy due to incomplete combustion in cylinder 10
Possible fuel smell from unburned fuel entering the exhaust
In some cases, the engine may enter limp mode to protect the catalytic converter

Common causes, most likely first

Faulty fuel injector on cylinder 10 with an open or shorted internal coil
Damaged or chafed injector wiring harness causing a short to ground
Corroded or loose electrical connector at the cylinder 10 injector
Failed driver circuit inside the engine control module (ECM) or powertrain control module (PCM)
High resistance in the injector circuit due to a poor ground connection
Aftermarket or incorrect injector installed that does not match the engine's requirements

How to diagnose and fix it

Inspect the cylinder 10 injector connector and wiring for 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 ground in the injector control wire using a multimeter or test light
Perform a current ramp test on the injector circuit with an oscilloscope to verify the driver signal
Swap the cylinder 10 injector with a known-good injector from another cylinder to see if the code moves
If the injector and wiring test good, test the ECM driver circuit for proper operation
Replace the faulty injector or repair the wiring as needed, then clear the code and verify the repair

Cylinder 10 injector circuit low current pitfalls

A low current code often results from a poor connection rather than a failed injector, so always check connector pin tension and corrosion before condemning the injector.
The ECM may set this code intermittently if the wiring harness rubs against a metal bracket, so inspect the entire harness route for chafing points.
Cylinder 10 is typically found on V10 or heavy-duty engines, and its injector circuit may share a ground with other injectors, so a single bad ground can affect multiple cylinders.
Replacing an injector without checking the driver circuit can lead to repeat failures if the ECM driver is weak or damaged.
This code can be set by a low battery or charging system issue that causes voltage drops, so verify battery and charging system health first.

Can I keep driving with P0288?

You can drive the vehicle short distances to a repair shop, but avoid heavy acceleration or towing because unburned fuel can overheat and damage the catalytic converter. If the check engine light is flashing, stop driving immediately and have the vehicle 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.