01 How to Avoid Engine Damage from Engine Flush • 02 The Science of Flight: How Aircraft Stay in the Air • 03 Camshaft Position Sensor: Everything You Need to Know • 04 Bad Fuel Doesn't Just Hurt Performance — It Quietly Destroy… • 05 Unveiling the Mystery of Gaskets: Your Key to Automotive Se… • 06 Ensuring Safety and Excellence: The Work of Experienced Nuc… • 07 B0004 - PCM Discrete Input Speed Signal Not Present • 08 Why You Should Consider Upgrading To a Remote Controlled Ca… • 09 Oil filter vs. oil: Which is more important to change? • 10 Hyundai Santa Fe: The Spacious and Stylish SUV •

DTC codes / P02xx · Fuel and air metering (injector circuits) / P0294

P0294Cylinder 12 Injector Circuit Low

P0294 means the powertrain control module (PCM) has detected that the electrical circuit for cylinder 12's fuel injector is drawing less current than expected, which the PCM interprets as a low-current or open-circuit condition. The PCM monitors injector driver feedback and sets this code when the commanded injector pulse does not produce the expected current flow through the injector coil.

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 felt as shaking or stumbling, especially noticeable at idle
  • Loss of power or hesitation during acceleration
  • Increased fuel consumption due to the affected cylinder not receiving fuel
  • Possible rich or lean fuel trim readings depending on whether the injector is stuck closed or intermittently open
  • In some cases, a dead miss on cylinder 12 that is more pronounced when the engine is cold

Common causes, most likely first

  1. Open or high-resistance injector coil winding inside cylinder 12's injector
  2. Damaged or corroded electrical connector at the cylinder 12 injector
  3. Broken, chafed, or shorted wire in the injector control circuit between the PCM and the injector
  4. Poor terminal tension or pushed-back pin in the injector harness connector
  5. Faulty PCM injector driver for that cylinder (rare but possible)
  6. Aftermarket or incorrect injector installed that does not match the PCM's expected current profile

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. Visually inspect the cylinder 12 injector connector and harness for corrosion, chafing, or loose pins
  3. Measure the injector coil resistance with a multimeter and compare it to the manufacturer's specification
  4. Perform a voltage drop test on both the power feed and the PCM control wire while cranking or running
  5. Check for continuity and short-to-ground on the injector control circuit between the PCM and injector
  6. Swap the cylinder 12 injector with a known-good injector from another cylinder to see if the misfire follows
  7. If all wiring and the injector test good, test the PCM driver output with a noid light or oscilloscope before condemning the PCM

What a low-current injector code really means

  • A low-current code often points to a poor connection or damaged wire rather than a failed injector, so always inspect the harness before replacing parts.
  • Cylinder 12 is typically found on V12 engines, and its injector circuit may share a power feed with other injectors, so a fault in that feed can affect multiple cylinders.
  • The PCM may set P0294 intermittently if the injector coil is failing only when hot, so a cold resistance check can miss the problem.
  • A stuck-closed injector can cause a lean misfire and set this code, while a stuck-open injector usually sets a rich code instead, so the code direction matters.
  • Aftermarket injectors with different resistance values can trigger this code even though they flow fuel correctly, so always use the specified injector.

Can I keep driving with P0294?

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 check engine light is flashing, 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.

Running on fumes Free guides aren't free to make. Top up the tank. Any amount, one time. Fuel the Garage