P0202: Injector Circuit / Open - Cylinder 2
Quick Answer
Safe to drive (short-term)
P0202 is set when the engine control unit sees an electrical fault in the cylinder 2 injector circuit: an open wire, a short or a coil resistance it does not expect. Cylinder 2 is the second cylinder in from the pulley end on most inline engines, and on a V engine it can sit on either bank depending on the maker. A connector or wiring fault typically costs 65-220 EUR at a workshop to fix; a petrol injector fitted costs about 100-310 EUR.
- Severity
- Moderate · Fuel System
- Estimated repair cost
- From €5 to €650+, varies by vehicle
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Get Skanyx freeWhat does P0202 mean?
P0202 is a fuel system-related diagnostic trouble code classified as moderate severity.
What are the symptoms of P0202?
- Steady or flashing check engine light
- Shaking at idle that eases slightly as revs rise
- Hesitation on part throttle
- Engine feels down on power, especially uphill
- Higher fuel consumption than usual
- Harder starting on a cold morning
What causes P0202?
Damaged or corroded plug on the cylinder 2 injector, often disturbed during earlier work on the intake or rail
: high
Break or short in the cylinder 2 branch of the injector harness
: high
Cylinder 2 injector coil gone open or shorted
: medium
Supply fault common to all injectors, such as a fuse, relay or ground
: medium
Cylinder 2 output stage failed inside the engine control unit
: low
Is it safe to drive with P0202?
Generally yes, for short-term driving. Short, gentle trips to a workshop are usually possible, but with cylinder 2 not fuelled correctly the engine runs on one cylinder fewer and the catalytic converter works harder. If the check engine light flashes, the converter is overheating and you should stop driving.
How do you diagnose P0202?
- Confirm P0202 with Skanyx and note the freeze frame. A matching P0302 means cylinder 2 is actually misfiring; P0264 or P0265 narrows the fault to the control circuit being low or high
- Count to cylinder 2. On most inline engines it is the second cylinder from the pulley end, between cylinders 1 and 3. On a V6 or V8 it depends on the maker: engines numbered one bank first (Ford, Audi) put it on bank 1, engines that alternate sides (GM V8s, Toyota's 2GR V6) put it on bank 2
- Check the cylinder 2 injector plug: it sits in the middle of the rail, close to the plugs for cylinders 1 and 3, so make sure it is fully latched and was not swapped or left half-seated after earlier work
- Unplug the connector and measure the injector coil. Compare with the specification for your engine rather than a generic figure, because port, direct-injection and diesel injectors differ widely
- Back-probe the harness from the injector plug to the ECU pin for injector 2, flexing the loom as you go to catch an intermittent break
- Swap injector 2 with injector 1 or 3, clear the code and test again. If the code becomes P0201 or P0203, replace the injector; if P0202 stays, repair the wiring or have the ECU driver checked
- Direct-injection injectors are fired with a high opening voltage and piezo diesel injectors with far more, so never probe them with a test light or touch the terminals with the engine running
How much does P0202 cost to fix?
| Repair | Parts Cost | Labor Cost | Total Estimate | DIY Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fix cylinder 2 plug or wire yourself (DIY) | €5–€30 | €0–€0 | €5–€30 | Moderate |
| Workshop diagnosis and repair of the cylinder 2 circuit | €5–€40 | €60–€180 | €65–€220 | Professional |
| Fit new cylinder 2 injector - petrol (workshop) | €40–€150 | €60–€160 | €100–€310 | Moderate |
| Fit new cylinder 2 injector - common-rail diesel (workshop) | €150–€400 | €100–€250 | €250–€650 | Professional |
Prices estimated as of October 2026. Costs vary by region, vehicle, and shop.
Engines known for this code
P0202 on specific vehicles
P0202 on Volkswagen
Volkswagen Golf
P0202 on BMW
BMW 3 Series
P0202 on Ford
Ford Focus
P0202 on Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes C-Class
Related diagnostic codes
Common questions about P0202
- Which cylinder is number 2?
- On most inline engines it is the second cylinder from the crankshaft-pulley end, sitting between cylinders 1 and 3. Peugeot and Citroen have traditionally counted from the flywheel end instead, so on those engines it is the second from the gearbox side.
- Is cylinder 2 on bank 1 or bank 2?
- On an inline engine there is usually only one bank. On a V engine it depends on how the maker numbers the cylinders. Ford and Audi number one bank first, so cylinder 2 is on bank 1 next to cylinder 1. GM V8s and Toyota's 2GR V6 alternate sides, so cylinder 2 is on bank 2. The service information for your engine settles it.
- Why would only cylinder 2 have a circuit fault?
- Each injector has its own control wire and its own driver in the ECU, even when they share a power feed. A fault on one cylinder only therefore points to that injector, its plug or its branch of the harness. A shared fuse or relay failure would normally set several injector codes at once.
- What does it mean if P0202 comes with P0200?
- P0200 is the general injector circuit code. Seeing it next to P0202 suggests something the injectors share, such as the supply fuse, relay, ground or a harness section, rather than the cylinder 2 injector alone. Check the shared supply before buying an injector.
- How much does it cost to fix P0202?
- A connector or wire repair done at a workshop usually costs about 65-220 EUR. A new petrol injector fitted costs about 100-310 EUR, and a common-rail diesel injector about 250-650 EUR including coding.
- Will cleaning the injector clear P0202?
- Unlikely. Cleaning helps an injector that is clogged and spraying badly, but P0202 is an electrical fault in the coil or wiring. Repair the circuit or replace an injector with a failed coil.