P0206: Injector Circuit / Open - Cylinder 6
Quick Answer
Safe to drive (short-term)
P0206 means the engine computer detected an electrical fault in the cylinder 6 injector circuit: an open circuit, a short or a resistance out of range. Only engines with six or more cylinders can set it. On an inline-six cylinder 6 is the last cylinder, next to the gearbox, and on a V6 it is always on bank 2. A workshop wiring repair usually costs about 65-220 EUR; a petrol injector fitted 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 P0206 mean?
P0206 is a fuel system-related diagnostic trouble code classified as moderate severity.
What are the symptoms of P0206?
- Check engine light, steady or flashing
- Faint vibration at idle that a six-cylinder partly masks
- Reduced pulling power, especially at low revs
- Worse fuel consumption
- Fuel or sulphur smell from the exhaust
- Lean reading or positive fuel trim on bank 2
What causes P0206?
Loose or corroded connector on the cylinder 6 injector, the rearmost on a longitudinal inline-six
: high
Wiring damage in the harness branch to cylinder 6
: high
Cylinder 6 injector with an open or shorted winding
: medium
Supply or ground fault shared by all the injectors
: medium
Failed cylinder 6 output stage in the engine control unit
: low
Is it safe to drive with P0206?
Generally yes, for short-term driving. Usually drivable for a short, gentle trip, because a six- or eight-cylinder engine still runs on the other cylinders. Do not let the smooth feel fool you: the catalytic converter serving cylinder 6 keeps overheating while it misfires. Repair it soon and stop if the check engine light flashes.
How do you diagnose P0206?
- Read P0206 and the freeze frame with Skanyx. P0306 (cylinder 6 misfire), P0276 or P0277 (cylinder 6 injector circuit low or high) and a bank 2 lean code are the usual companions
- Find cylinder 6. On an inline-six it is the last cylinder, at the gearbox end, which on longitudinal engines such as BMW's and Mercedes' sixes puts it right against the bulkhead. On a V6 it is on bank 2: the rearmost cylinder of that bank on engines numbered one bank first (Ford, Audi), or one of the even-numbered cylinders on engines that alternate sides (Toyota's 2GR V6 has 2, 4 and 6 on bank 2)
- On a longitudinal inline-six, access at the bulkhead end is tight and the connector is hard to see, so remove covers and check the latch, pins and the harness branch with a light rather than by feel
- Measure the injector coil with the ignition off and compare with the figure for your engine. Then measure from the ECU pin for injector 6 so any break in the harness shows up
- Swap injector 6 with a neighbour on the same rail: cylinder 5 on an inline-six, or the next cylinder on bank 2 of a V6. If the code moves, replace the injector; if P0206 stays, repair the wiring or have the ECU driver checked
- Fit new PTFE combustion seals whenever a direct-injection injector comes out. On common-rail diesels such as the OM642 or N57, a replacement injector must be coded to cylinder 6 with a brand tool or at a workshop
- If P0206 is one of several injector codes, test the shared supply fuse, relay and grounds first
How much does P0206 cost to fix?
| Repair | Parts Cost | Labor Cost | Total Estimate | DIY Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cylinder 6 connector or wiring repair (DIY) | €5–€30 | €0–€0 | €5–€30 | Moderate |
| Cylinder 6 circuit diagnosis and wiring repair (shop) | €5–€40 | €60–€180 | €65–€220 | Professional |
| Cylinder 6 injector replacement, petrol (shop) | €40–€150 | €60–€160 | €100–€310 | Moderate |
| Cylinder 6 injector replacement with coding, common-rail diesel (shop) | €150–€400 | €100–€250 | €250–€650 | Professional |
Prices estimated as of October 2026. Costs vary by region, vehicle, and shop.
P0206 on specific vehicles
P0206 on Volkswagen
Volkswagen Golf
P0206 on BMW
BMW 3 Series
P0206 on Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes C-Class
Related diagnostic codes
Common questions about P0206
- Which engines can set P0206?
- Only engines with six or more cylinders: inline-sixes such as BMW's N52, N55 and B58 petrol and M57, N57 and B57 diesel engines, V6s such as Mercedes' M276 and OM642 or Toyota's 3.5 V6, and V8 and larger engines. Three-, four- and five-cylinder engines cannot set it.
- Where is cylinder 6 on an inline-six?
- It is the last cylinder in the row, at the gearbox end, because numbering starts at the crankshaft-pulley end. On a longitudinal inline-six that places it at the back of the engine, close to the bulkhead, where the injector plug is the hardest of the six to reach.
- Is cylinder 6 always on bank 2?
- On V6 and V8 engines, yes, under both common numbering systems: it is either in the second group of cylinders or among the even numbers, and bank 1 is always the bank that holds cylinder 1. On inline-sixes with two front catalytic converters, such as BMW's N52, cylinders 4 to 6 are also treated as bank 2.
- Which injector should I swap with cylinder 6?
- One on the same rail: cylinder 5 on an inline-six, or the next cylinder on bank 2 of a V engine. Clear the code after the swap and drive. If the fault reappears under the other cylinder's number, the injector is faulty.
- Does a new cylinder 6 injector need coding?
- On common-rail diesels, yes: each injector has a correction code the engine computer must know for that cylinder. On most petrol engines no coding is needed, but direct-injection injectors need new combustion seals when fitted.
- What if P0206 comes with other injector codes?
- Several injector circuit codes at once usually point to something shared, such as the injector supply fuse or relay, a ground or a damaged section of harness, rather than several injectors failing together. Check those before buying parts.