OBD codes / P0201
P0201
SeriousInjector Circuit/Open - Cylinder 1
Treat P0201 with some urgency. A dead or intermittent cylinder dumps unburned fuel into the exhaust, which can overheat and ruin the catalytic converter — and if the check-engine light is flashing, that damage is happening in real time. Drive gently, avoid hard acceleration, and get it fixed promptly.
What this code means
The engine computer fires each fuel injector by pulsing its electrical circuit, and it watches that circuit for the expected voltage and current response. P0201 sets when the computer sees an open circuit, a short, or the wrong resistance on the cylinder 1 injector circuit. This is an ELECTRICAL fault — it is not the same as a clogged injector, which passes electricity fine and would not set this code. The most common culprits are an unplugged or corroded injector connector, chafed wiring between the harness and the injector, or a failed coil winding inside the injector itself. Rarely, the injector driver inside the engine computer is at fault. Because the injector may not fire at all, cylinder 1 often goes dead and you will frequently see the matching misfire code P0301 alongside it.
Symptoms you might notice
- Misfire on cylinder 1, often with the companion code P0301
- Rough idle or a noticeable shake at a stop
- Check-engine light, which may flash during an active misfire
- A 'dead cylinder' feel — down on power, especially under load
- Hard starting or extended cranking in some cases
What it costs to fix
Typical range: $80–$550 · about ~0.5–2 hrs of labor
| If the cause is… | Part | Labor |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel injector (single) | $50–$300 | ~0.5–2 hrs |
| Wiring / connector repair | $10–$60 | ~0.5–1.5 hrs |
Access drives the price. On many inline engines the injectors sit right on top; on some V engines the intake manifold must come off to reach them, which adds labor. These ranges are for common gasoline port-injection and direct-injection engines — diesel injectors and some high-pressure direct injectors cost far more.
The price swings on which cause it turns out to be — so confirm the cause before paying. Diagnose P0201 for my exact vehicle →
Frequently asked
Can I drive with P0201?
Short, gentle trips are usually tolerable if the light is steady, but a cylinder that isn't firing sends raw fuel toward the catalytic converter, and a flashing light means the converter is at risk right now. Don't treat this as a code you can ignore for weeks.
Is P0201 the injector or the wiring?
Either — the code only says the circuit is faulty. Start cheap: unplug the cylinder 1 injector connector and look for corrosion or bent pins, then measure the injector's resistance with a multimeter and compare it to a neighboring cylinder. Matching resistance points to wiring; an open or wildly different reading points to the injector.
Why do I also have P0301?
P0301 is the misfire code for cylinder 1. If the injector circuit fails, the cylinder gets no fuel and misfires, so the two codes commonly appear together. Fix the circuit fault first — the misfire code usually goes away with it.
How much does it cost to fix P0201?
A corroded connector or chafed wire is a cheap repair. A replacement injector is a moderate part cost plus half an hour to two hours of labor, more if your engine requires intake removal to reach the injectors. Diesel and some direct-injection injectors are considerably pricier.
Seeing P0201 on your car? Get a diagnosis specific to your exact year, make and model.
Diagnose P0201 for my vehicleRelated trouble codes
Don’t have a scanner yet? A ~$25 Bluetooth adapter reads codes like P0201 from your phone — see our honest guide to the best OBD2 Bluetooth adapters.
Generic OBD-II reference. Manufacturer-specific behavior varies — confirm with a scan tool and, for safety-related codes, a professional inspection.