Faulty cold start injector (open or shorted coil, or leaking or sticking injector); Damaged, corroded or loose wiring or connector at the cold start injector; Faulty cold start injector relay or its supply fuse; Faulty thermo-time switch or temperature input that controls the injector, where fitted; Wiring fault between the injector and the control unit (open circuit, short to earth or short to voltage); Fault inside the engine control unit driver circuit.

P0213

Cold Start Injector 1.

Generic
Powertrain
Generic code
Low severity

How this code is built

P: SystemPowertrain
0: Defined bySAE, the same on every car
2: AreaFuel and air metering (injector circuit)
13: FaultThe specific fault in that area

What it means

P0213 is the generic code for a fault in the cold start injector 1 circuit. The cold start injector is an extra injector, fitted to some engines, that adds fuel when the engine is cold to help it start. The control unit sets the code when it sees an electrical fault in the circuit, such as an open circuit, a short or an unexpected voltage or current, compared with what it commanded.

Symptoms

Long cranking or hard starting when the engine is cold
Rough idle or stumbling just after a cold start
Black smoke or a strong smell of fuel on cold starts
Poor cold running that clears as the engine warms up
Malfunction indicator lamp on
Slightly higher fuel consumption

Possible causes

Faulty cold start injector (open or shorted coil, or leaking or sticking injector)likely
Damaged, corroded or loose wiring or connector at the cold start injectorlikely
Faulty cold start injector relay or its supply fusepossible
Faulty thermo-time switch or temperature input that controls the injector, where fittedpossible
Wiring fault between the injector and the control unit (open circuit, short to earth or short to voltage)possible
Fault inside the engine control unit driver circuitrare

How to diagnose

Read all stored and pending codes and the freeze frame data, noting engine temperature and conditions when the code set
Confirm whether the engine actually has a cold start injector, as the circuit and its control differ by model and engine, and check the manufacturer wiring diagram
Visually inspect the injector, its connector and the wiring for damage, heat, corrosion, fuel contamination or loose pins
Check the relevant fuse and relay for the circuit and test the relay operation
Measure the injector coil resistance and compare it with the manufacturer specification
With the engine cold, check for supply voltage and the control signal at the injector connector during cranking
Test the wiring between the injector and the control unit for continuity, short to earth and short to voltage
Check the temperature sensor or switch that influences the injector operation, following the model-specific procedure

How to fix

Replace the cold start injector if the coil is out of specification or it leaks or sticks
Repair or replace damaged wiring and clean or renew corroded or damaged connectors
Replace a faulty relay or blown fuse, and find out why it failed
Replace a faulty thermo-time switch or temperature sensor that controls the injector
Repair the control unit only after all wiring and component faults have been ruled out, following the manufacturer procedure

Can I keep driving?

Low severity

The car can normally be driven, but cold starting may be poor, so get it checked soon. If there is a strong smell of fuel or a visible fuel leak at the injector, stop driving and have it repaired first.

Guide written by AI from the code's definition. Confirm with a diagnosis before replacing parts.