P02C0
Cylinder 10 - Injector Restricted.
- Generic
- Powertrain
- Generic code
- Medium severity
How this code is built
- P
- SystemPowertrain
- 0
- Defined bySAE, the same on every car
- 2
- AreaFuel and air metering (injector circuit)
- C0
- FaultThe specific fault in that area
What it means
P02C0 is the generic SAE J2012 code for a restricted fuel injector on cylinder 10. The engine control unit has judged that cylinder 10 is receiving less fuel than commanded, usually from fuel trim, oxygen sensor or misfire/crankshaft speed behaviour. The exact monitoring method varies by manufacturer and engine, and the code only applies to engines with ten or more cylinders.
Symptoms
- Engine check light on
- Rough running or a noticeable misfire, mainly at idle
- Hesitation or loss of power under load
- Poor fuel economy
- Lean running on one bank, or a stored lean or misfire code
- Hard starting or an unstable idle
Possible causes
- Partially blocked or fouled cylinder 10 injector (deposits or debris in the nozzle or filter basket)likely
- Injector internal wear or sticking, giving reduced flowlikely
- Contaminated or poor quality fuel, or a restricted fuel filter affecting flowpossible
- Wiring or connector fault at the cylinder 10 injector causing weak or intermittent operationpossible
- Low fuel pressure or a fuel delivery fault (pump, regulator, rail pressure) that shows up most at one injectorpossible
- Air leak or mechanical fault near cylinder 10 (intake leak, compression loss) that mimics a restricted injectorrare
- Engine control unit injector driver faultrare
How to diagnose
- Read all stored and pending codes and note the freeze frame data (load, fuel trims, engine temperature, rpm) from when the fault was set.
- Check for other related codes such as misfires, lean mixture or fuel pressure faults, as these point towards the true root cause.
- Inspect the cylinder 10 injector connector and wiring for corrosion, damage, loose pins or heat damage.
- Check the fuel trims for the bank containing cylinder 10 at idle and under load, and compare them with the other bank.
- Measure fuel pressure against the manufacturer's specification, and check the fuel filter condition where one is fitted.
- Check live misfire counters and compare cylinder 10 with the others; if possible, run the manufacturer's injector balance or flow test for your engine.
- Test the injector's electrical resistance and drive signal against specification, then inspect for intake leaks or compression loss on that cylinder.
- Swap cylinder 10's injector with another cylinder (where the layout allows) and see whether the fault follows the injector.
How to fix
- Replace the cylinder 10 injector if testing shows reduced flow or sticking.
- Repair or replace damaged wiring or connectors to the injector.
- Replace a restricted fuel filter and correct any fuel supply fault such as a weak pump or faulty pressure regulation.
- Drain and replace contaminated fuel, then clear any resulting deposits as the manufacturer advises.
- Repair any intake air leak or mechanical fault found at cylinder 10, then clear the code and road test to confirm it does not return.
Can I keep driving?
Short, gentle journeys are usually possible, but the car should be checked soon. A lean or misfiring cylinder can overheat the catalytic converter and damage the engine, so avoid heavy loads and stop driving if the engine runs very roughly or the check light flashes.
Guide written by AI from the code's definition. Confirm with a diagnosis before replacing parts.