What Does P0264 Mean?
The ECM has detected that the cylinder 2 fuel injector circuit voltage is below the expected threshold, indicating a low condition. The injector driver for cylinder 2 is seeing lower voltage than expected, which suggests a short to ground in the wiring, a shorted injector coil, or excessive current draw pulling the circuit voltage down.
Common Causes
35%
Short to ground in the cylinder 2 injector wiring harness
30%
Failed cylinder 2 fuel injector with internally shorted coil windings
20%
Corroded or contaminated injector connector causing current leakage
15%
ECM injector driver circuit failure for cylinder 2 output
Diagnostic Steps
1
Step 1: Measure the cylinder 2 injector coil resistance — compare to specification (11-18 ohms high-impedance, 2-5 ohms low-impedance). Low resistance confirms a shorted coil.
2
Step 2: Disconnect the cylinder 2 injector and check for shorts to ground on the harness side — both pins should read open to ground.
3
Step 3: Inspect the connector and wiring for heat damage, oil saturation, or chafing against the engine block or valve cover.
4
Step 4: Swap the cylinder 2 injector with an adjacent cylinder and clear codes — monitor to see if the fault follows the injector or stays on the cylinder 2 position.
5
Step 5: If the fault remains on position 2 with a known-good injector, repair the wiring harness or diagnose the ECM driver circuit.
Estimated Repair Cost
$100 - $500
Parts + labor, varies by vehicle and location
The ECM has detected that the cylinder 2 fuel injector circuit voltage is below the expected threshold, indicating a low condition. The injector driver for cylinder 2 is seeing lower voltage than expected, which suggests a short to ground in the wiring, a shorted injector coil, or excessive current ...
The most common cause of P0264 (Cylinder 1 Contribution/Balance Fault) is: Short to ground in the cylinder 2 injector wiring harness
Typical repair costs for P0264 range from $100 to $500, depending on the vehicle, location, and whether you do it yourself or go to a shop.
Vehicle runs rough with reduced power from cylinder 2 misfire. Drivable but repair soon to prevent catalytic converter damage from unburned fuel.
Start by connecting an OBD2 scanner to read the code and any freeze frame data. Then follow the diagnostic steps specific to P0264 to identify the root cause.
OBDHut Mobile App
Scan codes directly from your car with the OBDHut app.
Coming Soon
Quick Info
Category
Powertrain
System
Fuel Injection System
Difficulty
Type
Generic (SAE)
Recommended Tools
OBD2 Scanner
A quality scan tool helps you read codes, view live data, and clear faults.
