What Does P0275 Mean?
The ECM has detected a cylinder 5 contribution or balance fault, meaning cylinder 5 is producing less torque than other cylinders during its power stroke. This is determined by analyzing crankshaft speed variations during each cylinder's firing event. Found on 5+ cylinder engines. The driver will notice rough idle, reduced power, vibration, and potential misfire symptoms.
Common Causes
35%
Cylinder 5 fuel injector with degraded flow or poor atomization
25%
Low compression on cylinder 5 — valve, ring, or gasket issue
20%
Injector wiring or driver fault reducing fuel delivery to cylinder 5
12%
Intake manifold leak or port restriction at cylinder 5
8%
Glow plug failure on cylinder 5 (diesel) or ignition fault (gasoline)
Diagnostic Steps
1
Review cylinder contribution rates in live data to confirm cylinder 5 is the underperformer and quantify the difference from the average of all cylinders.
2
Perform a compression test across all cylinders — cylinder 5 should be within 10% of the highest reading. Follow up with a leak-down test if compression is low.
3
On diesel engines, perform an injector return flow (leak-back) test — measure the return fuel from each injector at idle over 30 seconds. Excessive return from cylinder 5 indicates internal injector wear.
4
Swap the cylinder 5 injector with a known-good cylinder, clear codes, and operate the engine to determine if the contribution fault follows the injector or stays at position 5.
5
Check cylinder 5 glow plug (diesel) resistance and current draw — a failed glow plug causes poor cold and warm combustion, especially on the furthest cylinder from the block's heat center.
Estimated Repair Cost
$150 - $1,500
Parts + labor, varies by vehicle and location
The ECM has detected a cylinder 5 contribution or balance fault, meaning cylinder 5 is producing less torque than other cylinders during its power stroke. This is determined by analyzing crankshaft speed variations during each cylinder's firing event. Found on 5+ cylinder engines. The driver will no...
The most common cause of P0275 (Cylinder 5 Contribution/Balance Fault) is: Cylinder 5 fuel injector with degraded flow or poor atomization
Typical repair costs for P0275 range from $150 to $1,500, depending on the vehicle, location, and whether you do it yourself or go to a shop.
The vehicle can be driven carefully at reduced load. Persistent cylinder imbalance increases exhaust temperatures and can damage the turbocharger or catalytic converter over time. Diagnose within a few days.
Start by connecting an OBD2 scanner to read the code and any freeze frame data. Then follow the diagnostic steps specific to P0275 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 / Engine Mechanical
Difficulty
Type
Generic (SAE)
Recommended Tools
OBD2 Scanner
A quality scan tool helps you read codes, view live data, and clear faults.
