What Does P0287 Mean?
The ECM has detected a cylinder 9 contribution or balance fault, indicating that cylinder 9 is producing less torque than expected. This code applies to engines with 9+ cylinders (V10, V12, or similar configurations). The crankshaft speed analysis reveals cylinder 9 is underperforming during its power stroke. The driver will notice rough idle, vibration, reduced power, and possible exhaust quality changes.
Common Causes
35%
Cylinder 9 fuel injector with degraded flow, restricted nozzle, or sticking
25%
Low compression on cylinder 9 — worn rings, valve issue, or head gasket failure
20%
Injector wiring or ECM driver fault reducing fuel pulse to cylinder 9
12%
Intake charge distribution issue affecting cylinder 9
8%
Glow plug or ignition failure on cylinder 9
Diagnostic Steps
1
Monitor cylinder 9 contribution rate in live data and compare to all other cylinders — V10/V12 engines should show relatively uniform contribution across all cylinders.
2
Perform a compression test on all cylinders — cylinder 9 should be within 10% of the highest. On multi-cylinder engines, systematic compression testing identifies patterns across banks.
3
Conduct an injector leak-back test (diesel) — measure fuel return from each injector. Cylinder 9 returning significantly more fuel than average indicates internal wear.
4
Check cylinder 9 injection quantity correction values — large positive corrections indicate the ECM is compensating for a weak injector.
5
Swap the cylinder 9 injector with an adjacent cylinder, clear codes and adaptations, and test — this definitively isolates injector faults from mechanical faults.
Estimated Repair Cost
$200 - $1,800
Parts + labor, varies by vehicle and location
The ECM has detected a cylinder 9 contribution or balance fault, indicating that cylinder 9 is producing less torque than expected. This code applies to engines with 9+ cylinders (V10, V12, or similar configurations). The crankshaft speed analysis reveals cylinder 9 is underperforming during its pow...
The most common cause of P0287 (Cylinder 9 Contribution/Balance Fault) is: Cylinder 9 fuel injector with degraded flow, restricted nozzle, or sticking
Typical repair costs for P0287 range from $200 to $1,800, depending on the vehicle, location, and whether you do it yourself or go to a shop.
On high-cylinder-count engines, a single cylinder contribution fault may be less noticeable but still causes elevated exhaust temperatures and risks downstream component damage. The vehicle can be driven at light load, but schedule repairs promptly.
Start by connecting an OBD2 scanner to read the code and any freeze frame data. Then follow the diagnostic steps specific to P0287 to identify the root cause.
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Quick Info
Category
Powertrain
System
Fuel Injection / Engine Mechanical
Difficulty
Type
Generic (SAE)
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