What Does P02BD Mean?
The ECM has detected that the fuel injector on cylinder 9 is leaking fuel, allowing unmetered fuel into the combustion chamber when the injector should be sealed. This creates an overly rich condition on cylinder 9 in engines with 9+ cylinders. The driver may notice rough idle, black exhaust smoke, fuel smell, poor fuel economy, and cylinder 9 misfires.
Common Causes
35%
Worn or damaged injector pintle seal or O-ring allowing fuel seepage when the injector is closed
25%
Cracked or scored injector nozzle seat preventing complete fuel shutoff
20%
Contaminated or corroded injector internals causing the needle valve to stick partially open
12%
Excessive fuel system pressure forcing fuel past the injector seal during closed periods
8%
Faulty injector driver circuit holding the injector partially energized
Diagnostic Steps
1
Monitor cylinder 9 short-term and long-term fuel trim values — a significantly negative trim (below -10%) confirms the ECM is compensating for a rich condition from the leak.
2
Perform a fuel injector balance test or cylinder power contribution test to compare cylinder 9 against other cylinders.
3
Check fuel system pressure: key-on engine-off should hold at specified rail pressure. Monitor bleed-down rate after shutoff for rapid decay.
4
Remove the fuel rail with injectors (pressure relieved) and apply regulated pressure while observing injector tips — no more than 1 drop per minute.
5
Inspect the cylinder 9 spark plug for heavy black carbon fouling or wet fuel deposits.
Estimated Repair Cost
$200 - $550
Parts + labor, varies by vehicle and location
The ECM has detected that the fuel injector on cylinder 9 is leaking fuel, allowing unmetered fuel into the combustion chamber when the injector should be sealed. This creates an overly rich condition on cylinder 9 in engines with 9+ cylinders. The driver may notice rough idle, black exhaust smoke, ...
The most common cause of P02BD (Cylinder 9 - Injector Leaking) is: Worn or damaged injector pintle seal or O-ring allowing fuel seepage when the injector is closed
Typical repair costs for P02BD range from $200 to $550, depending on the vehicle, location, and whether you do it yourself or go to a shop.
Driveable short distances but repair soon. A leaking injector washes cylinder wall oil, damages the catalytic converter with unburned fuel, and in severe cases poses a fire risk.
Start by connecting an OBD2 scanner to read the code and any freeze frame data. Then follow the diagnostic steps specific to P02BD to identify the root cause.
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Quick Info
Category
Powertrain
System
Fuel System
Difficulty
Type
Generic (SAE)
Recommended Tools
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