What Does P02C1 Mean?
The ECM has detected that the fuel injector on cylinder 10 is leaking fuel, allowing unmetered fuel into the combustion chamber when the injector should be fully sealed. This creates an overly rich condition on cylinder 10 in engines with 10+ cylinders. The driver may notice rough idle, black exhaust smoke, fuel smell, poor fuel economy, and cylinder 10 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 10 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 10 against the 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 indicating a leaking injector.
4
Remove the fuel rail with injectors (pressure relieved) and apply regulated pressure while observing each injector tip for dripping — no more than 1 drop per minute.
5
Inspect the cylinder 10 spark plug for heavy black carbon fouling or wet fuel deposits confirming unmetered fuel entry.
Estimated Repair Cost
$200 - $600
Parts + labor, varies by vehicle and location
The ECM has detected that the fuel injector on cylinder 10 is leaking fuel, allowing unmetered fuel into the combustion chamber when the injector should be fully sealed. This creates an overly rich condition on cylinder 10 in engines with 10+ cylinders. The driver may notice rough idle, black exhaus...
The most common cause of P02C1 (Cylinder 10 - Injector Leaking) is: Worn or damaged injector pintle seal or O-ring allowing fuel seepage when the injector is closed
Typical repair costs for P02C1 range from $200 to $600, 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 causing accelerated wear, damages the catalytic converter with unburned fuel, and in severe cases creates a fire risk from raw fuel in the exhaust system.
Start by connecting an OBD2 scanner to read the code and any freeze frame data. Then follow the diagnostic steps specific to P02C1 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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