P0200: Injector Circuit/Open
The engine control unit has detected a fault in a fuel injector circuit.
High risk
The engine can misfire and lose power. Drive gently and have it checked soon.
Short answer · Can I keep driving with P0200?
Only gently and not far. One or more cylinders may get no fuel. Have the injector circuits checked soon.
What does P0200 mean?
Code P0200 is a general injector circuit fault that does not name a single cylinder. On some engines it points to a shared supply or a common driver in the control unit; other codes stored at the same time often show which cylinder is affected.
What the car does when the code is set
The check engine light comes on, often with a misfire code. The cylinder gets little or no fuel, so the engine runs on fewer cylinders, shakes and loses power.
How the system works
Each fuel injector is an electrically controlled valve. The engine control unit switches it on and off very precisely to spray the right amount of fuel. It also monitors the electrical circuit: if the injector does not draw current as expected, because of an open circuit or a short, it stores an injector circuit code for that cylinder.
Common symptoms
Possible causes
Listed without ranking. The cause on your car depends on make, engine and mileage — see the maker notes below.
- Open or damaged injector wiringA broken wire or loose connector stops the injector from being controlled.
- Failed injector coilThe electrical winding inside the injector can open or short.
- Corroded connectorMoisture and oil around the injectors cause poor contact.
- Fuse or supply faultInjectors usually share a power supply through a fuse or relay.
- Engine control unit driver faultLess common, but the output that switches the injector can fail.
How it is diagnosed
- Check for misfire on the same cylinderAn injector circuit fault usually causes a misfire code on that cylinder too.
- Inspect the connector and wiringLook for loose, corroded or damaged plugs and wires at the injector.
- Measure injector resistanceCompare the injector coil resistance with the service data and with the other injectors.
- Check supply and control signalA workshop checks power at the injector and the control signal from the engine control unit.Fuel systems can hold high pressure even with the engine off; never open fuel lines without depressurising them.
Questions about P0200
Which injector is faulty with P0200?
P0200 alone does not say. Look for cylinder-specific codes such as P0201 to P0208 or misfire codes, and check the shared injector fuse and supply.
Can I swap injectors to test?
On some engines, yes: if the fault moves with the injector, the injector is faulty. On high-pressure diesel and petrol systems, injectors may need coding and new seals, so leave this to a workshop.