P0201

Cylinder 1 Injector A Circuit

Fuel injector circuit Generic OBD-II High

What it means

P0201 means the ECM has detected an electrical fault in the control circuit for the cylinder 1 fuel injector — typically an open, short, or connector problem, or a failed injector. With that cylinder not fuelling correctly the engine misfires, idles rough, and loses power. It's usually a wiring or injector issue, and worth fixing quickly to avoid catalytic-converter damage.

High

Can I keep driving? Drivable but rough — with the cylinder 1 injector circuit faulty that cylinder may not fire, so the engine misfires and loses power. Fix promptly to protect the catalyst.

Real-world scan data

Seen in

6,882

scans in the past year

Found in

1.1%

of scans

1.9%

of scans that found faults

Appears alongside · share of P0201 scans

P0202in 66.4% of scans

P0203in 66.0% of scans

P0204in 46.6% of scans

Figures reflect only diagnostic scans recorded through our own apps and tools. Cars are typically scanned because a symptom or warning light prompted it, so these counts describe our scan records — not the incidence of faults in any model, and not the quality, reliability, or safety of any vehicle. No comparison between manufacturers or models is implied. All trademarks belong to their respective owners; no affiliation or endorsement is implied.

Common symptoms

What you'll notice

Check-engine light on
Rough idle and misfire on cylinder 1
Hesitation and reduced power
Raw fuel smell if the injector stays open

Common causes

Most likely first

Open or shorted cylinder 1 injector control circuit wiringLikely
Corroded or loose connector at the injectorCommon
Failed cylinder 1 fuel injector or its coil windingCommon
Failed injector driver in the engine control module (rare)Less often

How to diagnose & fix

Work through it in order

Read freeze-frame data and confirm the fault is on the cylinder 1 injector circuit.
Inspect the injector connector and wiring for damage, corrosion, or an open.
Measure the injector's resistance against spec and check for the ECM's drive signal.
Replace the cylinder 1 injector if it's open or out of spec, or repair the circuit. Clear and re-test.

FAQ

Quick answers

Is it safe to drive with P0201?+

Only briefly. A dead or erratic cylinder 1 injector causes a misfire that dumps unburned fuel into the exhaust and can overheat the catalytic converter.

Can I just clear P0201?+

It'll come back — an electrical fault in the injector circuit is re-detected as soon as the ECM commands that injector.

Read & clear P0201 yourself

Scan your car, confirm the code, and clear it once it's fixed — with OBD DashX on your phone.

▶ Get it on Google Play

✓ Verified name — SAE J2012 / ISO 15031-6Guidance reviewed by OBD DashX