P0269

Cylinder 3 Contribution/Balance

Fuel injection / cylinder balance Generic OBD-II High

What it means

P0269 means cylinder 3 isn't contributing its fair share of power compared with the other cylinders — the ECM measures it running weak. That usually points to a fuel-delivery problem at that cylinder (a clogged or failing injector) or low compression. The engine runs rough and down on power, but it's a single-cylinder issue rather than a whole-engine failure.

High

Can I keep driving? Drivable but rough — cylinder 3 isn't pulling its weight, so expect a shaky idle and lost power; fix it before it worsens.

Real-world scan data

Seen in

1,121

scans in the past year

Found in

0.2%

of scans

0.3%

of scans that found faults

Appears alongside · share of P0269 scans

P0263in 71.6% of scans

P0272in 71.0% of scans

P0266in 69.4% 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 engine vibration
Misfire-like stumble or hesitation
Reduced power and acceleration

Common causes

Most likely first

Clogged, weak, or failing fuel injector on cylinder 3Likely
Injector wiring or connector fault on cylinder 3Common
Low compression on cylinder 3 (valve or ring wear)Common
Restricted fuel supply reaching that cylinderLess often
Failed injector driver in the PCM (rare)Less often

How to diagnose & fix

Work through it in order

Scan and read freeze-frame data; run a cylinder contribution/balance test to confirm cylinder 3 is weak.
Inspect the injector wiring and connector on cylinder 3.
Test the injector's resistance and spray; clean or replace it if it's clogged or weak.
Run a compression test on cylinder 3 to rule out a mechanical cause.
If injector and compression are good, check fuel supply and the PCM driver. Clear and re-test.

FAQ

Quick answers

Is it safe to drive with P0269?+

Briefly, yes, but a weak cylinder makes the engine run rough and can lead to misfires. Have it repaired soon.

Can I just clear P0269?+

It returns within a few drive cycles until the injector, compression, or fuel-supply issue on cylinder 3 is fixed.

Read & clear P0269 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