P0267
Cylinder 3 Injector Circuit Low
When a vehicle powertrain module registers the fault code P0267, it points directly to an internal system malfunction identified as "Cylinder 3 Injector Circuit Low". Operating your engine under this condition may degrade long-term fuel maps.
Driver's Summary
The diagnostic trouble code P0267 indicates an active fault in the cylinder 3 injector circuit low circuit or component. On the road, this usually shows up as engine vibration, check engine light, misfire code present. Stop driving as soon as it is safe to do so. This fault can lead to expensive secondary damage if left unaddressed.
Symptoms
Engine vibration, check engine light, misfire code present
Common Causes
- Bad Cylinder 3 injector
- Short to ground in wiring
- Loose electrical connector
- PCM driver failure
How to Fix
- 1 Check injector resistance and replace
- 2 Repair ground short in harness
- 3 Push connector until it clicks
- 4 Reflash or replace PCM
Technical Explanation
The PCM triggers P0267 after its internal monitoring routine detects that a specific circuit or sensor has exceeded its acceptable operating range. The PCM monitors crankshaft rotational velocity via the CKP sensor at a resolution of individual tooth gaps on the reluctor ring. A combustion event in each cylinder produces a measurable acceleration spike; its absence or weakness is flagged as a misfire event within a 200-revolution or 1000-revolution test window. Once confirmed, the code is stored as a permanent DTC and the MIL is activated. The freeze frame snapshot — recording RPM, load, coolant temperature, and fuel trim at fault detection — is also saved and is critical for accurate diagnosis.
Is It Safe to Drive?
An active P0267 code under high-severity conditions means the affected system is operating outside safe parameters. Continued driving — especially under load or at highway speeds — significantly increases the risk of secondary damage to components like short to ground in wiring.
Mechanic's Pro Tip
Module replacement should always be the last resort for P0267 after exhaustively verifying all power supply circuits, ground connections, and communication bus wiring. Use a wiring diagram to locate all fuses, relays, and ground points for the affected module, and measure voltage drop on each ground with the circuit loaded. A module "failure" is frequently a corroded ground eyelet or a weak battery causing brownout conditions — fix these first and you'll save hundreds of dollars on an unnecessary module replacement.
Injector: $150 - $400