OBD-II Code P0267 — What It Means & How to Fix It

What Does This Error Mean?

P0267 means the electrical signal to the Cylinder 3 fuel injector is too low. The engine computer tried to fire Cylinder 3's injector but saw a low-voltage response. This typically means a broken wire, bad connector, or failed injector coil on that cylinder. Cylinder 3 may not be firing properly — causing rough idle, engine vibration, and reduced power. Ignoring this can lead to catalytic converter damage from unburned fuel.

Affected Models

All vehicles 1996+
Common in 6-cylinder and 8-cylinder engines
Common in Ford, GM, Toyota, Honda V6 and V8 models
Common in vehicles with aging injector wiring
Seen frequently after valve cover gasket replacement (injectors disturbed)

Common Causes

Open or broken wire in the cylinder 3 injector control circuit
Corroded or loose connector at the cylinder 3 injector
Cylinder 3 injector internal coil failure — open circuit
Weak engine ground causing low return voltage on the injector circuit
ECM driver failure for the cylinder 3 injector output

How to Fix It

Check for additional codes. P0267 paired with P0303 (Cylinder 3 misfire) means the injector circuit fault is actively causing the cylinder to fail. A misfire alongside an injector circuit code means act fast.

A flashing check engine light means severe misfires in progress — don't drive until it's fixed.
Inspect the Cylinder 3 injector wiring and connector. Look for heat damage from the nearby exhaust manifold, chafed wires, or corroded connector pins. Cylinder 3 wiring is often more exposed to engine heat than other cylinders.

Replace damaged connectors entirely — cleaning a severely corroded connector only temporarily delays the problem.
Measure the Cylinder 3 injector resistance using a multimeter. Disconnect the injector from the harness and test across both terminals. Normal range is 12–17 ohms. A reading outside that range — or no reading at all — means a bad injector.

An open circuit (infinite resistance) on the injector means the coil has failed and the injector must be replaced.
Inspect all engine ground connections. A corroded or loose ground strap between the engine block and chassis reduces voltage returns across all injectors. Clean and tighten any suspect ground connections.

Engine grounds are easy to overlook — they cause mysterious electrical faults that seem unrelated.
Perform the injector swap test. Move the Cylinder 3 injector to another cylinder and clear the codes. If the fault code number changes to match the new cylinder location, the injector is bad. If it stays on Cylinder 3, wiring or ECM is the problem.

The swap test is the most reliable diagnostic step and costs nothing if you do it yourself.

When to Call a Professional

If swapping the injector confirms it's the component causing the fault, replace it. If wiring is confirmed clean and the injector tests good, the ECM may be the problem. ECM diagnosis requires professional-grade oscilloscope equipment. Don't replace the ECM without a confirmed diagnosis — ECMs run $300–$1,500.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long can I drive with P0267?

Not long if the cylinder is misfiring. Unburned fuel reaching the catalytic converter heats it to damaging temperatures within days of repeated misfires. If you only have P0267 without a misfire code, you have a little more time. But if P0303 also appears or the check engine light is flashing, stop driving immediately.

Why would Cylinder 3 specifically be affected?

Cylinder 3 is in a different physical position in the engine than cylinders 1 and 2. On some engines, the Cylinder 3 wiring runs closer to the exhaust manifold, making it more prone to heat damage. It can also be more accessible — and therefore disturbed more often — during other engine repairs. Mechanical faults like wear can also affect any cylinder randomly.

How much does it cost to fix P0267?

Connector repair: $50–$150. Wiring repair: $100–$350. Fuel injector (single): $150–$400 installed. Ground strap repair: $50–$150. ECM repair (rare): $300–$1,500.