P0212 — Injector Circuit/Open - Cylinder 12
High severityWhat it means
P0212 is stored when the engine control unit sees a fault involving the fuel injector circuit for cylinder 12. The injector sprays a metered amount of fuel into cylinder 12; a circuit fault means that cylinder is not fuelled correctly, which usually shows up as a misfire on that cylinder. The “open” status means the control circuit is electrically broken — usually a cut wire, an unplugged connector or a failed driver.
Common symptoms
- The component does not respond to commands
- Rough idle and engine shake
- Hesitation or power loss
- A misfire on cylinder 12
- Fuel smell or higher consumption
Likely causes
- Open or broken wire in the control circuit
- Unplugged or corroded connector
- A failed or clogged injector on cylinder 12
- A driver-circuit, wiring or connector fault
What to check first
- Check circuit continuity and connector pins with the key off
- Check the injector connector, wiring and resistance
- Swap the cylinder 12 injector with a neighbour and see if the fault follows
Can you keep driving?
An unfuelled cylinder misfires and can overheat the catalytic converter; limit driving until it is repaired.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most common cause of P0212?
The most likely cause is: Open or broken wire in the control circuit. Several other faults can set P0212 as well, so confirm the real cause with live data and the checks above before replacing any parts.
Can I just clear P0212 and keep driving?
Clearing P0212 with an OBD2 scanner turns the warning light off, but if the underlying fault has not been repaired the code will usually come back within a few drive cycles. Fix the cause first, then clear the code to confirm the repair worked.
How serious is P0212?
P0212 is a high-severity code. Diagnose and repair it as soon as possible, because continuing to drive can cause further damage or leave you stranded.
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