P0267

Cylinder 3 Injector Circuit Low

P0267 is a generic OBD-II powertrain diagnostic trouble code: Cylinder 3 Injector Circuit Low. It is logged by the engine control unit when the fuel/inj monitor detects that a specific fault threshold has been exceeded — typically resulting in the malfunction-indicator lamp (MIL / check-engine light) being illuminated.

Code
P0267
Group
Powertrain
System
Fuel/Inj
Severity
Warning (MIL on, possible limp mode)
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What P0267 means

P0267 is stored when the ECM detects that the voltage on the cylinder 3 fuel injector control circuit is lower than expected. Each fuel injector is controlled by a driver transistor inside the ECM that grounds the injector's control wire to open it; during the off-time the wire should float at or near the injector supply voltage (typically 12 V or a boosted rail on piezo systems). If the ECM measures that the circuit is being held near ground when it should be high — indicating an open circuit, a short to ground in the wiring, or a failed open injector coil — it sets P0267.

Electrically, a low-circuit fault means the injector either cannot open at all (complete open circuit) or is being commanded open continuously by an inadvertent ground path, both of which prevent normal metered fuel delivery to cylinder 3. The most common wiring faults are a broken conductor or corroded connector on the cylinder 3 injector harness; the most common component fault is an open-circuit solenoid winding inside the injector itself.

Symptoms are similar to a cylinder 3 misfire: rough idle, hesitation, power loss, and increased emissions. The fault should be addressed promptly to prevent unburnt fuel from reaching the exhaust aftertreatment system and to prevent rough running from causing mechanical stress on engine mounts and drivetrain components.

Common causes

Most-frequently reported root causes when P0267 is logged.

  • 1
    Open circuit in the wiring harness between the ECM and the cylinder 3 injector connector — a broken wire or corroded splice.
  • 2
    Short to ground on the cylinder 3 injector control wire, holding the line low regardless of ECM command.
  • 3
    Open-circuit injector solenoid on cylinder 3 — broken winding inside the injector body producing infinite resistance.
  • 4
    Corroded, backed-out, or spread terminals at the cylinder 3 injector electrical connector creating high-resistance or open contact.
  • 5
    Damaged injector connector body allowing moisture ingress that corrodes the contact pins and increases resistance to an open state.
  • 6
    Failed ECM injector driver for cylinder 3 — a blown driver transistor that can no longer switch the control line.
  • 7
    Chafed harness where the cylinder 3 injector wire contacts the engine block or exhaust components, causing an intermittent or permanent ground fault.

Symptoms drivers notice

MIL illuminated with P0267 stored; may flash if cylinder 3 produces an active misfire that crosses the catalyst-damage threshold.
Noticeable rough idle and engine vibration, with cylinder 3 contributing less or no power.
Stumble or hesitation on acceleration, especially from low speeds or at light throttle.
Reduced engine power output and slower response under load.
Increased fuel consumption and potentially abnormal fuel-trim corrections as the ECM compensates.
Possible raw fuel smell from the exhaust if the injector is stuck open and passing fuel that is not being combusted.

How to diagnose P0267

A typical diagnostic flow when this code is present.

  1. 1
    Connect a scan tool, retrieve all stored codes and freeze-frame data, and confirm P0267 is present; note any companion P0303 misfire or injector-related codes.
  2. 2
    Visually inspect the cylinder 3 injector harness from the connector back to the ECM for chafing, melted insulation, pinched sections near the engine block, or corroded connectors.
  3. 3
    Unplug the cylinder 3 injector connector and measure solenoid resistance across the injector terminals with an ohmmeter — an open reading (infinite resistance) confirms a failed injector winding; correct spec is typically 12–16 Ω (saturated) or 0.5–2 Ω (peak-and-hold).
  4. 4
    With the connector unplugged and ignition off, measure harness wire resistance from the ECM connector pin to the injector connector pin — any reading above ~1 Ω indicates a broken or corroded wire; also check for unwanted continuity to ground on the control wire.
  5. 5
    Reconnect the injector and use a lab-scope to observe the injector drive waveform while cranking — a correct low-impedance pulse will show a sharp voltage drop; a flat line at ground confirms the short-to-ground path.
  6. 6
    Swap the cylinder 3 injector with a known-good unit from another cylinder to isolate an internal injector fault from a harness or ECM fault.
  7. 7
    After repairs, clear DTCs, run a complete drive cycle, and rescan to confirm P0267 does not return.

Related powertrain codes

Frequently asked questions

What does 'circuit low' mean technically in P0267?

It means the ECM's driver circuit measures a lower-than-expected voltage on the cylinder 3 injector control line during the off-state of the injector. Normally the line floats near supply voltage when the driver transistor is open; a persistent low voltage indicates either an unintended ground path in the wiring or a dead short inside the injector solenoid itself.

Can P0267 cause the engine not to start?

On engines with three or more cylinders, P0267 alone will not normally prevent starting — the remaining cylinders continue to fire. However, it will cause a severe misfire on cylinder 3, very rough running at idle, and significant power loss under load. On a 3-cylinder engine losing one cylinder is proportionally more severe and may cause rough or marginal starting when cold.

How do I tell apart a short to ground from an open circuit for P0267?

Measure harness resistance with the injector disconnected. An open circuit shows very high or infinite resistance between the ECM driver pin and the injector connector pin. A short to ground shows near-zero resistance between the control wire and chassis ground. Both can set P0267, but the repair path differs: an open requires finding and repairing the broken conductor, while a short requires finding the point of contact to ground.

Is P0267 interchangeable with P0268 (circuit high) on cylinder 3?

No — they are opposites. P0267 (low) means the circuit is being pulled to ground when it should not be, indicating an open or shorted-to-ground condition. P0268 (high) means the circuit remains at elevated voltage when it should be grounded by the ECM driver, indicating a short to battery voltage or a failed ECM driver transistor. They require different diagnostic approaches.

Disabling P0267 in software

RaceTune can permanently disable P0267 — and any other OBD-II diagnostic trouble code — on every ECU family we support. The monitor is disabled inside the ECU itself, so the fault stops being logged: the warning light stays off and the engine never enters limp mode for this code. The change is tied to your exact software version.

Permanent
The monitor is disabled in the ECU itself — not just cleared. It cannot return.
Tailored to your file
Each patch is matched to your specific software version — never a one-size-fits-all file.
Reversible
The original file is always preserved. Reflash the stock to return the ECU to factory state.

Software modifications affect emissions compliance and are not road-legal in many jurisdictions. RaceTune service files are intended for motorsport, off-road, and export use.

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