P0292

Cylinder 11 Injector Circuit High

P0292 is a generic OBD-II powertrain diagnostic trouble code: Cylinder 11 Injector Circuit High. 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
P0292
Group
Powertrain
System
Fuel/Inj
Severity
Warning (MIL on, possible limp mode)
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What P0292 means

P0292 is set when the ECM detects a voltage or current level at the cylinder 11 injector circuit that exceeds the manufacturer's maximum calibrated threshold — the electrical mirror image of P0291. Instead of an open circuit dragging the signal low, P0292 typically results from a short to voltage within the harness, an internal solenoid fault that reduces the injector's resistance below normal (causing excessive current draw), or a failed ECM driver transistor that outputs an abnormally high voltage. This code is exclusive to engines with 11 or more cylinders: BMW N73/N74, Mercedes-Benz M120/M275/M279, Ferrari/Lamborghini V12 platforms, and the VW/Audi/Bentley W12.

A high injector circuit condition can paradoxically result in over-fuelling or erratic injection timing if the injector stays partially open, or it may cause the ECM to shut off the injector driver to protect itself, producing a dead cylinder. In either scenario the engine will run rough and may generate concurrent misfire codes. Wiring harness chafing against metal edges — a known failure point in densely packed V12 engine bays — can create intermittent shorts to the 12V supply rail that only appear when the harness flexes under vibration.

Diagnosis should include a careful visual sweep of the full harness run from ECM to injector before electrical measurements are taken. ECM driver faults are relatively rare but should be tested last after all passive components are verified, as ECM replacement on V12 platforms is costly.

Common causes

Most-frequently reported root causes when P0292 is logged.

  • 1
    Short circuit to voltage (B+) in the cylinder 11 injector signal or power wire causing over-voltage.
  • 2
    Internally shorted injector solenoid coil with abnormally low resistance drawing excessive current.
  • 3
    Chafed or damaged wiring harness contacting a 12V supply line, especially in confined V12 engine bays.
  • 4
    Failed ECM injector driver transistor outputting excessive voltage to the cylinder 11 circuit.
  • 5
    Corroded or flooded injector connector creating an unintended voltage path.
  • 6
    Degraded voltage regulator supplying elevated rail voltage to the entire injector bank.
  • 7
    Incorrect injector type installed (low-impedance injector in a high-impedance circuit) after prior service.

Symptoms drivers notice

Check Engine Light illuminated, often with companion cylinder 11 misfire codes.
Rough idle and vibration as cylinder 11 fires erratically or is shut down by the ECM.
Reduced engine power and hesitation during acceleration.
Possible over-fuelling odour from the exhaust if the injector is held partially open.
Engine stalling under load if the ECM disables the injector driver to protect internal circuits.
Symptoms typically worsen when the engine is at operating temperature due to thermal expansion of wiring faults.

How to diagnose P0292

A typical diagnostic flow when this code is present.

  1. 1
    Scan for all codes and capture freeze-frame data; note whether P0291 (low) also appears simultaneously as this suggests an intermittent short.
  2. 2
    Perform a visual inspection of the cylinder 11 injector harness from the ECM to the injector, looking for chafing, melted insulation, or connector damage.
  3. 3
    Measure injector coil resistance with the connector unplugged; a reading significantly below OEM spec indicates an internally shorted coil requiring injector replacement.
  4. 4
    With ignition on and injector connector unplugged, measure voltage on the signal wire at the harness side; a value above battery voltage or near B+ indicates a short to voltage in the harness.
  5. 5
    Inspect the injector connector for moisture or corrosion that could create a bridge to an adjacent high-voltage pin.
  6. 6
    If wiring and injector resistance are within spec, use a scan tool to command injector activation while monitoring live voltage data to detect an ECM driver fault.
  7. 7
    Repair or replace the defective component — harness, injector, or ECM — then clear codes and confirm the fix with a road test.

Related powertrain codes

Frequently asked questions

Why does P0292 (High) appear on a V12 more than smaller engines?

V12 engine bays are densely packed and the long wiring runs from the ECM to rear-bank injectors are more susceptible to chafing against valve covers, intake manifolds, and heat shields. The high cost of service also means harnesses are sometimes not replaced proactively, allowing degraded insulation to eventually short to the B+ rail.

Can P0292 cause the injector to over-fuel the cylinder?

Yes. If a short to voltage holds the injector driver signal high, the solenoid can remain partially or fully open, injecting excess fuel. This risks hydraulic lock (fuel flooding the cylinder) in extreme cases, and always results in rich combustion, increased emissions, and potential catalyst damage.

What is the correct injector coil resistance for a V12?

Most port-injection V12 solenoid injectors are high-impedance types with a target resistance of 12–16 Ω. Direct-injection piezoelectric injectors (found in some modern V12s) behave as capacitors and must be tested with a dedicated piezo tester rather than a standard multimeter.

Should I replace the ECM if all wiring and the injector test normal?

Only after methodically ruling out every passive component. Confirm with a scan tool that can command the injector and measure driver output voltage. If the output voltage is measurably high with a known-good injector installed, an ECM driver fault is confirmed. On V12 platforms the ECM must typically be VIN-coded after replacement.

Disabling P0292 in software

RaceTune can permanently disable P0292 — 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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