P0204 Cylinder 4 Injector Circuit Malfunction
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OBD-II Trouble Code - P0204 - Data Sheet
Malfunction of a chain of a nozzle of cylinder 4
- The Engine Control Module (ECM) checks all systems at startup and many times per second while the vehicle is in motion. P0204 tells technicians that a malfunction has been detected in the cylinder 4 injector circuit.
- This code is similar to P0200-P0203 and P0205-P02012.
- Lean and Rich codes and misfire codes can also be found using P0204.
What does trouble code P0204 mean?
This Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) is a generic transmission code, which means it applies to OBD-II equipped vehicles. Although general, specific repair steps may differ depending on the brand / model.
P0204 means the PCM has detected a malfunction in the injector or the wiring to the injector. It monitors the injector, and when the injector is activated, the PCM expects to see a low or near-zero voltage.
When the injector is off, the PCM expects to see a voltage close to battery voltage or "high". If it does not see the expected voltage, the PCM will set this code. The PCM also monitors the resistance in the circuit. If the resistance is too low or too high, it will set this code.
Possible symptoms
Symptoms of this code are likely to be misfiring and rough engine performance. Bad overclocking. The MIL indicator will also light up.
- Poor fuel economy
- Rich lean state
- Engine not running
- Engine power failure
- Defective engine
- Engine stalls and won't start
When these symptoms are detected, the Check Engine light comes on and the ECM puts the vehicle into emergency mode to protect the vehicle from damage. Once the failsafe mode is set, it will remain until the code is cleared, the fault is corrected, or the normal range is reached.
Caution is advised if some of these symptoms are present.
Causes of the P0204 code
The reasons for the engine light code P0204 can be as follows:
- Bad injector. This is usually the cause of this code, but does not rule out the possibility of one of the other causes.
- Open in the wiring to the injector
- Short circuit in the wiring to the injector
- Bad PCM
- ESM defective
- Open or shorted wiring
- Malfunction of a nozzle of 4 cylinder
Possible solutions
- First, use the DVOM to check the resistance of the injector. If it is out of specification, replace the injector.
- Check the voltage at the fuel injector connector. It should have 10 volts or more on it.
- Visually inspect the connector for damage or broken wires.
- Visually check the injector for damage.
- If you have access to an injector tester, activate the injector and see if it works. If the injector works, you probably have either an open circuit in the wiring or a blocked injector. If you don't have access to the tester, replace the injector with a different one and see if the code changes. If the code changes, then change the nozzle.
- On the PCM, disconnect the driver wire from the PCM connector and ground the wire. (Make sure you have the correct wire. If you are unsure, do not try) Injector should activate
- Replace injector
COMMON ERRORS WHEN DIAGNOSING CODE P0204
As a general rule, a competent mechanic will not make a mistake in diagnosing P0204 if he follows all the steps and does not miss anything. The 4-cylinder injector is the most common cause of a P0204 code, especially on high mileage vehicles, but that doesn't mean it shouldn't be checked.
HOW SERIOUS CODE P0204 IS?
On a scale of 1 to 5, P0204 is a 3 on the severity scale. P0204 can cause mild symptoms such as low gas mileage and a Check Engine light, but it can also cause serious problems that cause the engine to run poorly, have difficulty continuing to run, or die without being able to restart it.
WHAT REPAIRS CAN FIX CODE P0204?
- Fuel injector replacement 3 cylinders
- Repair or replace wiring harness
- Troubleshooting connection issues
- Replacing the engine control unit
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS TO BE AWARE OF CODE P0204
On high mileage vehicles over 100 miles, dirt and contaminants found in gasoline often cause fuel component failure. Nozzles can become clogged with particles and fail. In some cases, a fuel system cleaner such as Seafoam can be used to clean paint and debris from the fuel system. This may be a cheaper alternative to try before replacing the fuel injector.
Special tools may be required to diagnose P0204 effectively and correctly. One such tool is the noid light kit. They are installed between the fuel injectors and the wiring harness to test the fuel injector voltage pulse width. The voltage can be checked at the fuel injector and it can pass normally, so the noid indicator is set only to determine that the pulse width is not correct for the fuel injector.
Scanning tools that allow technicians to view real-time data and changes over time are essential to diagnosing codes like P0204 on modern vehicles. They will display real-time information that can be graphed to identify complex issues.
Need more help with your p0204 code?
If you still need help with DTC P0204, post a question in the comments below this article.
NOTE. This information is provided for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be used as a repair recommendation and we are not responsible for any action you take on any vehicle. All information on this site is protected by copyright.
