P0202 on 2011-2014 Chevrolet Camaro: Injector Circuit Malfunction Causes and Fixes

What's Unique About the 2011-2014 Chevrolet CAMARO

For the fifth-generation Camaro (2010-2015), General Motors issued Technical Service Bulletin #PIP4924D, which includes the 2011-2014 model years and code P0202. This bulletin specifically advises technicians to inspect the fuel injector wiring harness for damage, such as rubbing against the intake manifold, valve covers, or fuel lines. This suggests that wiring issues are a known weak point on this platform and should be a primary area of inspection. A later GM Preliminary Information bulletin (PIE0802) from September 2024 was issued to investigate this code further, requesting technicians to photograph the cam shaft housing cover insulator and the harness to document contact points, indicating this is an ongoing area of concern for GM.

Diagnostic Flowchart

Tap your situation to follow the diagnostic path that matches what you're seeing on this vehicle.

Symptoms You May Notice

• Check Engine Light is on (may be flashing)
• Service Stabilitrak message on the driver information center
🎬 Watch: Diagnosing Stabilitrak and misfire codes on a Camaro
• Rough or shaking idle
• Engine misfire or stumbling
• Hesitation and poor acceleration
• Reduced fuel economy
• Fuel smell from the exhaust

Most Likely Causes

1. Faulty Cylinder 2 Fuel Injector 🔴 High Probability → Shop Fuel Injector Injectors are a common failure item over time due to heat cycles and internal coil failure. Owners report injectors failing around 55,000 to 95,000 miles.
   How to confirm: Swap the cylinder 2 injector with an adjacent one (e.g., cylinder 4). If the trouble code changes to P0204, the injector is faulty. You can also test the injector's internal resistance with a multimeter. For V8 (LS3/L99) port injectors, a good reading is between 11-14 Ohms. For V6 (LFX) direct injectors, the resistance is much lower, around 1.5-2.0 Ohms. An open (infinite resistance) or shorted (near zero) reading indicates failure.
   Typical fix: Replace the faulty fuel injector. It is often recommended to replace all injectors on that bank if they are high-mileage.
   Est. part cost: $50-$150
2. Damaged Injector Wiring or Connector 🔴 High Probability GM TSB #PIP4924D and PIE0802 specifically call out wiring harness chafing against engine components as a cause for injector codes on this platform. Engine vibration and heat can degrade the wiring loom and connectors over time, causing an open or short circuit.
   How to confirm: Visually inspect the wiring harness leading to the cylinder 2 injector. Look for any signs of rubbing, melting, or broken wires, especially where the harness passes over the intake manifold, valve covers, and near the cam shaft housing cover insulator. Use a 'noid' light to confirm if the electrical signal is reaching the connector. Check the connector for corrosion or scorching, as seen by one owner.
   Typical fix: Repair the damaged section of wire and secure the harness away from sharp edges or hot components using zip ties or conduit. If the connector is damaged, replace the connector pigtail.
   Est. part cost: $15-$40
3. Powertrain Control Module (PCM) Failure ⚪ Low Probability → Shop Engine Control Module (ECM) While rare, the internal driver circuit within the PCM that controls the injector can fail.
   How to confirm: This should be the last resort after thoroughly testing the injector and wiring. If a noid light does not flash at the injector connector and the wiring is confirmed to have continuity from the injector to the PCM, the injector driver in the PCM may have failed.
   Typical fix: Replace and reprogram the PCM.
   Est. part cost: $300-$800

Diagnosis Steps

1. Identify Cylinder 2: For V6 (3.6L LLT/LFX) engines, the cylinders are numbered 1-3-5 on the passenger side (Bank 1) and 2-4-6 on the driver's side (Bank 2), from front to back. Cylinder 2 is the front cylinder on the driver's side. For V8 (6.2L LS3/L99) engines, cylinders are 1-3-5-7 on the driver's side and 2-4-6-8 on the passenger side. Cylinder 2 is the front-most cylinder on the passenger side.
2. Check for Stored Codes: Use an OBD-II scanner to confirm P0202 is present and note any other codes like P0302.
3. Inspect Wiring: Carefully inspect the wiring harness and connector for cylinder 2's fuel injector. Look for chafing, melting, corrosion, or loose pins, paying close attention to the areas mentioned in TSB PIP4924D, especially where the harness routes over engine components.
4. Use a Noid Light: Disconnect the injector and plug a 'noid' light into the connector. Start the engine. A rhythmic flashing light indicates the PCM and wiring are sending the signal correctly. No flash or a steady light points to a wiring or PCM issue.
5. Test the Injector: If the noid light flashes correctly, the injector is the likely culprit. Turn off the engine. Unplug the injector and measure its resistance with a multimeter set to Ohms. For V8 models, compare the reading to the 11-14 Ohm specification. For V6 GDI models, compare to the ~1.5 Ohm specification. An out-of-spec reading indicates a bad injector.
6. Swap Injectors: As a final confirmation, swap the cylinder 2 injector with the cylinder 4 injector. Clear the codes and run the engine. If the code returns as P0204, you have definitively confirmed a bad injector.
🎬 Watch this LS3 fuel injector replacement walkthrough
7. Inspect Spark Plug: As a sanity check, remove and inspect the spark plug from cylinder 2. A heavily fouled, damaged, or worn plug could be contributing to the misfire symptoms, as documented by at least one owner.

Parts You'll Likely Need

• Cylinder 2 Fuel Injector (OEM #ACDelco 12634126 (for 3.6L LFX V6), ACDelco 217-2425 / 12598646 (for 6.2L LS3/L99 V8)) — This is the most common component to fail that causes a P0202 code, after ruling out wiring issues.
  Trusted brands: ACDelco, Bosch, Standard Motor Products
  OEM price range: $90-$150
  Aftermarket price range: $40-$100
• Fuel Injector Connector Pigtail (OEM #ACDelco PT1846 (or equivalent USCAR / EV6 style connector)) — The connector itself or the wiring right at the connector can become brittle and fail, necessitating a new pigtail to be spliced in. This is a common repair for the wiring issue noted in the TSB.
  Trusted brands: ACDelco, Dorman, EFI Connection
  OEM price range: $25-$40
  Aftermarket price range: $8-$30

Related Codes That Often Appear With This One

• P0302 — P0302 means 'Cylinder 2 Misfire Detected.' Since P0202 indicates a problem with fueling cylinder 2, a misfire is the direct result. A P0202 will almost always cause a P0302.
• P0200 — P0200 stands for 'Injector Circuit Malfunction.' This is a general code indicating a problem with the injector circuit as a whole, and may appear alongside a more specific code like P0202.

Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs) & Recalls

• PIP4924D: Service Engine Soon Malfunction Indicator Lamp on and a misfire. Technician may find Diagnostic Trouble Codes P0201, P0202, etc. and should inspect the fuel injector wiring harness for rub through or internal wire opens.
• PIE0802: A preliminary bulletin from GM Engineering requesting data on vehicles setting a P0202, specifically asking for photos of the wiring harness and its contact points with the Cam Shaft Housing Cover Insulator before repairs are performed.

Platform-Specific Known Issues

• GM Technical Service Bulletin #PIP4924D highlights a known issue with the fuel injector wiring harness chafing on various engine components, leading to open or short circuits. This makes a thorough visual inspection of the harness a critical first step.
• A 2024 GM Preliminary Information bulletin (PIE0802) shows continued investigation into this code, focusing on contact between the wiring harness and the Cam Shaft Housing Cover Insulator, reinforcing the high probability of a wiring-related fault.

Mechanic-Grade Diagnostic Values

• Fuel Pressure (V8 PFI - LS3/L99) — expected: 58-62 PSI (Key-On, Engine-Off or at idle). Failure: Pressure dropping below 50 PSI under load can indicate a weak fuel pump.
• Fuel Pressure (V6 GDI - LFX) — expected: Low Side: 55-60 PSI (Key-On, Engine-Off). High Side: Can exceed 2,000 PSI while running.. Failure: Low side pressure below spec indicates an in-tank pump issue; erratic high-side pressure can point to a failing high-pressure fuel pump (HPFP).
• Injector Pulse Width (PFI) — expected: 1-5 milliseconds (ms) at idle.. Failure: A value of 0 ms or an unusually high value on cylinder 2's data PID would indicate a control problem.
• Injector Circuit Voltage — expected: 12V (± 2V) on the power supply side of the connector.. Failure: Voltage outside this range points to a wiring or power supply fault.

Scan Tool Commands That Help

• GDS2 / High-End Scan Tool: Injector Balance Test — This bidirectional test commands the PCM to fire each injector individually while monitoring the fuel rail pressure drop. If cylinder 2 shows a significantly different pressure drop compared to other cylinders, it confirms a flow issue with that injector. This helps differentiate a clogged injector from an electrical fault.

Wiring & Ground Locations

• ECM Pin (V8 LS3/L99) — For a 2014 Camaro, the Cylinder 2 Injector Control wire is a Green/Black wire at Pin 37 of the ECM's X1 connector.. This is the specific pin at the engine's computer to test for a control signal. Probing here can definitively isolate a problem to the PCM itself or the wiring harness leading to the engine.
• ECM Pin (V6 LFX) — The Cylinder 2 Injector Control wire is typically a Light Blue wire at Pin 47 in the X2 (Black) connector at the ECM.. Knowing this pin is crucial for performing a continuity test on the control wire between the ECM and the injector connector, bypassing the entire engine harness to check for an internal break.
• Engine Block Grounds — There are multiple critical ground straps. One is on the passenger side, attaching to the front of the cylinder head near the ABS block. Another is on the passenger side block, underneath the exhaust manifold near the starter. Others are located at the rear of each cylinder head.. A corroded or loose engine ground can cause erratic electrical behavior and introduce resistance into various circuits, including the injector drivers. The ground near the starter is noted by some to be poorly tightened from the factory.

Real Owner Repair Stories

• Camaro5.com forum user (5th Gen Camaro with aftermarket twin turbo setup and new injectors) — Engine dumping fuel on cylinders 2, 3, and 8. Codes P0202, P0203, P0208 present.
  ❌ Tried (didn't work) Checking fuses.
  ✅ What actually fixed it The user discovered a wiring connector had fallen and melted on the hot side of the turbo. Replacing the melted connector resolved the short circuit and the codes.
• YouTube - Eddie's Customs & Restorations (5th Gen Camaro SS) — Service Stabilitrak light, codes P0174 (Bank 2 Lean), P0202, and P0302.
  ❌ Tried (didn't work) The owner initially suspected the fuel injector based on the P0202 code. Listening to the injector with a screwdriver confirmed it was clicking (activating).
  ✅ What actually fixed it The actual cause was a dead spark plug on cylinder 2. Replacing the single spark plug for $9 cleared all codes and resolved the misfire and lean condition.

OEM Part Supersession History

• 12598646 → ACDelco 217-3350 (This is an ACDelco part number for the same GM 12598646 injector) — Standard part number update and packaging change.
  Heads up: This part is for the V8 (LS3/L99) PFI engines. It is not compatible with V6 (LFX) GDI engines, which use a different style of high-pressure injector.

Model Year Variations Within This Range

• 2012-2014: V6 models from 2012 onward use the LFX engine with Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI). This system uses a high-pressure fuel pump and different injectors (e.g., ACDelco 12634126) with a very low resistance (~1.5-2.0 Ohms) compared to the PFI injectors on the 2011 V6 (LLT) and all V8s. Diagnostic values and parts are not interchangeable.