P0204 on 2009-2014 Chevrolet Traverse: Cylinder 4 Injector Circuit Causes and Fixes

What's Unique About the 2009-2014 Chevrolet TRAVERSE

For the 2009-2014 Traverse and other GM vehicles with the 3.6L V6 engine (GMC Acadia, Buick Enclave), there is a well-documented issue with the fuel injector wiring harness. A General Motors Technical Service Bulletin (TSB PIP4924D) specifically calls out that the harness can rub against the intake plenum, valve cover bolts, fuel lines, or the side of the cylinder head under the plenum, causing wires to break or short out. This makes a thorough wiring inspection a critical first step, potentially before suspecting the injector itself.

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
• Engine misfire or running rough, especially at idle
• Hesitation or stumbling during acceleration
• Reduced engine power and poor fuel economy
• Engine may be hard to start
• Noticeable fuel smell from the exhaust

Most Likely Causes

1. Fuel injector wiring harness open or shorted 🔴 High Probability → Shop Engine Wiring Harness A GM Technical Service Bulletin (PIP4924D) identifies common chafing points where the harness can rub against the intake, valve covers, or fuel lines, causing damage. Forum users have found these chafed wires pinched near the transmission bell housing or against cylinder head bolts.
   How to confirm: Visually inspect the entire injector wiring harness for cylinder 4, paying close attention to the areas mentioned in the TSB. Perform a continuity test on the wires from the injector connector to the PCM connector. Wiggle the harness with the engine running to see if the misfire changes.
   Typical fix: Repair the damaged section of wire with a new section using solder and heat-shrink tubing, or replace the injector wiring harness if damage is extensive.
   Est. part cost: $5-$50
2. Faulty Fuel Injector #4 🟡 Medium Probability → Shop Fuel Injector Fuel injectors can fail internally (open or shorted coil) over time. This is a common failure part on any vehicle, especially with the mileage these vehicles now have.
   How to confirm: Swap the cylinder 4 injector with another cylinder (e.g., cylinder 2). If the code changes to P0202, the injector is faulty. You can also test the injector's internal resistance with a multimeter. For these GM direct injectors, the resistance should be between 1.5 and 2.5 ohms. A reading outside this range indicates a bad injector.
   Typical fix: Replace the faulty fuel injector. It is often recommended to replace the full set for balanced performance, especially on higher mileage vehicles.
   Est. part cost: $50-$160
3. Poor electrical connection at the injector ⚪ Low Probability Vibration and heat cycles can cause the connector terminals to loosen or corrode over time.
   How to confirm: Inspect the connector for cylinder 4's fuel injector. Check for corrosion, backed-out pins, or a loose fit. A user on a platform-mate forum (GMC Acadia) found that a corroded ground on the cylinder head caused multiple injector codes, including P0204. Wiggle the connector with the engine running to see if it affects the misfire.
   Typical fix: Clean the connector terminals with electrical contact cleaner or replace the connector pigtail if damaged. Ensure grounds are clean and tight.
   Est. part cost: $10-$40

Rare But Worth Checking

• Faulty Powertrain Control Module (PCM): → Shop Engine Control Module (ECM) This is the least likely cause. The internal driver circuit for the injector can fail. This should only be considered after all other possibilities (wiring, injector, connections) have been exhaustively ruled out.

Diagnosis Steps

1. Verify the presence of P0204 with an OBD-II scanner.
2. Check for other codes, particularly P0304, which is expected.
3. Locate Cylinder #4. On the 3.6L V6, the cylinders are numbered 1-3-5 on the front bank (radiator side) and 2-4-6 on the rear bank (firewall side). Cylinder 4 is the middle cylinder on the rear bank.
4. Carefully inspect the fuel injector wiring harness. Per TSB PIP4924D, check for rubbing against the intake plenum, valve cover bolts, fuel lines, and the side of the cylinder head.
5. Inspect the electrical connector at the injector for damage, corrosion, or loose pins. Perform a 'wiggle test' on the connector and harness with the engine running.
6. Disconnect the injector and use a noid light to test the circuit. The light should flash when the engine is cranked, indicating the PCM is sending a signal. If the light is off or stays on solid, a wiring or PCM issue is likely.
7. If the noid light flashes correctly, test the fuel injector's resistance with a multimeter. Disconnect the injector and measure across its two pins. The reading should be between 1.5 - 2.5 ohms. Readings of 0 or infinity indicate a failed injector.
8. If resistance is out of spec, the injector is bad. If it is in spec, consider swapping the injector from cylinder 4 to another cylinder (e.g., cylinder 2). Clear the codes and run the engine. If the code changes to P0202, the injector is confirmed to be the fault.
9. If the code remains P0204 after swapping the injector, the problem lies in the wiring harness or the PCM. Perform a continuity test on both wires between the injector connector and the PCM connector to check for opens or shorts to ground/power.
10. If all wiring and the injector are confirmed to be good, the PCM is the most likely remaining point of failure.

Parts You'll Likely Need

• Fuel Injector (OEM #12638530 (superseded by 12669384)) — This is the most commonly replaced component when the wiring is found to be intact.
  Trusted brands: ACDelco, Bosch, Standard Motor Products, GB Remanufacturing
  OEM price range: $120-$160
  Aftermarket price range: $50-$100
• Fuel Injector Seal Kit — The seals are single-use and must be replaced whenever an injector is removed and reinstalled to prevent high-pressure fuel leaks, which are a fire hazard.
  Trusted brands: ACDelco, Fel-Pro
  OEM price range: $15-$25
  Aftermarket price range: $10-$20
• Fuel Injector Connector Pigtail — If the connector itself is damaged, corroded, or the locking tab is broken, replacing the pigtail is the proper repair.
  Trusted brands: ACDelco PT113, Dorman 645-1001
  OEM price range: $25-$40
  Aftermarket price range: $15-$30

Related Codes That Often Appear With This One

• P0304 — P0304 means 'Cylinder 4 Misfire Detected'. Since P0204 indicates the injector circuit for cylinder 4 is malfunctioning, the cylinder cannot receive the proper amount of fuel to fire correctly, which will almost always trigger a P0304 code as well.
• P0300 — P0300 indicates a 'Random/Multiple Cylinder Misfire'. If the wiring harness issue is intermittent or affects a common ground/power feed for multiple injectors, it can cause misfires on other cylinders, leading to a P0300.

Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs) & Recalls

• PIP4924D: SES Light And Misfire With Injector Codes. Recommends inspecting the injector wiring harness for chafing against the intake, valve covers, and fuel lines. This TSB applies to a wide range of GM vehicles with the 3.6L V6 engine.

Platform-Specific Known Issues

• GM Technical Service Bulletin PIP4924D was issued for multiple vehicles including the 2009-2014 Traverse with the 3.6L engine. It addresses SES lights and misfires with injector codes (including P0204) and recommends a careful inspection of the fuel injector wiring harness for rubbing or open wires at specific points: against the intake plenum, at valve cover bolts, against the fuel line, and on the side of the head under the plenum.

Mechanic-Grade Diagnostic Values

• Injector Voltage Waveform (Inductive Kick) — expected: A sharp voltage spike to 60-70V immediately after the PCM commands the injector to close.. Failure: A missing or rounded-off voltage spike indicates a shorted injector coil. A flat line indicates an open in the circuit or injector.
• Injector Circuit Voltage (Key On, Engine Off) — expected: Approximately 12V (battery voltage) at the power feed wire for the injector.. Failure: Voltage below 11.5V suggests high resistance in the power supply circuit or a poor connection.

Scan Tool Commands That Help

• GDS2 (GM Dealer Tool): Fuel Injector Balance Test — This automated test disables one injector at a time and measures the corresponding drop in fuel rail pressure. It is used to identify injectors that are clogged, leaking, or not flowing correctly. All injectors should have a similar pressure drop.
• GDS2 (GM Dealer Tool): Injector Test (Output Control) — This function allows a technician to command a single injector to click multiple times with the engine off. Listening for an audible click helps confirm the PCM driver, wiring, and injector coil are all functioning electrically.

Wiring & Ground Locations

• G106 — On the rear of the Bank 2 (firewall side) cylinder head.. This is a primary engine ground for Bank 2 components. A loose or corroded G106 ground can cause multiple injector circuit codes for cylinders 2, 4, and 6 simultaneously, as it provides the ground path for various sensors and actuators on that bank.
• Injector #4 Control Wire — Runs from the injector connector to Pin 5 of the X1 connector at the Engine Control Module (ECM). The wire is typically Dark Blue with a White stripe.. This is the specific wire the PCM pulses to ground to fire the injector. When diagnosing a P0204, a continuity test should be performed on this wire between the injector and the ECM to check for breaks (open) or shorts to ground.

Real Owner Repair Stories

• gm-trucks.com forum user (2015 GM Truck with L83 engine (similar DFI system)) — Intermittent P0204 and P0300, engine would stumble, restarting would temporarily clear it.
  ❌ Tried (didn't work) Replaced fuel injector #4 twice., Shop suspected a faulty PCM.
  ✅ What actually fixed it Owner performed a self-inspection and found the injector wiring harness was pinched by the transmission bell housing at the rear of the engine. Two wires had rubbed through their insulation. Repairing the damaged wires resolved all codes.
• YouTube video (Auto Repair Guys) (Land Rover (demonstrating a P0204 fix)) — Check Engine Light with code P0204, audible engine misfire.
  ❌ Tried (didn't work) Initial diagnosis was a potentially bad injector.
  ✅ What actually fixed it Upon removing the intake manifold, the technician discovered the electrical connector for injector #4 had come loose and was not seated. The retaining clip was missing/broken. Properly reconnecting the injector and securing it cleared the code and fixed the misfire.

OEM Part Supersession History

• 12638530 → 12669384 — Updated part design for newer model years and engine revisions (LFX).
  Heads up: Part 12638530 was primarily for the LLT engine (2009-2011). The superseding part 12669384 is specified for the LFX engine (2012-2014), which had updates to the fuel system. While they may physically fit, using the wrong injector could lead to minor differences in fuel flow.

Model Year Variations Within This Range

• 2009-2011 (LLT Engine): These models use the 3.6L LLT V6. They are specified to use fuel injector part number 12638530. The intake manifold is aluminum.
• 2012-2014 (LFX Engine): These models use the updated 3.6L LFX V6. Key differences include a lighter composite intake manifold and integrated exhaust manifolds. The fuel system was also updated, specifying injector part number 12669384. The 2012 model year is a transition period and could have either engine, requiring verification.