P0264 on 2009-2010 Saturn VUE: Cylinder 2 Injector Circuit Low Causes and Fixes

What's Unique About the 2009-2010 Saturn VUE

The 2009-2010 Saturn VUE, especially models with the 3.6L V6 engine, shares a platform and powertrain with many other GM vehicles known for a specific wiring vulnerability. The engine wiring harness has a tendency to rub against engine components, causing wires to chafe and short out. This issue is so common that GM issued Technical Service Bulletin (PIP4924D) that directly lists P0264 and points technicians toward inspecting the harness as a primary diagnostic step. Specific documented chafe points include against the intake plenum, at valve cover bolts, against a fuel line, and on the side of the cylinder head under the plenum. This makes a wiring fault a higher-than-usual probability compared to 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
• Rough or shaking idle
• Engine misfire (may feel like a stumble or hesitation)
• Reduced engine power and poor acceleration
• Decreased fuel economy
• Possible hard starting

Most Likely Causes

1. Chafed or Shorted Fuel Injector Wiring Harness 🔴 High Probability → Shop Engine Wiring Harness As documented in TSB #PIP4924D, the wiring harness on these GM platforms is known to rub against engine components, causing a short to ground. This is the most common cause for this code on this vehicle.
   How to confirm: Visually inspect the entire length of the fuel injector wiring harness. Per TSBs and owner reports, pay extremely close attention to where the harness rubs against the intake plenum, valve cover bolts, the fuel line, and the side of the cylinder head, particularly under the plenum. On platform-mates, a common chafe point is a metal bracket at the upper rear of the engine. Use a multimeter to check for a short to ground on the control wire for the #2 injector (Light Green/Black wire at ECM connector X1, pin 48).
   Typical fix: Repair the damaged section of wire using a solder and heat-shrink butt connector. Protect the repaired area and the rest of the harness from future damage using a new wire loom (convoluted tubing) and re-routing or securing it away from sharp edges and contact points.
   Est. part cost: $5-$25
2. Faulty Cylinder 2 Fuel Injector 🟡 Medium Probability → Shop Fuel Injector
   How to confirm: Check the injector's internal resistance with a multimeter. A typical reading should be 1.5-2.5 Ohms (3.6L V6), 11-18 Ohms (3.5L V6), or 11-14 Ohms (2.4L I4). The most definitive test is to swap the cylinder 2 injector with one from another cylinder (e.g., cylinder 4). Clear the codes and drive. If the code changes to P0268 (Cylinder 4 Injector Circuit Low), the injector is bad.
   Typical fix: Replace the faulty fuel injector. If the vehicle has a V6 engine, this requires removing the upper intake manifold, so it's highly recommended to replace all intake gaskets and injector O-rings at the same time. 🎬 Watch: Full walkthrough of intake removal and injector replacement.
   Est. part cost: $60-$150
3. Damaged or Corroded Injector Connector ⚪ Low Probability
   How to confirm: Visually inspect the electrical connector at the #2 fuel injector. Look for bent or corroded pins, a broken locking tab, or damaged wires right at the connector. Wiggle the connector with the engine running to see if it causes the misfire to change.
   Typical fix: Replace the connector pigtail, which involves cutting the old connector off and splicing the new one in. Ensure connections are water-tight.
   Est. part cost: $15-$30

Rare But Worth Checking

• Faulty Powertrain Control Module (PCM): → Shop Engine Control Module (ECM) This is the least likely cause. The PCM's internal driver circuit for the injector can fail, but this should only be considered after all wiring and the injector itself have been proven to be good.

Diagnosis Steps

1. Confirm the P0264 code is present using an OBD-II scanner. Note any other codes, such as P0302 or other injector circuit faults.
2. CRITICAL STEP: Perform a thorough visual and physical inspection of the engine wiring harness. Focus on the specific chafe points mentioned in TSB PIP4924D: against the intake plenum, valve cover bolts, fuel lines, and the side of the cylinder head. Feel along the underside of the harness for any rough spots or exposed wires.
3. Locate the fuel injector for cylinder #2 (front bank, passenger side on V6 models). Disconnect its electrical connector and inspect for corrosion or damage.
4. Use a 'noid light' to test the signal from the ECM. Plug it into the injector connector; it should flash steadily while the engine is cranking or running. If it's off or stays on solid, the problem is in the wiring or the ECM.
5. If the noid light test fails, check for a short to ground. With the key off and injector unplugged, use a multimeter to check for continuity between the injector control wire (Light Green/Black) and a good chassis ground. The reading should be open (infinite resistance). If you have continuity, the wire is shorted.
🎬 Watch: How to test the injector circuit with a meter.
6. If wiring seems okay, test the injector itself. Use a multimeter to check the resistance across the two pins of the fuel injector. Compare the reading to the specification for your engine (1.5-2.5Ω for 3.6L, 11-18Ω for 3.5L, 11-14Ω for 2.4L). A reading that is significantly lower or shorted (near 0 ohms) indicates a faulty injector.
7. For 100% confirmation, swap the cylinder 2 injector with another one (e.g., cylinder 4). Clear the codes and drive the vehicle. If the code changes to P0268 (Cylinder 4 Injector Circuit Low), the injector is confirmed bad.
8. If the injector, wiring, and connectors are all good, the final possibility is a faulty PCM injector driver, though this is rare.

Parts You'll Likely Need

• Fuel Injector (3.6L V6) (OEM #ACDelco 217-3158 or 12669384) — If the injector itself has an internal short, it will cause this code. This is the second most common cause after wiring issues for this platform.
  Trusted brands: ACDelco, Bosch, Delphi
  OEM price range: $80-$120
  Aftermarket price range: $40-$80
• Fuel Injector Connector Pigtail — The connector itself can fail from heat and vibration, causing a poor connection and triggering a low circuit code.
  Trusted brands: Dorman, ACDelco
  OEM price range: $25-$40
  Aftermarket price range: $15-$30
• Wire Loom/Conduit and Electrical Tape — Essential for protecting the harness after a wire repair to prevent the issue from recurring.
  Trusted brands: 3M, Dorman
  OEM price range: $10-$20
  Aftermarket price range: $5-$15

Related Codes That Often Appear With This One

• P0302 — This code means 'Cylinder 2 Misfire Detected'. It is a direct symptom of the fuel injector not firing correctly due to the P0264 circuit fault.
• P0261, P0267, P0270, etc. — If you see circuit low codes for multiple injectors, it strongly suggests the common wiring harness is chafing in a spot that has damaged several wires at once.
• P0641 — This code for 'Sensor Reference Voltage 'A' Circuit/Open' is sometimes seen with injector codes when a wiring harness chafing issue damages multiple, unrelated circuits within the same bundle.

Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs) & Recalls

• PIP4924D - Mentions that various injector codes, including P0264, can be caused by a wiring harness issue and directs technicians to inspect it. Lists specific chafe points.
• PIT5424 - A related TSB for platform-mates that also points to harness chafing near the ECM as a cause for multiple injector circuit codes.

Platform-Specific Known Issues

• A known issue documented in GM Technical Service Bulletin #PIP4924D involves the fuel injector wiring harness chafing against various engine components. This can cause a short to ground and trigger P0264 along with other injector codes. A thorough inspection of the harness is the most critical diagnostic step for this specific vehicle. Specific locations to check are 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

• Fuel Injector Resistance (3.6L V6 LLT Direct Injection) — expected: 1.5 - 2.5 Ohms. Failure: A reading near 0 Ohms (short) or significantly higher/open (OL) indicates a failed injector.
• Fuel Injector Resistance (3.5L V6 LZ4 Port Injection) — expected: 11 - 18 Ohms. Failure: A reading outside this range, or one that differs significantly from other injectors, indicates a failure.
• Fuel Injector Resistance (2.4L I4 Ecotec) — expected: 11 - 14 Ohms. Failure: A reading outside this range indicates a failed injector.
• Low-Side Fuel Pressure (Key On, Engine Off) — expected: 345-414 kPa (50-60 psi). Failure: Significantly low pressure indicates a fuel delivery problem (pump, filter), not an injector electrical fault.

Scan Tool Commands That Help

• GM Tech 2 / GDS2: Fuel Injector Balance Test — To functionally test and compare injectors after electrical checks are complete. The tool pulses each injector and measures the fuel pressure drop. An injector with a significantly different pressure drop from the others is likely clogged or faulty. The pressure drop should be within 20 kPa (3 psi) of the average.
• GM Tech 2 / GDS2: Cylinder Power Balance — To quickly confirm which cylinder is not contributing power. The tool disables one injector at a time while monitoring RPM. If disabling cylinder #2 causes no change in RPM or engine shake, it confirms that cylinder was not firing.

Wiring & Ground Locations

• Cyl 2 Injector Control Wire — Runs from the Cylinder 2 fuel injector connector to the Engine Control Module (ECM).. This is the specific wire the ECM pulses to ground to fire the injector. For the 3.6L V6, this is a Light Green/Black wire at Pin 48 of the X1 ECM connector. Testing this wire for shorts to ground or opens is a primary diagnostic step for P0264.
• G103 / G104 — G103 is on the front of the passenger side (Bank 1) cylinder head. G104 is on the rear of the driver's side (Bank 2) cylinder head.. These are the main grounds for each cylinder head. A poor or intermittent ground can cause a range of unpredictable electrical issues for that bank's components, including the injectors.
• G105 / G106 / G107 — Major engine block grounds. G105 is at the left rear of the engine, G106 is at the left front top corner, and G107 is at the rear of the engine.. A loose or corroded connection at any of these primary engine grounds can cause unstable electrical performance for the entire engine management system, potentially leading to circuit low codes.

Real Owner Repair Stories

• Multiple reports on GM platform-mates (Acadia, CTS, Camaro) (GM Vehicles with 3.6L LLT V6 engine) — Check Engine Light with P0264 and other injector circuit codes (P0261, P0267, etc.), accompanied by a rough idle and engine misfire.
  ❌ Tried (didn't work) Replacing the fuel injector for the specific cylinder code., Replacing the spark plug and ignition coil for the misfiring cylinder.
  ✅ What actually fixed it The issue was a chafed wiring harness as described in TSB PIP4924D. The harness was found rubbing against a bracket, the intake manifold, or a valve cover bolt, causing one or more injector control wires to short to ground. The fix was to locate the chafed spot, repair the damaged wire(s) with solder and heat shrink, and protect the harness with new convoluted tubing or re-routing it slightly.

OEM Part Supersession History

• 12611545, 12632255, 12638530 → 12669384 — Standard part revision and consolidation by the manufacturer.
  Heads up: These part numbers apply to the 3.6L LLT direct-injection V6 engine. When ordering, using the latest part number (12669384) is recommended.

Model Year Variations Within This Range

• 2009-2010: It is critical to distinguish the 2009-2010 V6 (3.6L LLT direct-injection) from the V6 available in the 2008 VUE (3.6L LY7 port-injection). They use different fuel injectors with vastly different resistance specifications (1.5-2.5Ω for LLT vs. higher for LY7). Using diagnostic values from the wrong engine will lead to misdiagnosis.