P2152 on 2009-2014 Chevrolet Traverse: Fuel Injector Circuit Fault Causes & Fixes

What's Unique About the 2009-2014 Chevrolet TRAVERSE

The first-generation Chevrolet Traverse, along with its GM Lambda platform siblings (GMC Acadia, Buick Enclave, Saturn Outlook), is known for a specific wiring harness vulnerability. The engine's movement during normal operation can cause the fuel injector wiring harness to rub against engine components or mounting brackets. This chafing eventually wears through the wire insulation, causing shorts or open circuits that trigger codes like P2152. This is so common that GM issued Technical Service Bulletin PIP4924D 🎬 Watch: How to visually locate a short in your wiring harness., which directs technicians to inspect for chafing against the intake plenum, valve cover bolts, fuel lines, and the side of the cylinder head.

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 runs rough or has a noticeable misfire
• Reduced engine power and poor acceleration
• Engine may stall, especially at idle
• Vehicle may not start

Most Likely Causes

1. Chafed or Damaged Fuel Injector Wiring Harness 🔴 High Probability → Shop Engine Wiring Harness As documented in TSB #PIP4924D, the harness routing on the 3.6L V6 engine makes it susceptible to rubbing. Common chafing points include against the intake plenum, valve cover bolts, fuel lines, and the side of the cylinder head under the plenum.
   How to confirm: Visually inspect the entire fuel injector wiring harness, paying close attention to the specific contact points mentioned in the TSB. Perform a 'wiggle test' on the harness with the engine running to see if it induces a misfire or causes the engine to stumble.
   Typical fix: Repair the damaged section of the wire using a pigtail connector or by soldering and heat-shrinking. Reroute the harness slightly or add protective conduit (split loom tubing) to prevent future chafing. In severe cases, the entire bank's injector harness may need to be replaced.
   Est. part cost: $10-$120
2. Faulty Fuel Injector 🟡 Medium Probability → Shop Fuel Injector
   How to confirm: After confirming the wiring is intact, test the resistance of the injectors in the affected group (cylinders 2 and 5) using a multimeter. Compare the readings to the manufacturer's specifications. A healthy injector should read around 1.5 ohms. A reading that is significantly different (open or shorted) indicates a failed injector.
   Typical fix: Replace the faulty fuel injector. It is often recommended to replace them as a set if they are high mileage.
   Est. part cost: $70-$150 per injector
3. Loose or Corroded Electrical Connector ⚪ Low Probability
   How to confirm: Disconnect and inspect the main engine harness connectors (X160 or X161 at the rear of the intake manifold) and the connector at the ECM. Look for any signs of corrosion, moisture, or bent/backed-out pins.
   Typical fix: Clean the connector terminals with electrical contact cleaner and ensure a secure connection. Replace the connector if it is damaged.
   Est. part cost: $5-$30

Rare But Worth Checking

• Faulty Engine Control Module (ECM): → Shop Engine Control Module (ECM) This is the least likely cause. The ECM should only be suspected after all wiring and component tests have been exhaustively performed and ruled out. An ECM failure for an injector driver circuit is rare but possible.

Diagnosis Steps

1. Scan the ECM for all stored trouble codes. Note P2152 and any accompanying misfire or other injector circuit codes.
2. Carefully perform a visual inspection of the fuel injector wiring harness as it routes across the engine. Look for signs of rubbing, chafing, or melting, as highlighted in TSB #PIP4924D. Key areas are against the intake plenum, valve cover bolts, and fuel lines.
3. If no damage is visible, start the engine and gently wiggle the wiring harness in different sections to see if the engine's running condition changes, which would indicate an intermittent open or short.
4. If the harness appears intact, use a multimeter to check for proper voltage at the supply wire for the affected injector group. Refer to a service manual for the correct wire colors and pin locations at the X160/X161 connectors.
5. Test the resistance of the fuel injectors in the group (cylinders 2 and 5). A healthy injector will typically have a specific resistance value (e.g., 1.5-1.7 ohms). An open or shorted injector needs to be replaced.
6. If all wiring and injectors test good, the final step would be to diagnose the ECM, which is best left to a professional.

Parts You'll Likely Need

• Fuel Injector Wiring Harness Pigtail (OEM #ACDelco PT2712 (GM 13584094)) — This is used to repair the specific section of the wiring harness that is chafed or broken, which is the most common cause of P2152.
  Trusted brands: ACDelco, Dorman
  OEM price range: $25-$50
  Aftermarket price range: $10-$30
• Fuel Injector (OEM #12663380) — If the wiring is confirmed to be good, one of the injectors in the group may have failed internally.
  Trusted brands: ACDelco, Standard Motor Products, Bosch
  OEM price range: $120-$160
  Aftermarket price range: $70-$130
• Driver Side Fuel Injector Wiring Harness (OEM #12666489) — If the harness damage on the driver's side (left bank) is extensive or in multiple locations, replacing the entire section may be more reliable than multiple spot repairs.
  Trusted brands: ACDelco / GM Genuine
  OEM price range: $90-$140
• Passenger Side Fuel Injector Wiring Harness (OEM #12690812) — If the harness damage on the passenger's side (right bank) is extensive, replacing the entire section is the recommended fix. This part number supersedes 12666562.
  Trusted brands: ACDelco / GM Genuine
  OEM price range: $80-$130

Related Codes That Often Appear With This One

• P0300 — A random misfire code is common because the fault in the injector group circuit can cause multiple cylinders to misfire.
• P0302, P0305 — Specific cylinder misfire codes may appear, corresponding to the cylinders in the affected injector group 'B'.
• P2146, P2149, P2155 — These are codes for the other injector groups (A, C, D). If the wiring harness damage is extensive, it can affect multiple circuits, causing several of these codes to appear simultaneously.

Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs) & Recalls

• PIP4924D: States that for codes including P2152, technicians should carefully inspect the fuel injector wiring harness for rubbing through or internal wire opens. It lists common chafing spots and applies to a wide range of GM vehicles with the 3.6L engine, including the Traverse, Acadia, and Enclave.

Platform-Specific Known Issues

• A known issue, documented in TSB #PIP4924D, involves the fuel injector wiring harness rubbing through against engine components. Specific inspection points 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 (2009-2012 LLT Engine) — expected: 11.8 - 12.6 Ohms. Failure: A reading of infinity (Open Loop), near zero (short), or significantly outside this range.
• Fuel Injector Resistance (2012-2014 LFX Engine) — expected: 1.2 - 1.8 Ohms. Failure: A reading outside this narrow range. Note: This spec is drastically different from the earlier LLT engine.
• Injector Supply Voltage (at connector, Key On) — expected: 11.5 - 12.5 Volts (Battery Voltage). Failure: Voltage below 10V indicates excessive resistance or a problem in the supply circuit.
• Injector Pulse Width (Live Scan Data, at idle) — expected: 2 - 4 milliseconds (ms). Failure: A value of 0 ms on an affected cylinder while others show a pulse indicates the ECM has disabled the injector.

Scan Tool Commands That Help

• GDS2 (GM Global Diagnostic System 2): Automated Fuel Injector Balance Test — After confirming wiring integrity, this test can pinpoint a mechanically failing or clogged injector. The tool sequentially disables each injector and measures the corresponding drop in fuel rail pressure. An injector with a significantly different pressure drop compared to the others is suspect.

Wiring & Ground Locations

• X160 / X161 — Multi-way harness connectors located at the rear of the intake manifold.. These are the main junction connectors for the injector harnesses. Service procedures require disconnecting these to isolate and test the wiring between the ECM and the injectors.
• G110 — Right front of the engine, mounted directly to the cylinder head.. A primary ground point for engine components. A loose or corroded G110 can cause various sensor and actuator issues, including erratic injector behavior.
• G113 — Left side of the engine, located at an engine-to-transmission stud.. Another critical engine ground. Poor connection here can affect the ECM's ability to properly control injector and ignition timing.
• ECM X1 / X2 — The main connectors at the Engine Control Module, located on the left side of the engine.. These are the final connection points before the ECM's internal drivers. Probing specific pins here (e.g., injector control circuits) is the definitive way to determine if a fault is in the wiring or the ECM itself.

Real Owner Repair Stories

• traverseforum.com user (2011 Chevrolet Traverse) — Codes P2152, P0300, P0302, and P0305; rough running engine.
  ❌ Tried (didn't work) Initial diagnosis pointed towards bad injectors, but they were tested and found to be good.
  ✅ What actually fixed it A broken wire was discovered in the fuel injector wiring harness near the #2 injector. The wire was repaired by soldering and protected with new wire loom, which resolved all codes and symptoms.

OEM Part Supersession History

• 12638530, 12634126 → 12669384 — Part has been updated by the manufacturer.
  Heads up: These are low-impedance injectors for the LFX engine and are not compatible with the high-impedance LLT engine (2009-2011). Always verify the correct part number by VIN.

Model Year Variations Within This Range

• 2009-2012 (LLT Engine): These models use a 3.6L LLT V6 with high-impedance fuel injectors. The correct resistance measurement is approximately 11.8-12.6 Ohms. The ECM is a Bosch unit, and the intake manifold is aluminum.
• 2012-2014 (LFX Engine): These models use the updated 3.6L LFX V6 with low-impedance fuel injectors. The correct resistance is only 1.2-1.8 Ohms. Using the LLT spec will lead to misdiagnosis. The ECM is a Delphi unit, and the intake manifold is composite. While the TSB for harness chafing applies to both, component layout differences may slightly alter the exact chafe points.