P0201

Injector Circuit Malfunction - Cylinder 1

Car Fault Codes Fuel & air

Can you still drive? With care, short trips only

Who can fix it? Needs a workshop

Typical repair time 30 minutes – 3 hours

Typical cost SAR 100 to 1,500

What it means

The engine computer has detected an electrical fault in the fuel injector circuit for cylinder 1, such as an open or short in the wiring or in the injector coil itself. Fuel is then not delivered correctly to this cylinder, which usually causes a misfire in it and a shaking engine.

Symptoms4

Check engine light on, possibly together with code P0301.
Engine shaking, especially at idle.
Loss of power and weak acceleration.
Higher fuel consumption or a fuel smell from the exhaust.

Possible causes5

Cylinder 1 injector connector unplugged, corroded or with a broken lock.
Broken wire or wire chafed against the engine in the cylinder 1 injector harness.
Open or shorted coil inside the cylinder 1 injector.
Loss of injector power from a fuse or relay, if other injector codes are also stored.
Failed cylinder 1 injector driver inside the engine computer (rare).

How to diagnose6

Inspect the cylinder 1 injector connector and make sure it is secure and free of corrosion and oil.
Measure the cylinder 1 injector resistance with a multimeter and compare it with the manufacturer specification and with a known-good injector.
Confirm supply voltage at the cylinder 1 injector connector with the ignition on.
Use an injector noid light or an oscilloscope to confirm drive pulses reach cylinder 1 from the computer.
On port-injection engines, swap the cylinder 1 injector with the one in cylinder 2; if the code moves to P0202 the injector is faulty, and if it stays the problem is in the wiring or computer.
On direct-injection and diesel engines the circuit uses high voltage, so do not probe it with an ordinary test light.

How to fix6

Reseat, clean or replace the cylinder 1 injector connector if it is damaged.
Repair the broken or chafed wire in the cylinder 1 injector harness and secure it away from hot parts.
Replace the fuse or relay if injector power is missing.
Replace the cylinder 1 injector if its resistance is out of specification or the code follows it.
Repair or replace the engine computer only after the harness and injector are proven good.
Clear the codes, then road test and confirm the code does not return.

Repair cost

0–500

500–2,000

2,000–5,000

5,000+

In Saudi riyals; the highlighted part is the expected range for this fault.

The cost is low for a connector or wire repair and rises when the injector is replaced; injector prices vary widely between port-injection, direct-injection and diesel engines, while a computer failure is rare and costs far more.

Prices are rough estimates for common cars at independent workshops and vary with the car and the source of the part.
Prices last updated: September 2026

Frequently asked questions

Does this code mean the cylinder 1 injector is bad?

Not necessarily. A corroded connector or broken wire is often the cause, so test the circuit and measure the injector resistance before buying one.

Why is P0301 stored with it?

Because an injector that does not work cannot deliver fuel to cylinder 1, so combustion there fails and the computer records a misfire in the same cylinder.

Can I drive with this code?

Only a short distance and gently, because a constant misfire in cylinder 1 overheats the catalytic converter and can damage it.

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This guide is for information only and does not replace an inspection by a qualified technician. If the fault involves brakes, steering, engine temperature, electrics or refrigerant, do not attempt the repair yourself.

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