P0267 — Cylinder 3 Injector Circuit Low

What does P0267 specifically identify?

P0267 identifies a low-voltage condition in the cylinder 3 injector circuit. The fault may involve the injector, its connector, the wiring, or the control module driver.

Does P0267 always mean the cylinder 3 injector is bad?

No. P0267 can also result from an open wire, a short to ground, a corroded connector, poor grounding, or a failed engine control module driver, so circuit testing should precede replacement.

Can the vehicle be driven with P0267 stored?

Short trips may be possible if the engine runs smoothly, but sustained driving is not recommended because a failed injector can create a cylinder misfire, poor performance, high fuel consumption, and excessive exhaust emissions.

What should be checked after repairing P0267?

Clear the code with an OBD scanner, confirm that cylinder 3 misfire data and fuel trims return to normal, and road-test the vehicle under several load conditions to verify P0267 does not return.

When your engine control module detects a voltage reading that falls below specification in the fuel injector circuit for cylinder 3, it logs trouble code P0267. The module constantly monitors injector operation while your engine runs, watching for the precise electrical pulses that fire each injector at exactly the right moment. When cylinder 3's injector circuit shows consistently low voltage—essentially acting as if it's being shorted toward ground—the ECM recognizes the fault, confirms it across multiple drive cycles, and illuminates the check engine light. P0267 belongs to the powertrain family of OBD2 codes, meaning it relates directly to engine operation and emissions control systems.

The technical phrase "circuit low" simply describes what the multimeter would show if you probed that circuit: voltage that should be present during injector operation is missing, and instead the circuit sits near ground potential. Several physical conditions can produce this reading. A wire with damaged insulation may have rubbed through and contacted bare metal somewhere along the harness. A connector terminal might be corroded or pushed back, breaking the electrical contact. In some cases the injector itself has failed internally, dragging the circuit down. On some engine designs, cylinder 3 sits deep beneath the intake manifold plenum, which adds hours of labor whenever that injector needs replacement—knowing exactly where your cylinder 3 lives matters when you're comparing repair estimates.

Cylinder numbering follows a standard convention: on inline engines, count from the front pulley or belt end. V-type engines vary between manufacturers, so finding the correct firing order diagram for your specific make, model, and year prevents accidentally working on the wrong cylinder. The freeze frame data stored alongside P0267 records engine load, rpm, coolant temperature, and vehicle speed at the moment the fault was detected. This snapshot tells you whether the problem occurs specifically at idle, under hard acceleration, or once the engine reaches operating temperature.

Common symptoms of P0267

• Check engine light illuminated on the dashboard
• Extended cranking time or difficulty starting the engine
• Noticeably higher fuel consumption than normal
• Raw fuel odor, particularly under load or after prolonged operation
• Rough idle with misfire vibrations or hesitation during acceleration
• Noticeable loss of engine power when the vehicle is under load
• In severe cases, the engine may stall or run on fewer cylinders

What causes P0267?

• Faulty fuel injector for cylinder 3 that internally shorts the circuit
• Broken, chafed, or corroded wiring in the injector harness creating an open circuit or short to ground
• Loose or corroded connector terminals at the cylinder 3 injector
• No supply voltage reaching the cylinder 3 injector due to a failed relay or wiring fault
• Multiple clogged or leaking fuel injectors affecting fuel delivery to the cylinder
• Malfunctioning fuel rail pressure sensor or related wiring that disrupts injector operation
• Failed fuel pressure regulator allowing incorrect fuel pressure to reach the injectors
• Poor fuel quality or fuel system contamination affecting injector performance
• Weak fuel pump or restricted fuel filter unable to maintain adequate system pressure

How to diagnose P0267

1. Plug in an OBD2 scanner and confirm P0267 is present in the stored trouble codes. Record the freeze frame data, which shows engine conditions exactly when the fault occurred.
2. Scan for any additional trouble codes that may have been set at the same time. Related codes often point to the root cause rather than the symptom.
3. Perform a visual inspection of all wiring and connectors associated with cylinder 3's fuel injector. Look for worn insulation, broken wires, corrosion on terminals, and any signs of heat damage.
4. With the connector unplugged, check for proper supply voltage at the injector harness. Then measure resistance from the signal circuit to ground—continuity or near-zero ohms confirms a short to ground in the harness.
5. Connect a fuel pressure gauge to the fuel rail test port and compare readings against manufacturer specifications at idle, part throttle, and wide-open throttle. Abnormal pressure points to pump, regulator, or filter issues.
6. Monitor live fuel trims from the scanner. Sustained high positive trim values indicate a lean condition, which can confirm insufficient fuel delivery to cylinder 3.
7. After addressing the suspected cause, clear the code and complete a full drive cycle including the specific conditions from the freeze frame data. Verify the check engine light does not return.

How to fix P0267

Address the most accessible and least expensive possibilities before replacing major components. Wiring repairs, connector cleaning, or a fuel filter replacement can resolve many P0267 cases without touching the injector itself.

• Repair wiring harness or connector: $50–$150
• Replace fuel filter: $80–$200
• Replace fuel pressure regulator or sensor: $150–$450
• Clean or replace fuel injectors: $200–$800
• Replace fuel pump: $400–$900

How much does it cost to fix P0267?

Actual repair costs for P0267 vary significantly depending on which component in the fuel delivery system is at fault. At independent shop rates in the United States, wiring harness repair typically runs $50–$150, while a fuel filter replacement costs $80–$200. The fuel pressure regulator or sensor may need replacement for $150–$450. Injector cleaning or replacement ranges from $200–$800 depending on whether you can clean existing injectors or need new ones. Fuel pump replacement, which is the most expensive scenario, costs $400–$900. In most cases, the total bill to repair P0267 falls somewhere between $80 and $900. An accurate electrical diagnosis before purchasing parts saves money—the most expensive fix is almost never the first thing to try.

Can you drive with P0267?

Use caution if your vehicle still runs with P0267 stored. When cylinder 3's injector circuit is low, that cylinder receives insufficient fuel, creating a lean mixture that can cause misfires, backfiring, and catalytic converter damage from unburned fuel entering the exhaust stream. In traffic situations, a severe misfire can lead to stalling or hesitation that creates a safety hazard. Get the code diagnosed promptly and avoid long highway trips until the underlying problem is identified and resolved.

Related OBD2 codes

• P0200: Injector Circuit Malfunction
• P0201: Injector Circuit Malfunction - Cylinder 1
• P0202: Injector Circuit Malfunction - Cylinder 2
• P0203: Injector Circuit Malfunction - Cylinder 3
• P0204: Injector Circuit Malfunction - Cylinder 4
• P0205: Injector Circuit Malfunction - Cylinder 5