P1267 — Cylinder #2 High To Low Side Short

OBD2 code P1267 flags a problem with the sensor and actuator circuits (cylinder #2 high to low side short). The car is usually drivable while you plan the repair. Common culprits: blown fuse feeding the circuit, faulty sensor or actuator of the affected circuit, open or shorted wiring in the circuit.

For Ford vehicles

cylinder #7 – short circuit

powertrain (engine/transmission)

Is it safe to drive?

Short-term driving is OK In most cases the car remains drivable, possibly with reduced performance or a disabled auxiliary system. If symptoms include stalling, no-start or brake/steering warnings, treat it as urgent.

How to diagnose with an OBD scanner

Read the code and freeze frame Connect an OBD2 scanner, confirm P1267 is stored, and save the freeze frame data — it shows engine conditions when the fault was detected.
Check for companion codes and TSBs Related codes often reveal the real root cause. Also check manufacturer technical service bulletins (TSB) for your make and model — many P0xxx issues have factory fixes or software updates. Search by VIN on the manufacturer site or nhtsa.gov.
Inspect wiring and connectors Visually inspect the wiring harness and connectors related to the cylinder #2 high to low side short for damage, corrosion, chafing or poor contact.
Subsystem check Measure reference voltage, ground and signal continuity at the component connector.
Subsystem check Wiggle-test the harness while watching the signal in live data — dropouts reveal broken wires.
Verify the repair Clear the code, complete a full drive cycle including the conditions from the freeze frame, and confirm P1267 does not return.

Approximate repair cost

Repair cost depends on which component actually failed. Typical scenarios for P1267 (parts and labor, USD, independent shop rates): Control module repair: $300–$1,000; Repair wiring or connectors: $80–$250; Replace the faulty sensor or actuator: $150–$500. Overall, fixing P1267 usually costs between $80 and $1,000. An accurate diagnosis before buying parts saves money — the most expensive scenario is rarely the first one to check.

Common questions

How do I diagnose P1267 myself?

Start with a scan: confirm P1267, save the freeze frame and note any companion codes. Then inspect the wiring and connectors related to the sensor and actuator circuits, and verify the suspect component against live data before buying parts.

Is it safe to drive with P1267?

In most cases the car remains drivable, possibly with reduced performance or a disabled auxiliary system. If symptoms include stalling, no-start or brake/steering warnings, treat it as urgent.

Will P1267 clear itself?

Sometimes P1267 clears after a few drive cycles if the fault was intermittent — for example a loose connector or a tank of bad fuel. The underlying cause usually remains, so the code tends to return. Clear it once; if it comes back, diagnose rather than erase it repeatedly.

What is the most common cause of P1267?

The most common causes are: blown fuse feeding the circuit, faulty sensor or actuator of the affected circuit, open or shorted wiring in the circuit.

What does OBD2 code P1267 mean?

When your engine control unit detects an electrical problem in the circuitry that manages cylinder #2's high and low side switching, it records trouble code P1267. In technical terms, this designation stands for "Cylinder #2 High To Low Side Short," which essentially means the voltage pattern flowing through the injector or actuator circuit for that specific cylinder has collapsed into a short circuit condition. The powertrain control module continuously monitors the resistance and voltage characteristics of each cylinder's control circuit while the engine runs, and when the readings deviate sharply from factory specifications—typically when a direct short develops between the high-side drive and ground circuits—it flags this fault and illuminates the check engine light.

Once P1267 is set, the module also saves a freeze frame snapshot capturing the exact operating conditions at the moment of failure. This data includes engine speed, calculated load, coolant temperature, and vehicle speed. Technicians use this information to recreate the scenario that triggered the code during their diagnosis. P1267 falls under the powertrain category, meaning it affects engine or transmission operation rather than body or chassis systems.

What are the symptoms of P1267?

The most obvious sign is the check engine light glowing steadily on your dashboard. Beyond that, you may notice the engine idling rougher than normal, with a pronounced vibration that was absent before. In many cases, cylinder #2 fails to fire at all, and the engine compensates by running on the remaining cylinders—sometimes smoothly enough that you might not immediately notice performance loss. Some drivers report a 3–8% increase in fuel consumption as the ECU enriches the air-fuel mixture to keep the engine running. Depending on which specific actuator is affected and how the manufacturer programmed the PCM's protective logic, the vehicle may enter a limp-home mode with noticeably reduced power output.

What causes P1267?

The most frequent culprits are environmental: moisture and road salt work their way into electrical connectors over time, causing corrosion that breaks the contact integrity. Chafed or melted wire insulation from proximity to hot exhaust components or moving engine parts creates another pathway for short circuits. Poor ground connections at the engine block or chassis can also create phantom shorts by allowing voltage to seek alternate paths. In some instances, the internal driver transistor within the PCM itself fails, dumping current directly to ground and setting P1267. Finally, a blown fuse in the protected circuit interrupts voltage regulation and can manifest as a high-to-low side short condition.

How do you diagnose P1267?

Start by connecting a quality OBD2 scanner to the diagnostic port and retrieving all stored codes—P1267 may be accompanied by related faults that point toward the root cause. Before touching any components, check manufacturer technical service bulletins using your vehicle's VIN; some P-series codes have published factory fixes or ECU reflash updates that resolve the issue without disassembly. Once you have the freeze frame data from when P1267 was triggered, document those conditions so you can test under similar parameters.

Next, perform a hands-on inspection of the wiring harness serving cylinder #2's high-to-low side circuit. Pull back any protective looms and examine the wires for cracked insulation, heat damage, or rubbing against metal brackets. Check the connector terminals for greenish-white corrosion deposits and ensure the locking tab engages fully. Use a multimeter to verify reference voltage and ground at the component while the key is on and the engine is off. If wiring checks pass, move to component-level testing—many injectors and actuators can be measured for proper resistance against factory specifications. Conclude with a wiggle test: with the scanner displaying live data, gently flex the harness while watching for signal dropouts that indicate intermittent breaks.

How do you fix P1267?

Always pursue the least expensive probable cause before replacing major components. Wiring repair or connector replacement—cleaning corroded terminals, soldering broken strands, or installing a new harness pigtail—typically runs $80–$250 in labor and parts at an independent shop. If testing confirms the actuator itself has failed, installing a new fuel injector, glow plug, or specialized sensor for cylinder #2 generally costs $150–$500 depending on your vehicle and the component required. In the minority of cases where the PCM's internal driver circuit has failed, module repair or replacement plus reprogramming falls in the $300–$1,000 range.

Across all repair scenarios, total cost to resolve P1267 usually lands between $80 and $1,000. The wide spread reflects whether you need a simple wire splice or a replacement control module. Accurate diagnosis before purchasing parts is the single biggest money-saving step—jumping straight to the most expensive fix wastes money when a corroded connector is often the real problem.

Can you drive with P1267?

For most vehicles, the car remains driveable after P1267 sets—you may experience slight performance reduction or a rougher idle, but no immediate danger. However, treat the situation as urgent if the engine stalls, refuses to start, or if dashboard warnings related to braking or steering appear alongside the check engine light. Otherwise, schedule a diagnostic appointment within a week or two rather than ignoring it indefinitely.