Cylinder 2 injector circuit fault.
P0202 — also written PO2O2, P 0202, 0202 — is the OBD-II code for injector circuit — cylinder 2. Same code, same fix: this page covers every spelling of it.
This code means the ECU has lost its electrical connection to the number two fuel injector, common as muck on 1.6 TDCi Fords and the older Vauxhall 1.9 CDTi engines.
P0202 is a fuel & air fault code, typically costing £120–£600 to put right in a UK garage.
What P0202 actually feels like to drive
- Engine 'shaking' like a wet dog at traffic lights.
- Sudden 'Limp Home Mode' with the 'Spanner' or 'Check Engine' light on.
- Distinct rhythmic tapping noise under load (the sound of a dead cylinder).
- Van or car refuses to pull when going up a steep hill.
- Massive puff of white or blue smoke on cold startup that clears once moving.
What causes P0202?
- Failed injector
- Wiring
UK vehicles that throw P0202 most often
- Vauxhall Vivaro/Renault Trafic 2.0 dCi (M9R) 2006-2014
- Ford Focus 1.6 TDCi (DV6) 2011-2015 (very common wire chafing)
- Vauxhall Astra/Insignia 2.0 CDTi (A20DTH)
- Fiat 500 1.3 MultiJet (pigtail connector failure)
- Volkswagen Golf/Passat 1.6 TDI (CAYC engine) 2009-2013 (Piezo injector fail)
How P0202 is fixed
- Injector replacement
The P0202 misdiagnosis that wastes money
The amount of times I see people buy a brand new injector before they’ve even looked at the wiring is a joke. On the Vivaro and Trafic vans, the scuttle panel leaks water right onto the engine harness, rotting the wires. You’ll see a P0202 and swap the injector, only to find the new one doesn't work either because the copper inside the loom has turned to green powder. Always check your resistance at the ECU plug first, not just the injector head.
What a UK garage should charge for P0202
A standard diagnostic plug-in will run you £50 to £80 at a decent indie. If it's just the wiring pigtail, you're looking at £120. If the injector's properly toasted, a refurbished Bosch unit is about £180, plus two hours labour (£100-£150). If you go to a main dealer, they’ll want £450 for the part alone. Total job should realistically sit between £300 and £500 for a single injector replacement including coding.
P0202 repair cost in the UK
Most P0202 repairs land between £120–£600 including parts and labour. The spread is wide because the cheap fix (a sensor, a hose, a leak) and the expensive fix (a major component) throw the same code — which is why a proper diagnosis before parts are bought saves the most money.
Bob's tip on P0202
If a garage tells you that you need four new injectors just because one has a circuit fault, get your keys and run. A P0202 is an electrical break, usually isolated. Ask them for a 'leak-back test' and a 'node light test' on the harness. If they haven't done those, they're guessing with your wallet. Also, insist on a Bosch or Delphi unit — avoid those 'unbranded' eBay specials; they usually fail within a month and won't take the coding properly.
Can you drive with P0202?
Avoid driving.
Urgency: high.