Bank of injectors supply fault.
P2149 — also written P2149, P 2149, 2149 — is the OBD-II code for fuel injector group b supply voltage circuit. Same code, same fix: this page covers every spelling of it.
This code means the ECU has lost its electrical connection to a whole bank of injectors, usually cutting fuel to two cylinders at once. It’s a common plague on Ford and VW diesel vans where the wiring loom rubs through.
P2149 is a fuel & air fault code, typically costing £90–£500 to put right in a UK garage.
What P2149 actually feels like to drive
- The engine cuts out completely while driving, often at motorway speeds.
- The car 'kangaroos' violently under load, then enters Limp Mode.
- Hard starting or a total 'crank but no start' condition.
- Rough idling that feels like the engine is trying to jump out of the mounts.
- A sudden loss of power accompanied by the 'Engine Service Now' message.
What causes P2149?
- Blown injector fuse
- Wiring fault
- Failed injector driver
UK vehicles that throw P2149 most often
- Ford Transit Custom 2.2 TDCi (2012-2016)
- Volkswagen Golf Mk6 1.6 TDI (CAYC engine) 2009-2013
- Vauxhall Vivaro 2.0 CDTi (M9R engine) 2006-2014
- Audi A3 1.6 TDI (2009-2012)
- Ford Focus 1.6 TDCi (DV6 engine) 2011-2015
- Skoda Octavia 1.6 TDI (2010-2013)
How P2149 is fixed
- Test injector supply
- Replace fuse
- Repair wiring
The P2149 misdiagnosis that wastes money
I've seen so many lads jump the gun and swap out a whole set of injectors thinking they’re 'shorted,' but that’s a £1,200 mistake you don't want to make. Nine times out of ten on the 1.6 TDCi Fords or the VAG 1.6 TDIs, it's not the injector nozzles at all. It’s either a pin-fitment issue at the ECU plug where moisture has got in, or the wiring loom has rubbed raw against the lifting eye or the battery tray. Check the basics before condemning the expensive bits.
What a UK garage should charge for P2149
Diagnostics usually start at £60-£90 depending on if they use Snap-On or ODIS/IDS kit. If it’s just a rubbed wire, expect to pay about £120 for a loom repair. However, if a Siemens or Continental injector has internally shorted (very common on the 1.6 TDI VAG engines), you’re looking at £280-£350 per injector plus an hour's labour (£70). A main dealer will easily double that, charging upwards of £500 just for the part. Stick to Bosch or VDO reconditioned units to keep costs down.
P2149 repair cost in the UK
Most P2149 repairs land between £90–£500 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 P2149
If your car has died and won't restart, ask the garage to perform a 'leak-off test' and a resistance check on the injector solenoids specifically. If they just say 'you need a new ECU,' get a second opinion. A proper sparky can often repair a damaged loom for £150, whereas a main dealer will just quote you £1,500 for a new harness and ECU. Also, insist they check the 'Group B' fuse—sometimes a single failing injector spikes the circuit and just pops the fuse. Replace the bad injector, swap the fuse, and you're golden.
Can you drive with P2149?
May misfire.
Urgency: high.