P0206 Cylinder 6 Injector Circuit Malfunction

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🔍 Meaning

The PCM detects an anomaly in the injector #6 circuit:

  • Control Logic:

    • Injector activated → Expected voltage close to 0V.

    • 🔌 Injector deactivated → Expected voltage close to 12V (battery voltage).

  • P0206 Trigger:

    • Voltage or resistance out of specifications during the injection cycle.


⚠️ Symptoms

  • Cylinder 6 misfires

  • Unstable idle

  • Loss of power / Hesitant acceleration

  • Engine light (MIL) on

  • Possible gasoline smell (stuck open injector)


🔧 Priority Causes

Rank Cause Details
1 Faulty injector Out-of-spec resistance or mechanical blockage (most common cause).
2 Wiring problem Short circuit/break in wires (signal, power, ground).
3 Damaged connector Oxidized pins, broken wires, melted insulation.
4 PCM failure Internal control error (rare, check last).

🛠️ Diagnostic Procedure

Step 1: Electrical Tests (Multimeter)

  1. Injector resistance (engine off):

    • Disconnect the connector.

    • Measure between pins: 10–16 Ω (typical, refer to manufacturer’s manual).

    • ⚠️ If out of range → replace injector.

  2. Power supply voltage (engine off, key ON):

    • Reconnect the connector, strip the + wire.

    • Measure between + wire and ground: ≥ 10V.

Step 2: Visual Inspection

  • Connector: Corrosion, deformation, signs of overheating.

  • Wiring: Frayed wires, rubbing against hot parts.

  • Injector: Fuel leaks, cracks.

Step 3: Functional Test

  • With diagnostic tool:

    • Activate injector #6 → listen for a click (sign of operation).

  • Alternative:

    • Swap injector #6 with another cylinder → if the code follows (e.g., P020X), replace injector.

Step 4: PCM Circuit Check

  1. Disconnect the PCM connector.

  2. Check continuity:

    • Between injector #6 pin (PCM) and injector connector.

  3. Test for absence of short circuit:

    • Between signal wire and chassis ground → resistance ∞ Ω.


Solutions

Confirmed Fault Action
Faulty injector Replace.
Broken/short-circuited wiring Repair harness or replace section.
Damaged connector Replace connector.
Faulty PCM Reprogram or replace (after eliminating other causes).

⚠️ Pitfalls to Avoid

  • Ground testing the PCM wire:

    Never ground the control wire without resistance → risk of burning out the PCM. Use a test light or dedicated tool.

  • High-impedance injectors:

    Some recent models have piezo injectors (resistance > 100Ω) → check the technical sheet.

💡 Pro Tip

  • After repair: reset fuel adaptations (via OBD-II tool) to clear previous trims.

Final check:

  1. Clear the code.

  2. Run a drive cycle → monitor misfires (OBD-II mode 6).

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