P0286 code meaning
Cylinder 9 Injector A Circuit High
Powertrain system Generic code P02xx codes Check engine light
What P0286 means
P0286 means the control wire of the cylinder 9 injector is shorted to voltage. GM detects this with the driver on: on direct injection by 25 A or more through the driver, on port injection and Duramax diesels by 0.5 Ω or less to the supply. On Ford's 6.7 diesel it means the injector's high side is shorted to its low side, reported within 0.3 s. Most systems switch the warning light on in the first trip (some GM port-injection engines and Saab's 2.0 turbo after two) and shut the affected injector off, so the cylinder misfires. Ford gasoline engines report all injector circuit faults as P0201 ff instead. Cylinder 9 exists only on ten-cylinder engines; no manufacturer document using this code was found – Ford's V10 uses P0201–P0210 and GM has no V10 – so the description follows CARB and the codes for cylinders 1–8.
P0286 at a glance
- Check engine lightYes, usually on
- Emissions testCan fail
- Limp modePossible
- Repair difficultyMedium, DIY possible
- Typical labor0.5 to 4 hours
- Clears after repairWhen cleared with a scanner
Symptoms of P0286
- Check engine light on
- Misfire and rough running, misfire code P0309
- Loss of power, rough idle
- Injector shut off, limp mode possible on diesels
Common causes of P0286
- Most likelyControl wire of the cylinder 9 injector touching battery voltage or another supply wire
- PossibleInjector coil shorted internally (too low resistance, overcurrent)
- PossibleShort between supply and control wire in harness or connector
- Less likelyDriver stage in the engine module faulty
Check the most likely causes first. Replacing parts by guesswork is the most expensive way to clear a code.
Parts involved
Fuel injector cylinder 9Injector wiringEngine control module
What each part of P0286 means
| P | Powertrain system: engine, fuel system, ignition, emissions and transmission. |
| 0 | Generic code: it means the same on every make (SAE standard). |
| 2 | Area: fuel and air metering (injector circuit). |
| 86 | The exact fault in that area. |
What to do next
- Note P0286 and any other codes stored with it: several codes together often point to one cause.
- Check for loose connectors and damaged wiring around the parts the code names.
- Check open recalls for your car: some faults are fixed for free by the dealer. Enter your VIN.
- Clear the code only after the repair. If it comes back, the fault is still there.
Buying a used car? Scan it for stored codes before you pay. A recently cleared memory can hide a problem.
Questions about P0286
What does P0286 mean?
P0286 means "Cylinder 9 Injector A Circuit High". P0286 means the control wire of the cylinder 9 injector is shorted to voltage. It is a generic code, so it means the same on every make.
Is it safe to drive with P0286?
Drive gently and only to a workshop. With P0286 the car can go into limp mode (reduced power) to protect itself.
Will P0286 fail an emissions test?
Yes, it can. P0286 is emissions-related, so most inspection programs fail a car while it is stored or while the check engine light is on.
How hard is P0286 to fix?
Difficulty: medium. A typical repair takes 0.5 to 4 hours of work. A careful DIY repair is possible with basic tools and a scanner.
Will P0286 clear itself after the repair?
Clear the code with a scanner after the repair. If the fault is fixed, it does not come back.