P0261 Cylinder 1 Injector Circuit Low

P0261 points to a low injector circuit on cylinder 1. The injector 1 control circuit is grounded, missing voltage, or below expected current.

Code details

Generic OBD-II · P0

System: Injector
Code type: Generic (SAE / ISO controlled)
Standard: SAE J2012 / ISO 15031-6

Diagnostic boundary

A diagnostic trouble code reports that a monitored test failed. It does not prove one specific part is bad, and manufacturer logic can add vehicle-specific conditions.

Do not replace injector 1 until the low circuit condition is traced through power, wiring, and driver control.

Symptoms of P0261

Check-engine light, often with a misfire feel from one cylinder.
Rough idle, hesitation, or a slight loss of power.
Higher fuel use, or in some cases a fuel smell.

Common causes of P0261

A stuck, leaking, clogged, or electrically failed injector.
Injector wiring, connector, or driver-circuit faults.
Low fuel pressure or contamination affecting injector behaviour.

Useful checks before replacing parts

Measure cylinder 1 injector feed, control voltage, resistance, and current while checking for short-to-ground faults.
Compare cylinder 1 misfire counters, contribution, injector pulse, fuel trims, and freeze-frame load conditions.
Inspect injector 1 connector terminals, harness routing, shared injector feed, moisture, oil intrusion, and rubbed insulation.

Related OBD-II codes

These nearby injector entries can help compare wording and pin down the fault area.