Fuel & air metering · Powertrain · generic (SAE-defined)
P0205: Injector Circuit/Open - Cylinder 5
P0205 means there is an electrical fault, often an open circuit, in the cylinder 5 fuel injector circuit on engines with five or more cylinders.
Standard title per SAE J2012 / ISO 15031-6 · Updated 2026-11-07 · By CarWhere Research
How P0205 sets
The powertrain control module (PCM) watches the cylinder 5 injector circuit for the expected electrical signal each time it fires the injector. An open, short or abnormal response causes the PCM to set P0205. Monitoring details vary by manufacturer.
Common causes of P0205
Roughly most likely first; the actual cause depends on the vehicle and needs testing to confirm.
- Failed cylinder 5 injector coil
- Damaged harness wiring to cylinder 5
- Loose or corroded connector
- Injector power supply problem
- PCM driver fault (uncommon)
P0205 symptoms
- Check engine light on, possibly flashing
- Rough running and vibration
- Lack of power
- Cylinder 5 misfire code P0305 may set
How P0205 is diagnosed
- Scan for codes, including P0305 and any lean codes on the bank containing cylinder 5.
- Identify which bank cylinder 5 is on using service information, then inspect its connector and harness.
- Measure injector resistance and compare with other injectors.
- Check for an injector pulse with a noid light.
- Test power feed and control circuit continuity to the PCM.
Typical fixes for P0205
- Replace the cylinder 5 fuel injector
- Repair wiring or connector
- Fix the injector power supply
- Repair the PCM if needed
Replace parts only after testing confirms the cause — a code names the circuit or condition that failed a check, not necessarily the faulty part. We don’t publish per-repair prices; for what households actually spend on upkeep, see car repair costs.
Related codes & warning lights
P0205 FAQ
What does code P0205 mean?
P0205 means there is an electrical fault, often an open circuit, in the cylinder 5 fuel injector circuit on engines with five or more cylinders. The standard definition is "Injector Circuit/Open - Cylinder 5."
Can I drive with a P0205 code?
Limit driving until it is fixed. A non-working cylinder 5 injector usually causes a misfire that risks catalytic converter damage; if the check engine light flashes, stop as soon as it is safe.
Why is P0205 only on certain engines?
The code refers to cylinder 5, so it only applies to engines with at least five cylinders, such as inline-fives, V6s, V8s and larger.
Could P0205 cause a lean code?
Some engines may set a lean code on the affected bank, because air still passes through the dead cylinder while the oxygen sensor reads the extra oxygen in the exhaust.
Keep researching
Engine guides by brand (known issues, specs)
More fuel & air metering codes
Sources
- SAE J2012 — Diagnostic Trouble Code Definitions (standard code titles)
- ISO 15031-6 — Road vehicles: communication between vehicle and external equipment for emissions-related diagnostics, Part 6: Diagnostic trouble code definitions
- U.S. EPA — Vehicle Emissions Inspection and Maintenance (I/M) programs
- U.S. EPA, 40 CFR 86.1806-17 — Federal onboard diagnostics requirements for light-duty vehicles
- California Air Resources Board — On-Board Diagnostic (OBD) Program
General information written by CarWhere Research, not a diagnosis of your vehicle. Manufacturers can add their own sub-definitions and test conditions; confirm with the factory service information for your year, make and model. Before paying for a repair, check NHTSA for open recalls and your warranty booklet: federal law requires an emissions warranty on major emission-control parts such as the catalytic converter and engine computer.