What it means
Cylinder 8 alternative-fuel injector drive line stuck low — short to ground. A flow-deviating injector throws off cylinder balance — adjacent cylinders run leaner/richer to compensate, often masking the root cause until the trim limit is hit.
At a glance
- Usually lights the check-engine light
- Affects emissions; the car can fail an emissions test
How it works
The alternative-fuel injector for cylinder 8 is controlled by an electrical driver in the engine control module. The module monitors the injector control circuit and sets this code when it detects the circuit voltage staying lower than expected, consistent with a short to ground. That can disrupt fuel delivery to cylinder 8 and disturb the engine's cylinder balance.
Common causes
Most likely first.
- Short to ground
- Connector pins corroded - high contact resistance
- Harness chafing through insulation
Symptoms
- Check engine light on
- Misfire or rough idle on the affected cylinder
- Increased fuel consumption
- Possible fuel smell or smoke from exhaust
How to diagnose it
- Use a scan tool to record freeze-frame data and check for cylinder 8 misfire or fuel-trim codes to see when the fault occurs.
- Inspect the cylinder 8 alternative-fuel injector connector for corrosion, loose pins, moisture, or damaged seals.
- Trace the injector control wire for cylinder 8 and check for chafing or insulation damage where it could contact ground.
- With the circuit isolated as directed by the vehicle's service information, check for an unintended connection to ground.
- If the wiring checks out, compare the injector driver's control signal and operation with the manufacturer's diagnostic procedure.
Common fixes
- Clean or repair corroded terminals at the cylinder 8 injector connector.
- Repair chafed insulation or a control wire shorted to ground.
- Replace a damaged injector connector or harness section.
- Replace the cylinder 8 alternative-fuel injector if testing confirms an internal fault.
Can I keep driving?
A brief, gentle drive may be possible if the engine runs smoothly, but avoid hard acceleration and long trips. Stop if it misfires severely or you notice fuel smell or exhaust smoke; continued misfire can damage the catalytic or emissions system.
A code shows where the control module detected a fault, not always which part failed. Check the causes in order and confirm with a test before replacing parts. Have several codes? Check them together
This is a generic code: it means the same on every make. The car’s maker may add more detail in its own service information.