P0204 Cylinder 4 injector A circuit
What P0204 means
The engine computer has detected an electrical problem in the circuit that operates the fuel injector for cylinder 4: an open circuit, short or implausible current. If the injector is not being switched, cylinder 4 gets no fuel and misfires.
P0204 is a generic SAE J2012 code: it means the same on every make. The exact cause still depends on the car, so read the freeze-frame data before replacing parts.
At a glance
- Severity
- Medium
- Typical repair cost
- 80–450 €
- Workshop time
- 0.5–3.5 h
- Repair difficulty
- Medium
- DIY possible
- Yes
- Check engine light
- Yes
- Affects emissions test
- Yes
Parts and labour at an independent workshop in Europe. Main dealers charge more; the cause decides the bill, not the code.
Symptoms
- Check engine light on
- Misfire on cylinder 4, often stored with P0304
- Rough idle and uneven running
- Reduced power
Common causes
- Loose, unplugged or corroded connector on the cylinder 4 injector
- Damaged wiring between the injector and the engine computer (chafing, heat, rodents)
- Injector coil open or shorted internally
- Engine control unit injector driver fault (rare)
Can I keep driving with P0204?
You can drive gently to a workshop, but have it checked within one to two weeks. If cylinder 4 is misfiring or the check engine light flashes, avoid driving: unburned fuel can damage the catalytic converter.
What to check first
- Inspect the cylinder 4 injector connector and wiring for damage and corrosion; clean and reseat the connector.
- Measure the cylinder 4 injector coil resistance and compare it with the other injectors and the specification.
- Check for supply voltage at the injector and a switching control signal with a test light while cranking.
- Swap the injector with another cylinder if possible: if the fault follows the injector, replace it; if not, trace the wiring.
Related codes
- P0203 Cylinder 3 injector A circuit
- P0205 Cylinder 5 injector A circuit
- P0202 Cylinder 2 injector A circuit
- P0206 Cylinder 6 injector A circuit
- P0201 Cylinder 1 injector A circuit
- P0200 Injector circuit / open
- P0215 Engine shutoff solenoid malfunction
- P0216 Injection timing control circuit
Data: TORKO fault-code catalogue, built on OBDex (CC0-1.0) and reviewed against workshop practice. Informational only — it does not replace a diagnosis by a mechanic.
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