P2291 Injector control pressure too low during cranking
What P2291 means
Some diesel engines with hydraulically actuated injectors (HEUI) use high-pressure engine oil to fire the injectors. P2291 means that injector control pressure did not build up enough while the engine was cranking. Without it the injectors cannot fire, so the engine cranks for a long time or does not start.
P2291 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
- 400–2500 €
- Workshop time
- 2–6 h
- Repair difficulty
- Hard
- DIY possible
- No
- Check engine light
- Yes
- Affects emissions test
- Yes
- Limp mode possible
- Yes
Parts and labour at an independent workshop in Europe. Main dealers charge more; the cause decides the bill, not the code.
Symptoms
- Long cranking or no-start, especially when warm
- Check engine light on
- Rough running or stalling after starting
- Low power in some cases
Common causes
- Leak in the high-pressure oil system (injector O-rings, standpipes, dummy plugs or branch tubes)
- Faulty injection pressure regulator (IPR) valve
- Worn high-pressure oil pump
- Faulty injection control pressure (ICP) sensor or wiring
- Low or incorrect engine oil
Can I keep driving with P2291?
If the engine starts and runs normally you can drive to a workshop, but have it checked within one or two weeks. The fault often gets worse and can leave you unable to start.
What to check first
- Check engine oil level and grade first
- Compare ICP sensor reading and IPR duty cycle while cranking using a scan tool
- Inspect the ICP sensor connector for oil contamination and check the IPR valve
- Have the high-pressure oil system pressure-tested to find leaks
Related codes
- P2293 Fuel pressure regulator 2 (B) performance
- P22FB NOx sensor performance, sensing element (bank 1 sensor 1)
- P218F Reductant (AdBlue) no flow detected
- P2400 EVAP leak detection pump control circuit/open
- P2418 EVAP system switching valve control circuit/open
- P2101 Throttle actuator control motor circuit range/performance
- P20EE SCR NOx catalyst efficiency below threshold (bank 1)
- P2459 Diesel particulate filter regeneration frequency (bank 1)
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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