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Severity: Moderate Code type: Generic (all makes)

P0208 Code: Injector Circuit / Open – Cylinder 8

The circuit to injector 8, the rear cylinder on bank 2 of a V8, is open or doesn't respond normally.

Safety first · Consult a professional

  • Fuel vapor is flammable. No smoking or open flames; work outdoors and fix fuel leaks before driving.

At a glance

Severity: 3/5 – Moderate3/5

Severity: Moderate

Meaning
Injector Circuit / Open – Cylinder 8
System
Fuel & Air Metering · Powertrain
Safe to drive?
With caution
Typical repair cost
$0–$1,800
DIY difficulty
Moderate

P0208 means the ECU has lost normal electrical contact with injector 8. Cylinder 8 is the last cylinder of a V8 and, whichever numbering the maker uses, it ends up at the firewall end of bank 2: passenger side rear on GM and Hemi V8s, driver's side rear on Ford V8s, left bank rear on Audi, BMW and Mercedes V8s. That corner is exactly where water from a clogged cowl drain lands, where the exhaust crossover or rear manifold radiates heat, and where harnesses get pinched against the firewall or bellhousing. Because it's always bank 2, a P0174 lean code often rides along. The ECU is testing the electrical circuit only, so the answer lies in the connector, wiring, injector coil or driver.

Can I keep driving? Short, easy trips to a shop are usually fine, but expect a rough idle and weak towing. If more injector codes appear, or the engine starts cutting out, have it towed: that points to a shared supply or driver fault that can get worse.

How to read P0208

How to read P0208P10223084
  1. P Powertrain
  2. 0 Generic (SAE)
  3. 2 Fuel & air (injector circuit)
  4. 08 Specific fault

Symptoms

  • Steady miss that you hear as a rhythmic puff at the tailpipe on the bank 2 side
  • P0308 misfire stored with it, and a P0174 bank 2 lean code after a longer drive
  • Idle quality changes after rain or a car wash, then improves as the engine bay dries
  • Reduced power when towing or climbing grades
  • Fuel trims on bank 2 far higher than on bank 1 in live data

Possible causes

Ranked by how often each cause is behind this code (editorial estimate).

  1. Water and corrosion in the injector 8 connector from a blocked cowl drain, leaking windshield seal or pressure washing 22%
  2. Open coil in injector 8 21%
  3. Harness chafed or heat-damaged behind the engine, at the firewall, bellhousing or rear exhaust manifold 17%
  4. Shared bank-2 harness splice or connector fault, often with P0206 or other bank 2 injector codes 15%
  5. ECU driver chip that also serves other injectors has failed, usually with several injector codes 13%
  6. Aftermarket add-on in the injector wiring, such as a remote start, tuner harness or fuel adapter 12%

Diagnosis step by step

Diagnostic flow: P02081Find cylinder 8 and check the cowl2Compare bank trims and other codes3Check the pulse with a frequencymeter4Clean and dry the connector5Ohm test and compare with injector 2or 66Remove or bypass add-ons

  1. Find cylinder 8 and check the cowl

    GM and Hemi V8: passenger side rear. Ford V8: driver's side rear. Audi, BMW and Mercedes V8: left bank rear. Before testing, clear the leaves from the cowl drains above that corner and look for water stains or rust around the injector 8 plug.

    Tools: Flashlight

  2. Compare bank trims and other codes

    In live data, compare long-term fuel trim bank 1 and bank 2 at idle. A dead injector 8 usually drives bank 2 well positive, for example +15% or more, while bank 1 stays near zero. Several bank 2 injector codes at once suggest the shared harness or a driver chip rather than the injector.

    Tools: OBD-II scanner

  3. Check the pulse with a frequency meter

    Back-probe the control wire at injector 8 with the engine idling and set your meter to frequency (Hz). Sequential injection fires once every two revolutions, so at 600 rpm you should see about 5 Hz. Zero means no switching from the ECU; a normal reading with a dead cylinder points to the injector itself.

    Tools: Multimeter

  4. Clean and dry the connector

    Unplug injector 8, blow out water with compressed air and inspect for green corrosion or pushed-back pins. Light corrosion can be cleaned with contact cleaner; anything worse gets a new pigtail. Pack the new plug with dielectric grease on the seal, not on the pins.

    Tools: Screwdriver, Soft brush

  5. Ohm test and compare with injector 2 or 6

    Measure injector 8 and compare with another injector on the same bank. Port injectors normally sit around 11 to 16 ohms and should match within about 1 ohm. OL confirms an open coil.

    Tools: Multimeter

  6. Remove or bypass add-ons

    If a tuner harness, remote start or other accessory taps the injector wiring, unplug it and restore the factory connection, then clear codes and test. Add-on splices near the firewall are a frequent source of intermittent opens.

    Tools: Pliers, OBD-II scanner

Where the parts are

Ignition: coils and spark plugs per cylinder – P02081234567
Ignition: coils and spark plugs per cylinder
  1. 1Ignition coil
  2. 2Spark plug
  3. 3Fuel injector
  4. 4Camshaft sensor
  5. 5Crankshaft sensor
  6. 6Engine computer (ECM)
  7. 7Intake manifold

Repair options & costs

RepairDIY?Estimated cost
Clean connector, clear cowl drains and seal plug Yes $0–$120
Replace injector 8 connector pigtail Yes $90–$260
Repair bank 2 harness at the firewall No $200–$600
Replace injector 8 No $220–$900
ECU repair or replacement with programming No $700–$1,800

Rough US estimates for parts and labor; shop rates vary by region. Not a quote.

Notes by brand

Ford

On the 6.0L Power Stroke diesel, each injector connects through the valve cover gasket to an under-valve-cover harness, and the FICM powers all eight injectors. Worn under-cover connectors are a well-known cause of single-cylinder injector circuit codes; several injector codes at once point toward the FICM instead.

Emissions / smog test impact

Will fail

P0208 keeps the check engine light on, so the vehicle fails an OBD-II emissions test. After the repair, the misfire monitor and fuel system monitor need to complete before the retest.

Frequently asked questions

Why is cylinder 8 always on bank 2?

Bank 1 is defined as the bank that contains cylinder 1. On every common V8 numbering scheme, cylinder 8 ends up on the opposite bank, so a bank 2 lean code with P0208 is expected and usually clears once the injector circuit is fixed.

The code comes and goes with the weather. Why?

Cylinder 8 sits at the back of the engine right under the cowl. When the cowl drains clog, rainwater runs onto the injector 8 connector, causing a temporary open until it dries. Clean the drains and replace a corroded connector.

Could my tuner or remote start cause P0208?

Yes, if it taps into the injector wiring. Splices and piggy-back harnesses add connections that can loosen or corrode. Restore the factory wiring before replacing parts.

Several injector codes appeared together. Is it still injector 8?

Unlikely. Multiple injector circuit codes at the same time point to a shared power feed, a bank connector, an injector control module on some diesels, or the ECU driver chip. Start with the common parts.

Sources