P020B
Cylinder 2 Injection Timing
Fuel injection
Generic OBD-II
High
What it means
P020B means the ECM has detected that fuel injection timing on cylinder 2 is incorrect. It usually points to a failing injector, its wiring, or a timing-reference problem from the crank or cam sensor. A cylinder firing with the wrong injection timing runs rough, loses power, and strains the engine, so it's worth addressing promptly.
High
Can I keep driving? You can limp it home, but running a cylinder with wrong injection timing risks rough running and engine strain; get it fixed promptly.
Common symptoms
What you'll notice
- Check-engine light on
- Rough running or a misfire-like stumble
- Reduced power
- Possible hard starting or increased smoke/knock (diesel)
Common causes
Most likely first
- Faulty or worn cylinder 2 fuel injectorLikely
- Damaged wiring or poor connection at the injectorCommon
- Faulty crankshaft or camshaft position sensor affecting the timing referenceCommon
- Low or incorrect fuel pressureLess often
- Faulty PCM/ECM (rare)Less often
How to diagnose & fix
Work through it in order
- Read freeze-frame data and check cylinder 2 contribution/balance data on a scan tool.
- Inspect the cylinder 2 injector wiring and connector.
- Test the injector (resistance/operation) and compare it with the other cylinders.
- Verify fuel pressure and the crank/cam sensor signals.
- Replace the faulty injector, then clear and retest.
FAQ
Quick answers
Is it safe to drive with P020B?+
Only to limp home. Incorrect injection timing on a cylinder causes rough running and strains the engine, so it should be diagnosed promptly rather than driven on.
Can I just clear P020B?+
It returns quickly. A timing fault on a specific cylinder points to an injector, wiring, or timing-reference problem that has to be repaired.
Related codes
Often seen with P020B
Read & clear P020B yourself
Scan your car, confirm the code, and clear it once it's fixed — with OBD DashX on your phone.
✓ Verified name — SAE J2012 / ISO 15031-6Guidance reviewed by OBD DashX