P0213
Cold Start Injector 1
Fuel injector circuit / cold start
Generic OBD-II
High
What it means
P0213 means the ECM has detected a fault with cold start injector 1 — an extra injector some engines use to add fuel during a cold start. When it fails, the engine is hard to start cold and may run rough until it warms up; if it sticks open it can flood a cylinder. The usual cause is the injector, its wiring, or the cold-start control that triggers it.
High
Can I keep driving? The engine usually runs once warm, but expect hard cold starts and rough cold running — and a stuck-open injector can flood the engine, so fix it soon.
Common symptoms
What you'll notice
- Check-engine light on
- Hard starting when the engine is cold
- Rough running or stalling until warmed up
- Possible fuel smell or black smoke on start (if the injector leaks)
Common causes
Most likely first
- Failed cold start injector 1Likely
- Open or short in the cold start injector circuitCommon
- Loose or corroded wiring/connectorCommon
- Faulty thermo-time switch or cold-start control; rarely, the ECMLess often
How to diagnose & fix
Work through it in order
- Inspect the cold start injector connector and wiring for opens, shorts, or corrosion.
- Check the injector's resistance and that it receives its control signal during a cold crank.
- Test the thermo-time switch / cold-start control that triggers the injector, where fitted.
- Replace the cold start injector if it's open, shorted, or leaking. Clear and re-test.
FAQ
Quick answers
Is it safe to drive with P0213?+
Once running and warm the car usually drives fine, but hard cold starts are likely, and a leaking cold start injector can flood or wash down a cylinder — repair it promptly.
Can I just clear P0213?+
You can, but if the injector or its circuit is faulty the code and the cold-start trouble return.
Related codes
Often seen with P0213
Read & clear P0213 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