P021E
Cylinder 11 Injection Timing
Fuel injection timing
Generic OBD-II
High
What it means
P021E means the computer detected that fuel injection timing for cylinder 11 is outside the expected range. It shows up as rough, misfire-like running and reduced power, and on diesels it can bring knock or smoke. The usual causes are a worn cylinder 11 injector, low or erratic fuel rail pressure, or a crank/cam position-signal problem that upsets the timing reference.
High
Can I keep driving? Drivable but likely rough and down on power — a cylinder-specific injection-timing fault can cause misfire-like running and, on diesels, knock or smoke, so have it diagnosed soon.
Common symptoms
What you'll notice
- Check-engine light on
- Rough running or a misfire-like stumble
- Reduced power and hesitation
- Possible knock or exhaust smoke on diesel engines
Common causes
Most likely first
- Faulty or worn cylinder 11 fuel injector affecting its timingLikely
- Low or erratic fuel rail pressureCommon
- Crankshaft or camshaft position sensor fault upsetting the timing referenceCommon
- Damaged wiring in the cylinder 11 injector control circuitLess often
- Rarely, an ECM/PCM faultLess often
How to diagnose & fix
Work through it in order
- Read freeze-frame data and any cylinder-specific injector/timing data.
- Confirm fuel rail pressure is correct and steady — low or erratic pressure skews injection timing.
- Inspect the cylinder 11 injector wiring and connector for damage or corrosion.
- Check the crankshaft and camshaft position sensor signals for the timing reference.
- Test or replace the cylinder 11 injector if it's out of spec. Clear and re-test.
FAQ
Quick answers
Is it safe to drive with P021E?+
Short-term, but the engine will likely run rough and down on power, and on a diesel it may knock or smoke. Because that stresses the engine, get it diagnosed rather than driving on it.
Can I just clear P021E?+
It returns until the injector, fuel pressure, or timing-reference issue is fixed. It's a real fueling fault, not something a reset resolves.
Related codes
Often seen with P021E
Read & clear P021E 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