P0281
Cylinder 7 Contribution/Balance
Fuel injector circuit
Generic OBD-II
High
What it means
P0281 means the engine controller has determined that cylinder 7 is contributing less power than the other cylinders — it's out of balance with the group. That usually points to a weak or clogged injector, uneven fuel delivery, or low compression on that cylinder, which makes the engine run rough and down on power.
High
Can I keep driving? You can usually drive, but cylinder 7 isn't pulling its weight so the engine runs rough. Sustained misfiring can harm the catalytic converter — fix it soon.
Common symptoms
What you'll notice
- Check-engine light on
- Rough idle or a noticeable miss from one cylinder
- Reduced power and hesitation on acceleration
- Possible increase in fuel consumption
Common causes
Most likely first
- Clogged, weak, or faulty fuel injector on cylinder 7Likely
- Low or uneven fuel pressureCommon
- Wiring or connector fault in the cylinder 7 injector circuitCommon
- Low compression or a mechanical problem on cylinder 7Less often
- Vacuum or intake leak affecting that cylinderLess often
How to diagnose & fix
Work through it in order
- Read freeze-frame and live data to confirm cylinder 7 is contributing less than the others.
- Inspect the cylinder 7 injector wiring and connector; test injector resistance and flow.
- Check fuel pressure and look for vacuum/intake leaks near cylinder 7.
- If fueling is good, run a compression test on cylinder 7 to rule out a mechanical cause.
- Repair or replace the injector as needed. Clear and re-test.
FAQ
Quick answers
Is it safe to drive with P0281?+
For short trips, but an underperforming cylinder makes the engine run rough and can, over time, damage the catalytic converter. Fix it promptly.
Can I just clear P0281?+
It will return until the reason cylinder 7 is underperforming — usually its injector or fuel supply — is corrected.
Related codes
Often seen with P0281
Read & clear P0281 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