BMW 2768 — Fuel Injector Cylinder 2 Activation
P0265 · P0264 · P0202
Description
Fault code 2768 relates to the electrical activation circuit of the fuel injector on cylinder 2. The DME monitors the injector driver output and sets this code when it detects a short to battery voltage, short to ground, or open circuit condition. On BMW inline-6 engines, cylinder 2 is the second from the front.
Safety warning
A faulty injector circuit causes cylinder 2 to misfire, sending unburned fuel into the exhaust. Prolonged driving can damage the catalytic converter. Address promptly.
This code has 3 variants:
2768 / P0265 — Short to B+
The DME detected a short to battery voltage on the cylinder 2 injector driver circuit. Excessive voltage is present on the output when it should not be, potentially causing the injector to fire continuously or erratically.
Symptoms (1)
MIL, EML, and CC message displayed. Engine enters backup mode with RPM limiting (up to ~5,000 RPM). Rough idle from cylinder 2 misfire or flooding. Reduced power. Possible fuel smell from exhaust.
Common Causes (3)
- Damaged wiring harness with the cylinder 2 injector conductor contacting a B+ source — check routing along the fuel rail and intake manifold.
- Internal injector solenoid fault creating a path to the supply voltage rail.
- DME driver stage failure (unlikely with a single-cylinder fault).
Diagnosis Steps (5)
- Read full fault memory. Check for misfire faults on cylinder 2 (P0302) and any other injector circuit faults.
- Disconnect the cylinder 2 injector. With ignition on, measure voltage at the signal pin vs. ground. No voltage expected.
- Swap cylinder 2 injector to another position (e.g., cylinder 3). Clear faults, crank briefly. Fault follows injector = bad injector. Fault stays at cylinder 2 = wiring issue.
- Inspect wiring for chafing, particularly where the harness routes near metal edges.
- Measure injector coil resistance. Compare to BMW TIS specification.
Repair wiring or replace injector based on diagnosis. Clear fault memory. Perform injector adaptation via ISTA if required. Refer to RealOEM for the correct part number.
2768 / P0264 — Short to ground
The DME detected a short to ground on the cylinder 2 injector circuit. Excessive current is drawn through a low-resistance path to chassis ground, preventing proper injector control.
Symptoms (1)
MIL, EML, and CC message. Engine enters backup mode with RPM limiting. Rough idle from cylinder 2 misfire. Reduced power.
Common Causes (3)
- Wiring chafed against the cylinder head or intake manifold hardware, exposing the conductor to ground.
- Moisture or oil in the injector connector.
- Internal injector coil short to the injector housing.
Diagnosis Steps (5)
- Disconnect cylinder 2 injector connector and inspect for contamination. Clean and dry.
- Measure resistance from each injector pin to the engine block. Any reading other than OL = ground fault.
- Test injector in isolation — measure from each pin to the injector body. Continuity to body = internal short.
- Swap injector to another position to confirm the fault follows the injector or stays at the wiring.
- Trace harness for bare wire contacting grounded surfaces.
Replace injector if internally shorted. Repair wiring. Seal connector. Clear fault memory and perform injector adaptation if needed.
2768 / P0202 — Open circuit
The DME detected an open-load condition on the cylinder 2 injector circuit. No current flows through the injector when commanded, meaning cylinder 2 receives no fuel.
Symptoms (1)
MIL, EML, and CC message. Backup mode with RPM limiting. Rough idle with a dead misfire on cylinder 2. Significant vibration at idle. Reduced power.
Common Causes (4)
- Disconnected or loose injector connector — most common cause, especially after recent engine service.
- Broken wire in the injector harness.
- Failed injector coil (open winding).
- Corroded connector pins.
Diagnosis Steps (5)
- Push the cylinder 2 injector connector firmly and verify the locking tab engages.
- Disconnect and measure coil resistance. OL = broken coil, replace injector.
- If injector tests good, check continuity through the harness from the injector connector to the DME connector.
- Inspect for wire breaks at stress points.
- Check connector pins for corrosion or damage.
Re-seat connector, replace injector with broken coil, or repair wiring. Clear fault memory. No coding required for connector/wiring fixes.