OBD-II Diagnostic Trouble Code
P0291 — Cylinder 11 Injector Circuit Low
P0291 means the ECM detected a low voltage or low current condition in the cylinder 11 injector control circuit, usually a short to ground or shorted injector coil. It applies only to engines with eleven or more cylinders, which are very uncommon in trucks; on a truck with fewer cylinders, suspect a code lookup or translation error and confirm with OEM software.
Severity 4/5
Truck-relevant
Stop within 50 mi
Severity
Stop within 50 mi
Cylinder 11 Injector Circuit Low
Code
P0291
Category
Powertrain
Subsystem
Fuel
Truck-relevant
Yes
What this means for truckers
Stop within ~50 miles on a Cummins X15, Detroit DD15, PACCAR MX-13. Driving longer risks damaging adjacent components (turbo housing, head gasket, aftertreatment) and turning a $300 fix into a $3,000 fix.
Before you replace parts — try this first
P0291 on the Fuel system is most often code misread or mistranslated (for example from a j1939 fault) by a generic scan tool on an engine without a cylinder 11 — not a dead part. On commercial diesels especially, work these in order before spending money on parts:
- Confirm the symptoms. Match what your truck is doing to the Symptoms section below. If the code is set but the symptoms are not there, clear the code and re-test after a drive cycle — it may not return.
- Clean and dry the sensor connector. Water, road salt, or oil seeping into a connector is the #1 fake sensor failure. Disconnect, look for green corrosion or moisture, spray with electrical contact cleaner, dry, reseat. Many faults clear here for $0.
- Inspect the wiring harness. Trace the wire from the sensor toward the ECM — look for chafing against the engine block, melted insulation near the turbo or exhaust, or pinch points where a clamp has rubbed through.
- Test the sensor before swapping it. Most Common Causes (below) list the expected voltage or resistance range — a $20 multimeter saves a $300 sensor swap that does not fix the problem.
- Only then, replace the part. Use the OEM or a tier-1 aftermarket. Cheap sensors throw the same code in two weeks.
Symptoms
On an engine that has a cylinder 11, expect a steady miss, rough idle, vibration and low power from that cylinder. On a truck without one, there may be no drivability symptom at all.
Common causes
- CommonCode misread or mistranslated (for example from a J1939 fault) by a generic scan tool on an engine without a cylinder 11 ($100–$300)
- OccasionalCylinder 11 injector wiring shorted to ground ($150–$700)
- OccasionalShorted cylinder 11 injector coil ($200–$1000)
- RareECM injector driver failure ($800–$3000)
How to fix
Confirm the engine cylinder count and re-read codes with OEM or correctly configured software.
When to use: First, since few trucks have eleven or more cylinders.
Measure cylinder 11 injector resistance and check for short to ground.
When to use: When the engine actually has a cylinder 11.
Repair the harness or replace the injector.
When to use: Once the fault is located.
Affects most
No specific vehicle pattern found in our complaint database. This code can appear on any vehicle that supports OBD-II diagnostics.
Related
- → Browse all DTC trouble codes
- → Decode a VIN to check codes for your truck
- → Owner-operator maintenance guides
- → P0200 — Injector Circuit Malfunction
- → P0201 — Injector Circuit Malfunction - Cylinder 1
- → P0202 — Injector Circuit Malfunction - Cylinder 2
- → P0203 — Injector Circuit Malfunction - Cylinder 3
- → P0204 — Injector Circuit Malfunction - Cylinder 4
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I drive with code P0291?
Drive with caution. P0291 is severity 4 — stop within ~50 miles. Most commercial diesel codes at this severity (turbo, fuel rail, transmission solenoid) can damage adjacent expensive components if left unrepaired. Get to a service location before highway-speed loads.
How much does it cost to fix P0291 on a commercial truck?
Total repair cost ranges $100–$3000 depending on the root cause. The cheapest fix is usually the first one listed below — Code misread or mistranslated (for example from a J1939 fault) by a generic scan tool on an engine without a cylinder 11 — which is also the most common. On commercial trucks the cost is usually higher than passenger vehicles due to part availability and shop labor rates ($120–185/hour at most truck shops, vs $90–130 at general auto shops). DIY-capable fixes (sensors, hoses, filters) are at the low end; major component replacements (turbo actuator, high-pressure fuel pump, transmission solenoid pack) are at the high end. Always diagnose with a scan tool BEFORE replacing parts — guessing wrong on a $1,500 turbo actuator when the actual issue was a $30 boost hose is a common expensive mistake.
Will P0291 fail a DOT inspection?
P0291 itself doesn't automatically fail an inspection, but if the truck is in reduced-power mode (limp mode) at the time of inspection, it WILL be flagged. Most inspectors will note the check engine light but pass the truck if it's running and performance is normal. Fix it before a Level 1 inspection regardless.
What's the difference between P0291 and related codes?
P0291 is closely related to: P0200 (Injector Circuit Malfunction), P0201 (Injector Circuit Malfunction - Cylinder 1), P0202 (Injector Circuit Malfunction - Cylinder 2), P0203 (Injector Circuit Malfunction - Cylinder 3). These codes share the same subsystem (fuel) and often appear together. If you see this code, scan for the full code list — fixing the root cause usually clears multiple companion codes at once. If only P0291 is set without the companions, the issue is more isolated.
How do I prevent P0291 from coming back after a repair?
For P0291 (Cylinder 11 Injector Circuit Low), prevention centers on the fuel system. Replace fuel filters at the OEM interval — don't stretch them. Use only diesel from high-volume fuel stops (avoid bottom-of-tank fuel at low-traffic stations). Add a water separator if you don't have one. After repair, prime the fuel system per the engine manual.