What Does P1230 Mean?
DTC P1230 indicates the fuel injector driver circuit for cylinder 6 has a short-circuit to ground. The PCM detected abnormally low resistance or a direct path to ground in the injector circuit, which prevents proper injector operation. Cylinder 6 will likely not fire correctly, causing a noticeable misfire and rough engine operation.
Safety Warning
A shorted injector on cylinder 6 creates a complete misfire, causing power loss, excessive vibration, and unburned fuel passing to the catalytic converter. Prolonged driving risks catalytic converter overheating and potential fire hazard.
Common Causes
35%
Chafed or damaged injector wiring harness grounding against the engine block
30%
Internally shorted fuel injector coil on cylinder 6
20%
Corroded or moisture-contaminated injector connector
10%
PCM injector driver transistor failure
5%
Aftermarket wiring modification creating unintended ground path
Diagnostic Steps
1
Disconnect the cylinder 6 fuel injector and measure injector coil resistance — typically 11-18 ohms for high-impedance injectors; significantly lower indicates a shorted coil.
2
With the injector disconnected, check each harness wire for continuity to ground — neither wire should show continuity to chassis ground.
3
Inspect the wiring harness routing for cylinder 6, paying particular attention to areas near the exhaust manifold, valve cover edges, and any sharp metal edges.
4
Examine the injector connector for signs of heat damage, corrosion, or terminal spread that could allow moisture ingress.
5
If wiring and injector test good, swap the cylinder 6 injector with another cylinder and clear codes to determine if the fault follows the injector or stays at cylinder 6.
Estimated Repair Cost
$75 - $450
Parts + labor, varies by vehicle and location
DTC P1230 indicates the fuel injector driver circuit for cylinder 6 has a short-circuit to ground. The PCM detected abnormally low resistance or a direct path to ground in the injector circuit, which prevents proper injector operation. Cylinder 6 will likely not fire correctly, causing a noticeable ...
The most common cause of P1230 (Injector Circuit Cylinder 6 Short To Ground) is: Chafed or damaged injector wiring harness grounding against the engine block
Typical repair costs for P1230 range from $75 to $450, depending on the vehicle, location, and whether you do it yourself or go to a shop.
A shorted injector on cylinder 6 creates a complete misfire, causing power loss, excessive vibration, and unburned fuel passing to the catalytic converter. Prolonged driving risks catalytic converter overheating and potential fire hazard.
Start by connecting an OBD2 scanner to read the code and any freeze frame data. Then follow the diagnostic steps specific to P1230 to identify the root cause.
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Quick Info
Category
Powertrain
System
Fuel Injection
Difficulty
Type
Manufacturer
Recommended Tools
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