P0216 is a diesel code for the control of injection timing. On 1990s distributor pumps with an electronic timing advance it meant that actual injection timing missed its target; today manufacturers use it for the electronic injector control, with different meanings. GM's Duramax diesels compare, inside the engine module, the summed injection pulse widths from the hardware driver with those calculated by the software; a mismatch in 30 of 124 or 60 consecutive checks sets the code with the warning light in the first trip. On GM's 3.0 litre LM2 it appeared together with P0202 from a broken pin in the injector 2 connector. Saab's 3.0 V6 diesel uses it for a fault in the separate injector power stage. The result can be loss of power, rough running, smoke and limp mode.
Medium severity. Can I keep driving?Drive as little as possible and go to a repair shop. If you smell fuel or the engine is shaking badly, do not keep driving.
Symptoms
- Check engine light on
- Loss of power, limp mode
- Rough running, jerking
- Hard starting or stalling (distributor pump), smoke
Most likely causes
- Injector harness or connector (broken pin) – common rail
- Engine module or injector power stage faulty internally
- Distributor pump electronics or timing advance faulty
- Low supply pressure on distributor pumps (lift pump, filter)
- Pump installed incorrectly, drive gear misaligned
What to check, in order
Start with the simplest. You can tick off each step.
Good to know
- Repair difficulty: hard
- It can trigger limp mode.
- It affects emissions.
What each character of P0216 means
- P: Powertrain: engine and transmission
- 0: Generic code: same on every make
- 2: Fuel injection
- 16: Specific fault in that system
Frequently asked questions
Can I keep driving with code P0216?
Drive as little as possible and go to a repair shop. If you smell fuel or the engine is shaking badly, do not keep driving.
What causes code P0216?
The most common causes are: injector harness or connector (broken pin) – common rail; engine module or injector power stage faulty internally; distributor pump electronics or timing advance faulty.
Related codes
- P0251Injection Pump Fuel Metering Control A (Cam/Rotor/Injector)
- P020ACylinder 1 Injection Timing
- P0201Cylinder 1 Injector A Circuit/Open
- P0202Cylinder 2 Injector A Circuit/Open
- P062DFuel Injector Driver Circuit Performance Bank 1
- P0215Engine Shutoff Solenoid
Sources
- law.cornell.edu: 13 CCR 1968.2
- gsi.ext.gm.com: 18OBDG04 Engine Diagnostics
- static.nhtsa.gov: MC 10217856 0001
- saabwisonline.com: power stage injectors
Values and procedures vary by manufacturer. If it affects brakes, steering, fuel or high voltage, see a professional. Updated: 2026-11-04. How we build these pages.