What causes fault code P0290?

• Most likely: Faulty or clogged fuel injector on cylinder 10 • Likely: Faulty spark plug/ignition coil (gasoline) or glow plug issues (diesel) • Possible: Wiring issues or connector corrosion/loose pins at the injector circuit • Rare: Internal engine mechanical failure (low compression, valve train issues)

How do you fix fault code P0290?

STEP 1: Inspect the fuel injector connector for cylinder 10. Look for corrosion or pushed-out pins. STEP 2: Use a scan tool to perform a cylinder contribution test. Monitor real-time misfire counters. STEP 3: Resistance test the injector. Most high-impedance injectors should read 12-16 Ohms. Replace if out of spec. STEP 4: Swap ignition components (if applicable) with another cylinder to see if the code follows the component. STEP 5: Perform a compression and cylinder leakage test to rule out internal mechanical issues. STEP 6: Replace the faulty fuel injector and clear the DTCs.

Powertrain (Engine & Gearbox)Standard EOBD

P0290 - Cylinder 10 Contribution/Balance Fault

Q: What are the symptoms of fault code P0290?

• MIL (Check Engine Light) illumination • Rough idling and engine vibrations • Noticeable loss of engine power and hesitation • Increased fuel consumption • Engine may enter Limp Home Mode to prevent catalytic converter damage

Last updated:1 February 2026

Related:Fuel Injector (Cylinder 10), Engine Control Module (ECM), Crankshaft Position (CKP) Sensor, Ignition Coil / Spark Plug, Wiring Harness

System

Powertrain (Engine & Gearbox)

Related Fault Codes

P0200

Injector Circuit Malfunction

P0201

Cylinder 1 Injector Circuit Open

P0202

Injector Circuit - Cylinder 2 - Malfunction

P0203

Injector Circuit - Cylinder 3

Technical Description

P0290 is an OBD-II diagnostic trouble code indicating that the Engine Control Module (ECM) has detected a contribution or balance fault in cylinder number 10. The ECM monitors the crankshaft speed variations using the Crankshaft Position (CKP) sensor during each cylinder's power stroke. If cylinder 10 fails to accelerate the crankshaft at the same rate as the other cylinders, the ECM determines it is 'weak' or underperforming. This can be caused by issues with fuel delivery, ignition timing, or mechanical compression. The ECM uses complex algorithms to filter out vibrations and ensure the fault is persistent before triggering the MIL.

Possible Causes

Faulty or clogged fuel injector on cylinder 10

Faulty spark plug/ignition coil (gasoline) or glow plug issues (diesel)

Wiring issues or connector corrosion/loose pins at the injector circuit

Internal engine mechanical failure (low compression, valve train issues)

Symptoms

MIL (Check Engine Light) illumination

Rough idling and engine vibrations

Noticeable loss of engine power and hesitation

Increased fuel consumption

Engine may enter Limp Home Mode to prevent catalytic converter damage

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P0290 - Cylinder 10 Contribution/Balance Fault

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P0290 - Cylinder 10 Contribution/Balance Fault

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