Code
P0287
GWM
P — Powertrain
- 9 cylinder is incorrectly balanced
AI status
Completed
Completed
100%
Causes
- Faulty fuel injector for cylinder 9
- Weak or no spark from ignition coil or spark plug on cylinder 9
- Low compression or mechanical problem (valve, piston, ring) in cylinder 9
- Air leak or intake gasket leak affecting cylinder 9
- Wiring harness, connector, or ECU driver fault for injector or ignition circuit
- Contaminated fuel or restricted injector
Symptoms
- Engine misfire felt at idle or under load
- Rough idle, vibration or engine shaking
- Loss of power and reduced fuel economy
- Check Engine Light illuminated and DTC P0287 stored
- Possible white/black exhaust smoke or increased emissions
- Hard starting or stalling in severe cases
What to check
- Read freeze-frame and stored data for P0287 and related codes
- Scan live misfire counts and cylinder contribution data (cyl#9)
- Inspect spark plug, ignition coil/lead and connector for cylinder 9
- Perform fuel injector visual check and listen for injector click (with safe tool)
- Measure fuel rail pressure to ensure correct system pressure
- Perform compression and/or leak-down test on cylinder 9 and compare to other cylinders
Signal parameters
- Misfire count per cylinder (cyl 9)
- Cylinder contribution/imbalance %
- Long and short term fuel trim (LTFT/ STFT)
- Ignition coil dwell/current or primary voltage for cylinder 9
- Injector pulse width (ms) for cylinder 9
- Fuel rail pressure (bar/psi)
Diagnostic algorithm
- Retrieve DTCs and freeze-frame; note operating conditions when fault set.
- Inspect spark plug and ignition coil for cylinder 9; replace or swap coil with another cylinder and re-check fault (if misfire follows coil, coil likely faulty).
- Inspect and test fuel injector for cylinder 9: check connector, resistance, and listen for injector activation; swap injector with another cylinder and re-scan (if misfire follows injector, injector likely faulty).
- Check fuel pressure and supply to ensure adequate fuel delivery; replace fuel filter if needed.
- Perform compression and/or leak-down test on cylinder 9 and compare to reference cylinders to identify mechanical problems.
- Inspect intake manifold gasket, vacuum lines and PCV routing near cylinder 9 for leaks; use safe smoke or propane test if available.
- Inspect wiring and connectors for injector and ignition circuits for continuity, shorts to ground or power, and corrosion; repair as needed.
- Verify cam/crank timing and sensor signals if timing-related irregularities are suspected.
- Clear codes and perform a road/idle test after repairs to confirm the fault does not return and engine operation is normal.
- If tests are inconclusive, consider ECU driver or PCM fault and consult manufacturer technical service information before replacing control module.
Likely causes
- Clogged or leaking injector on cylinder 9
- Faulty ignition coil or fouled/broken spark plug on cylinder 9
- Low compression from worn rings, burnt valve, or head gasket leak at cylinder 9
- Connector corrosion or broken wiring to injector/coil
- Intake manifold gasket leak or vacuum leak near cylinder 9
Fault status
Status
P0287 — Cylinder 9 contribution/imbalance detected. Possible misfire or incorrect combustion in cylinder 9. Inspect ignition, fuel, compression, and related wiring.
Repair difficulty: Medium
Diagnostic time: 1-3 hours
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