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P0276 is a diagnostic trouble code (DTC) for "Intermediate Shaft Speed Sensor C Circuit". This can happen for multiple reasons and a mechanic needs to diagnose the specific cause for this code to be triggered in your situation. Our certified mobile mechanics can come to your home or office to perform the Check Engine Light diagnostic for $154.99 . Once we are able to diagnose the problem, you will be provided with an upfront quote for the recommended fix and receive $50.0 off as a credit towards the repair. All our repairs are backed by our 12-month / 12,000-mile warranty.
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The P0276 code is defined as the #6 injector circuit having a low voltage.
This code gets stored by the vehicle’s PCM (Powertrain Control Module) when the fuel injector for the #6 cylinder is experiencing low voltage. In other words, it’s unable to work correctly.
The code can also be indicative of other problems – or potential problems – too. That’s because, when a fuel injector isn’t working correctly, it sets off a chain reaction. In fact, the engine’s operating parameters will literally change because of just one fuel injector’s suboptimal performance.
This makes sense. If a fuel injector isn’t supplied with sufficient energy, then its spray pattern is going to decrease. The result of that will be a lean mixture of fuel. Thus begins the ripple effect. In today’s modern cars, the PCM will quickly realize that one of the fuel injectors is underperforming and react by enriching the fuel mixtures for the other cylinders. While it keeps the vehicle working, its fuel economy plunges.
It gets worse, though, because the cylinder with the lean mixture will soon experience higher temperatures in its head. The result of this will be detonation which will be picked up by the knock sensor. This time, the PCM reacts by slowing down the cylinder’s timing. Once again, this measure allows the vehicle to keep working, but now the engine’s power takes a hit.
We could continue, but hopefully the enormity of what this code represents is understood.
There are a handful of reasons that could be behind P0276:
As you can see, all of these common causes have to do with the #6 cylinder’s fuel injector. The only other reason worth considering would be that the PCM is faulty, but this is extremely rare.
If the P0276 code has been stored, then the Check Engine Light should have come on. The other symptoms were documented earlier. They would include:
Fortunately, diagnosing this problem is fairly easy. Once a mechanic uses an OBD-II scanner to confirm the P0276 code was logged, they’ll examine the fuel injector and its harness. If necessary, they’ll follow the chain reaction to inspect the nature of any further damage.
A big problem that mechanics make far too often is replacing or repairing the faulty fuel injector and then assuming that’s all that needed to be done. The P0276 code will clear, but as we covered at the beginning, a whole chain of problems could have resulted as well. Most of them should have their own OBD trouble codes, but a qualified mechanic will take the time to do other diagnostics just to make sure they didn’t miss anything.
This code should definitely be taken seriously. It’s not going to affect the vehicle to the point that those inside will be endangered, but if left untreated, an underperforming fuel injector will quickly become an expensive problem to repair. That’s not to mention how much it will cost the owner at the pump just to keep it moving.
Fortunately, if caught early enough, common repairs are fairly simple and affordable:
A technician should always check the other fuel injectors when there’s a problem with one of them. It could be that a bigger problem gets caught in its infancy.
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