P0216 Fuel injection timing control circuit fault

Injection timing control circuit malfunction

Severity not verified — if the car runs badly, have it inspected

The sources tie P0216 to hard starts and an engine that does not respond to the accelerator on Dodge diesels, but none gives a rating, so no class is claimed.

It gets more serious if:

  • Inspect soon: Get it inspected soon if the engine will not start, stalls, or stops responding to the accelerator. A 2002 Dodge Ram 2500 owner described the engine not responding to the pedal with P0216 stored, and Dodge service information lists hard and no-start.

Source: how we rate severity

P0216 in short

P0216 means the computer sees a fault in the injection timing control circuit. On 2000-2002 Dodge Cummins diesels, owners and Dodge service information tie it to the injection pump. General Motors lists it with injector circuit codes for a wiring harness and injector repair. It can mean hard starts or loss of throttle response.

On a diesel with an electronically timed injection pump, the computer sets when fuel is injected. P0216 is the circuit fault for that timing control: wiring, the timing control solenoid, or the computer, according to TroubleCodes.net.

Dodge Cummins owners describe it as the Bosch VP44 injection pump failing to communicate or time properly, and Dodge service information lists P0216 as fuel injection pump timing failure alongside low transfer pump output that causes hard start or no start. These are owner accounts and a bulletin summary, not a full repair procedure.

GM uses the same code differently. Its bulletin 22-NA-087 lists P0216 together with the injector circuit codes P0201 to P0206 on 2021-2022 trucks and SUVs and replaces the fuel injector and the wiring harness. The meaning for your car depends on its engine and maker.

Most likely causes

  1. Injection pump or its timing control not working (Dodge Cummins diesels)

    Supported by vehicle data
    Why it ranks here
    A Dodge bulletin summary calls P0216 fuel injection pump timing failure, and two NHTSA complaints from owners of 2000-2002 Cummins vehicles tie it to the VP44 pump.
    What would change this
    Rises on a Cummins diesel with hard start, stalling or dead throttle and a pump that shows faults on diagnosis. Falls on a gasoline or non-Cummins engine.

  2. Low fuel supply from the transfer or lift pump (Dodge Cummins diesels)

    Supported by vehicle data
    Why it ranks here
    Dodge service information ties low transfer pump output to hard and no-start with P0216. One owner blames weak lift pump pressure for damaging the injection pump, but that is an unverified claim.
    What would change this
    Rises if measured fuel pressure to the injection pump is below spec. Falls if supply pressure is good.

  3. Damaged wiring or connector in the timing control circuit

    Common general cause
    Why it ranks here
    TroubleCodes.net lists wiring first among the faults for this circuit, and GM calls for checking and replacing the engine wiring harness in its bulletin for this code family.
    What would change this
    Rises if the harness shows damage or a circuit check finds a break or short. Falls if the circuit checks out.

  4. Injector and wiring harness fault (2021-2022 GM trucks and SUVs)

    Supported by vehicle data
    Why it ranks here
    GM bulletin 22-NA-087 lists P0216 with P0201-P0206 and replaces the fuel injector and wiring harness. It applies to those vehicles only.
    What would change this
    Rises on a covered GM vehicle where the harness inspection finds damage. Falls on any other vehicle.
    How to test the fuel injector

  5. Engine computer fault

    Possible — needs testing
    Why it ranks here
    TroubleCodes.net lists the computer, but only after the wiring and timing control have been checked.
    What would change this
    Rises only if wiring and timing control both test good. Falls with any other fault found.
    How to test the engine control module (ecm / pcm)

What to test first

Start at step 1. Each result tells you what it means and where to go next.

  1. Read all stored codes and freeze frame, and note the engine type and whether other injector or fuel pressure codes are stored with P0216.

    Low riskTool: OBD-II scan tool

  2. Have the fuel pressure supplied to the injection pump measured and compared with the maker spec.

    Best left to a shopTool: fuel pressure gauge

    Warning:Diesel fuel under pressure can spray at high force and injure skin. Let a shop do this test.

  3. With the key off, look at the visible engine harness and connectors for the timing control circuit for chafing, cracked insulation or loose pins.

    Low risk

Symptoms

  • Check engine light on
  • Hard start or no start
  • Engine does not respond to the accelerator Gets more serious: stop and have it checked.
  • Stalling Gets more serious: stop and have it checked.

Compare with: Check engine light with loss of power

How to fix

  1. With the key off, look over the visible engine harness near the injectors or injection pump for chafing, cracked insulation or loose connectors.

Parts and cost context

  • Fuel injector:GM replaces the injector and wiring harness together in its bulletin; confirm the harness is damaged first. Labor varies; get a quote.

Labor varies by vehicle and shop; get a quote before you approve a repair.

Compare used part prices on PartPriceGuide

On your vehicle

Dodge

  • 2000–2002 · Ram 2500

    Supported by vehicle data

    Dodge service information lists P0216 as injection pump timing failure with hard or no start from low transfer pump output, and an owner of a 2002 Ram 2500 5.9L Cummins reported the engine not responding to the pedal with P0216. Whether the bulletin is still current is not verified.

  • 0011Status unverified

    Low transfer pump output causing hard or no start, with P0216

    2000–2001ram-2500 · issued · NHTSA 610641

    Dodge advance service information: low fuel output from the transfer pump after about 9,000 miles can cause hard or no start, and the MIL may light with P0216, which it calls fuel injection pump timing failure. The summary names the RAM; the 2500 slug is used because the cited owner report is a Ram 2500.

    We couldn't confirm whether this bulletin is still current, so it doesn't count as confirmation.

Chevrolet

  • 2021–2022 · Silverado 1500

    Supported by vehicle data

    GM bulletin 22-NA-087 replaces the fuel injector and wiring harness when P0216 sets with the injector circuit codes. Whether it is still current is not verified.

  • 22-NA-087 (chevrolet)Status unverified

    Replace injector and wiring harness for MIL with P0201-P0206 and/or P0216

    2021–2022silverado-1500, suburban, tahoe · issued · NHTSA 10211935

    Procedure to replace the fuel injector and the wiring harness for this concern.

    We couldn't confirm whether this bulletin is still current, so it doesn't count as confirmation.

GMC

  • 2021–2022 · Sierra 1500

    Supported by vehicle data

    GM bulletin 22-NA-087 replaces the fuel injector and wiring harness when P0216 sets with the injector circuit codes. Whether it is still current is not verified.

  • 22-NA-087 (gmc)Status unverified

    Replace injector and wiring harness for MIL with P0201-P0206 and/or P0216

    2021–2022sierra-1500, yukon, yukon-xl · issued · NHTSA 10211935

    Procedure to replace the fuel injector and the wiring harness for this concern.

    We couldn't confirm whether this bulletin is still current, so it doesn't count as confirmation.

  • P0201The engine computer has detected an electrical fault in the cylinder 1 fuel injector circuit

    Same system Supported by vehicle data

    GM lists P0216 with the cylinder injector circuit codes P0201 to P0206 in one wiring and injector bulletin, so check the harness when they appear together.

All Fuel pump and injectors codes

Sources and review

  1. P0216 trouble code page — TroubleCodes.net
  2. On-Board Diagnostic Trouble Codes (generic code title list) — Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles
  3. NHTSA complaint ODI 10126388 — NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation
  4. Dodge advance service information: low transfer pump output, hard start, P0216 (Ram diesel) — Chrysler (Dodge) ,
  5. NHTSA complaint ODI 10465001 — NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation
  6. GM bulletin 22-NA-087: replace fuel injector and wiring harness for MIL with P0201-P0206 and/or P0216 — General Motors ,
Last reviewed
Written by
Saurabh K.
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