P219D The engine computer has detected that cylinder 2 is running at a noticeably different air-fuel ratio from the other cylinders

Air-fuel ratio imbalance, cylinder 2

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

The sources describe the meaning and a software update on one engine but do not rate how serious the code is; a mixture imbalance in one cylinder can also become a misfire, so treat the escalation below as the guide.

It gets more serious if:

  • Inspect soon: Inspect soon if the check engine light flashes, the engine misfires or shakes, or it loses power. An uneven mixture can become a misfire, which can overheat and damage the catalytic converter.

Source: how we rate severity

P219D in short

P219D means the computer sees cylinder 2 running richer or leaner than the other cylinders. A dirty or leaking injector, an intake leak near that cylinder, or a fouled spark plug are the usual suspects. Hyundai and Toyota have bulletins for some engines. It is usually drivable, but a flashing light means stop.

The computer works out how much each cylinder is adding to the exhaust mixture, using the upstream oxygen sensor with crankshaft position. P219D sets when cylinder 2 is off compared with the others. It is an imbalance code: the cylinder is still burning fuel, unlike a misfire code.

Hyundai lists P219D (cylinder #2 imbalance error) with P219C to P219F and a gear-ratio code in a software update bulletin for the 2018 Sonata 2.0T. Toyota has a bulletin for the 2015 Tacoma 1GR-FE that lists the whole P219A to P219F family. Neither summary says what the repair is.

Causes outside software are cylinder-specific: an injector, an intake leak at that cylinder, or an ignition problem. A shared fault such as a failing air-fuel sensor or fuel pressure can also set several cylinder codes at once.

Most likely causes

  1. Engine and transmission computer software (some engines)

    Supported by vehicle data
    Why it ranks here
    Hyundai bulletin 5NP-R6Y5M-01 updates the engine and transmission computer software on the 2018 Sonata 2.0T that set the cylinder imbalance codes P219C to P219F; Toyota T-SB-0055-15 covers the 2015 Tacoma 1GR-FE with the P219A to P219F family. Neither summary gives the fix.
    What would change this
    Rises if you drive one of these vehicles and a dealer finds the bulletin applies. Falls if it does not, or if the computer is current.
    How to test the engine control module (ecm / pcm)

  2. Fuel injector on cylinder 2

    Possible — needs testing
    Why it ranks here
    A clogged or leaking injector on one cylinder is the most direct way to make only that cylinder run off. PartsAvatar describes the P219D (cylinder 2) test as a comparison of that cylinder with the others and points at sensors, wiring and compression; the injector link is a general inference.
    What would change this
    Rises if an injector balance test or fuel trim split points at that cylinder. Falls if the injector tests normal.
    How to test the fuel injector

  3. Intake leak, ignition fault or poor compression on cylinder 2

    Possible — needs testing
    Why it ranks here
    PartsAvatar lists poor compression as a cause and tells technicians to clear misfire codes first, so cylinder-specific ignition or mechanical faults come before expensive parts.
    What would change this
    Rises if misfire counts on that cylinder are high or a compression test is low. Falls if the cylinder runs smoothly.

  4. Air-fuel sensor, crank or cam sensor, MAF or MAP sensor

    Possible — needs testing
    Why it ranks here
    PartsAvatar lists faulty oxygen sensors, crankshaft or camshaft sensors and MAF or MAP sensors as causes. The detection depends on the oxygen sensor and crank position signals, so a fault there can set the code.
    What would change this
    Rises if several cylinder imbalance codes are stored together, or sensor data looks implausible. Falls if only one cylinder is flagged.
    How to test the oxygen (o2) sensor

What to test first

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

  1. Read all codes and freeze-frame data. Note which cylinders have imbalance or misfire codes and fix any misfire, throttle or airflow codes first.

    Low risk

    • IfSeveral cylinder imbalance codes (P219A to P219F) are stored

      It meansA shared cause is likelier: software, fuel pressure, a sensor or an intake leak.

      Go to step 2

    • IfOnly cylinder 2 is flagged

      It meansLook at that cylinder first.

      Go to step 3

  2. Ask a dealer whether your VIN has a software update for the cylinder imbalance codes. Hyundai and Toyota have issued bulletins for some engines.

    Low risk

  3. Have a shop check cylinder 2: misfire counts, injector balance, spark plug and coil, and intake leaks, and compare oxygen sensor voltage patterns.

    Best left to a shopTool: scan tool, injector balance tester

    Warning:Fuel system and ignition tests involve fuel under pressure and high voltage. Let a shop do them.

Symptoms

  • Check engine light, often with no change in how the car drives
  • Slightly worse fuel economy or a rough idle
  • Misfire codes stored along with the imbalance code
  • Flashing check engine light, shaking or loss of power Gets more serious: stop and have it checked.

Compare with: Rough idle with the check engine light on

How to fix

  1. Ask a dealer whether your VIN has an open engine computer software update for the cylinder imbalance codes.

Parts and cost context

  • Fuel injector:Replace the cylinder 2 injector only if a balance test points to it. Labour 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

Hyundai

  • 2018 · Sonata · 2.0L turbo

    Supported by vehicle data

    Hyundai bulletin 5NP-R6Y5M-01 updates the engine and transmission computer software for 2.0T Sonatas that set the cylinder imbalance codes, including P219D. Whether it is still current is not verified.

  • 5NP-R6Y5M-01Status unverified

    ECM and TCM software update (2.0T, 8-speed), cylinder imbalance codes

    2018sonata · NHTSA 10127004

    Updates the engine and transmission computer software on the 2018 Sonata 2.0T. Lists P219C to P219F (cylinder 1 to 4 imbalance errors) and P0731 as codes that may set.

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

Toyota

  • 2015 · Tacoma · 1GR-FE

    Supported by vehicle data

    Toyota T-SB-0055-15 covers 2015 Tacoma trucks with the 1GR-FE engine that set the P219A to P219F family. Whether it is still current is not verified.

  • T-SB-0055-15Status unverified

    MIL on with P219A to P219F, P21A0 and/or P21A1 (1GR-FE)

    2015tacoma · NHTSA 10132498

    Follow the repair procedure in the bulletin; the NHTSA summary does not describe it.

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

  • P219FCylinder 4 is running at a noticeably different air-fuel ratio from the other cylinders, so the computer flags an imbalance on that cylinder

    Same system Supported by vehicle data

    P219F is the same imbalance test on cylinder 4. Hyundai and Toyota bulletins list P219C to P219F together.

  • P219AThe engine computer has detected that the cylinders on bank 1 are running at noticeably different air-fuel ratios from each other

    Same system Supported by vehicle data

    P219A is the bank 1 version of the same imbalance test, listed with P219C in the Toyota Tacoma bulletin.

All Fuel trim (air-fuel mixture) codes

P219D questions

What is the difference between P219D and a misfire code?

An imbalance code means the cylinder is still firing but its air-fuel mixture is off compared with the others. A misfire code means the cylinder is not burning properly.

Sources and review

  1. P219D Cylinder 2 Imbalance Error — PartsAvatar
  2. TSB 5NP-R6Y5M-01 ECM and TCM software update, 2018 Sonata 2.0T — Hyundai Motor America
  3. T-SB-0055-15 MIL on with P219A-P219F, P21A0, P21A1, 2015 Tacoma 1GR-FE — Toyota Motor Sales
Last reviewed
Written by
Saurabh K.
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