What does it mean?
P1217 is a Powertrain (engine, transmission, fuel system) fault code. It indicates: Cylinder 5 Fuel Injection Circuit Short to B+ .
Symptoms
- Check engine lamp on with a misfire logged for cylinder 5
- Rough idle, vibration and uneven running under light throttle
- Rich exhaust, black smoke and a fuel smell in the engine bay
- Fouled plug and fuel diluted oil on that side of the engine
- Hesitation and lost power when accelerating
Likely causes
- Harness chafe on the rear bank of a V engine, where access is tight and the loom is pulled over sharp edges
- Moisture and corrosion in the injector connector, common at the back of the engine where water collects
- Injector internally shorted between coil and supply
- Loom trapped when the intake manifold or engine cover was refitted
- Aftermarket wiring or an alarm feed tapped into the injector harness
- Injector driver in the module already damaged by the fault
How to fix it
- Read the codes and see whether only cylinder 5 or the whole bank is affected
- Unplug the injector, turn the ignition on and measure the control wire for battery voltage
- Free the loom on the rear bank and inspect every clip and edge it passes over
- Check the connector for water, corrosion and damaged seals, and measure pin to pin
- Measure injector resistance and insulation to its supply terminal, comparing with the other cylinders
- Repair or replace the damaged harness section and reroute it away from sharp edges
- Verify the module driver only once the external short has been eliminated