P0263
High SeverityCylinder 1 Contribution/Balance
Engine System
What Does P0263 Mean?
Cylinder 1 is not contributing its fair share of power. The ECM detected a significant power imbalance.
Common Fix
Repair cylinder 1 issue (injector, spark, or compression)
Estimated Cost (DIY)
$40 - $500
Common Causes
How to Diagnose P0263
- 1Run compression test on cylinder 1
- 2Check injector operation
- 3Check spark plug and coil
- 4Compare contribution to other cylinders
OEM Diagnostic Flowchart
Scroll to load technician if/then branches.
Read live data and freeze frame for P0263 to pinpoint the cause before buying parts.
Ready to fix it yourself?
Find My Vehicle Repair Guide →Select your exact vehicle for a personalized step-by-step guide
Priority exact repair pages for this code family
Popular repair guides related to this code.
Related repair guide for vehicles with P0263.
Related repair guide for vehicles with P0263.
Related repair guide for vehicles with P0263.
Related repair guide for vehicles with P0263.
Related Resources
Repair guides, symptom pages, and wiring diagrams related to P0263.
OEM Manual Evidence
Browse →A L L Diagnostic Trouble Codes ( DTC ) — 2013 GMC Truck Savana 2500 V8-6.6L DSL Turbo Service Manual | Operation CHARM Operation CHARM : Ca...
A L L Diagnostic Trouble Codes ( DTC ) — 2013 GMC Truck Savana 3500 V8-6.6L DSL Turbo Service Manual | Operation CHARM Operation CHARM : Ca...
A L L Diagnostic Trouble Codes ( DTC ) — 2013 GMC Truck Savana 4500 V8-6.6L DSL Turbo Service Manual | Operation CHARM Operation CHARM : Ca...
A L L Diagnostic Trouble Codes ( DTC ) — 2013 GMC Truck Sierra 2500 2WD V8-6.6L DSL Turbo Service Manual | Operation CHARM Operation CHARM...
Exact Repair Workflows
Browse →Open the exact repair flow most commonly associated with P0263 on this vehicle.
Open the exact repair flow most commonly associated with P0263 on this vehicle.
Open the exact repair flow most commonly associated with P0263 on this vehicle.
Open the exact repair flow most commonly associated with P0263 on this vehicle.
Open the exact repair flow most commonly associated with P0263 on this vehicle.
Open the exact repair flow most commonly associated with P0263 on this vehicle.
Related Symptoms
Browse →Exact Vehicle Hubs
Browse →Open the exact vehicle hub for a repair workflow commonly associated with P0263.
Open the exact vehicle hub for a repair workflow commonly associated with P0263.
Open the exact vehicle hub for a repair workflow commonly associated with P0263.
Open the exact vehicle hub grounded by OEM manual evidence related to P0263.
Open the exact vehicle hub grounded by OEM manual evidence related to P0263.
Open the exact vehicle hub grounded by OEM manual evidence related to P0263.
Related Codes
Cylinder 1 is misfiring — not firing properly. Could be spark plug, coil, injector, or compression issue on that specific cylinder.
Low voltage in cylinder 1 injector driver circuit.
Low voltage in cylinder 2 injector circuit.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does contribution/balance mean?
- The ECM monitors how much each cylinder contributes to engine speed. If one falls behind, it sets this code.
- Is this always an injector problem?
- No — it could be spark plug, coil, compression, or injector. You need to diagnose which system is failing on that cylinder.
Related Repair Guides
If your vehicle has triggered P0263, these DIY repair guides may help: