P0206 is an OBD2 trouble code. It indicates there has been a fuel injector circuit malfunction, in this case, it’s the 6’th cylinder in the firing order that is malfunctioning. P0206 is a generic code, which means that it has the same meaning for the Kia Picanto as it would for any other vehicle.
When the PCM sees that the voltage from cylinder 6 is outside the normal operating range, this code will be stored in its memory. P0206 is usually caused by a bad fuel injector or a wiring issue. If the misfire were in cylinder 5, you’d get P0205.
P0206 is usually caused by a bad fuel injector or wiring issue.
P0206 Symptoms: Kia Picanto
It is rare that there aren’t noticeable symptoms with P0206. Here are the ones you would be most likely to see:
- Misfire– If your Picanto’s fuel injector is not getting the right amount of fuel into the sixth cylinder, it’ll misfire. A misfire will hurt the acceleration of the vehicle and cause fuel mileage to suffer.
- Check Engine Light– The check engine light will be on, but you may or may not get a flashing check engine light as well.
You may also get another code, such as one related to the air/fuel mixture, or a misfire code such as P306 (misfire cylinder five).
P0206 Causes: Kia Picanto
When diagnosing P0206 in your Picanto you only need to look at the fuel injector in the sixth cylinder, since the PCM has pinpointed the location of the problem for you.
1. Bad Fuel Injector
Bad fuel injectors are the most common reason that P0206 is present in your Picanto. You still want to take a look at the wiring harness. You’ll also want to test the injector itself. There’s a YouTube video directly above that shows how to do that. A new fuel injector is relatively affordable.
Fuel injectors can make your Picanto’s PCM throw P0206 if they are plugged, dirty, or defective.
2. Wiring Issue
When diagnosing P0206, taking a look at the wiring around the injector is a great place to start. You want to make sure that it doesn’t look visibly damaged.
Make sure that the voltage at the injector matches the injectors that aren’t getting the code. If they aren’t that’s a good indication that something is wrong with the wiring harness.
3. Bad PCM
This is the last place that you’d want to look, but a bad PCM can be the reason why your Picanto is getting P0206.
Conclusion: P0206 Kia Picanto
It’s usually not too hard to track down P0206, thanks to the fact that it is specific to the sixth cylinder. If there is anything you would like to add that could help the next person with their Picanto, please leave a comment. Good luck!