Klaro

OBD2 fault codes

Generic codes mean the same thing on every car. Find yours in the matching family.

P00xx — Fuel and air metering, auxiliary emission controls

This family covers the measurement of incoming air and injected fuel, together with the emission devices attached to them. A fault here distorts the mixture the engine burns, which costs fuel and raises emissions. Codes by part →

P01xx — Fuel and air metering

These codes concern the sensors that tell the control unit about the mixture: mass airflow, oxygen sensors, fuel trim corrections. They often point to an air leak or an ageing sensor rather than an outright failure. Codes by part →

P02xx — Injector circuit

These codes point directly at the injectors and their electrical control. An injector that no longer sprays properly unbalances combustion in its cylinder, and usually brings misfire codes with it. Codes by part →

P03xx — Ignition and misfire

This is the most serious family of the set. A misfire sends unburnt fuel into the exhaust, where it destroys the catalytic converter within a few dozen kilometres. A flashing warning light means a misfire is happening now: stop driving. Codes by part →

P04xx — Emission controls

Catalytic converter, exhaust gas recirculation, particulate filter, fuel vapour. These faults rarely leave you stranded, but they fail the roadworthiness test and become expensive if left alone. Codes by part →

P05xx — Idle speed and vehicle speed control

Unstable idle, cruise control, auxiliary inputs to the control unit. These codes show up as erratic behaviour at a standstill, or a function that refuses to engage. Codes by part →

P06xx — Control unit and output circuits

Faults internal to the engine control unit or to its output circuits. Before suspecting the unit itself, which seldom fails, check grounds, connectors and battery voltage. Codes by part →

P07xx — Transmission

Automatic or automated gearbox: ratios, clutches, speed sensors. These codes often come with a limp mode that locks the box in a single gear. Codes by part →

P08xx — Transmission (continued)

A continuation of the previous family: transmission controls, solenoids and sensors. Diagnosis nearly always requires the manufacturer's documentation. Codes by part →

P09xx — Transmission and controls

The last transmission-related series, including gear selection controls. Like the previous one, it belongs in a workshop rather than a roadside fix. Codes by part →

P20xx — Fuel, air and emission controls

These codes extend the P00xx and P01xx series: intake manifold flaps, exhaust temperature sensors, and the after-treatment systems of recent engines, such as the diesel particulate filter and the AdBlue/SCR system. Codes by part →

P21xx — Electronic throttle and mixture

Mostly the electronic throttle — its motor, its position sensors and the accelerator pedal — and the mixture corrections at idle and off idle. Codes by part →

P22xx — Fuel and air metering sensors

Oxygen and NOx sensors, barometric pressure, turbo boost performance and intake leaks: the measurements the control unit relies on to meter air and fuel. Codes by part →

P23xx — Ignition system

The primary and secondary circuits of the ignition coils, coil by coil. A coil fault usually causes misfires on the cylinder it feeds. Codes by part →

P24xx — Auxiliary emission controls

EGR valve and cooler, fuel vapour recovery, secondary air injection and the diesel particulate filter: the systems that clean up what the engine emits. Codes by part →

P25xx — Auxiliary inputs and charging

The charging system, the low-pressure fuel sensor and the position sensor of the turbo's boost control: inputs that feed the engine control unit. Codes by part →

P26xx — Control unit and auxiliary outputs

Internal functions of the engine control unit, such as its engine-off timer, and outputs it drives, such as the fuel pump or the valve lift actuators. Codes by part →

P27xx — Transmission

Automatic gearboxes: the friction elements, the pressure control solenoids and the torque converter clutch. Like P07xx codes, they often come with a limp mode. Codes by part →

U00xx — Network wiring

The communication bus itself: the CAN network that links the control units, its wiring and its state. A fault here can silence several units at once. Codes by part →

U01xx — Lost communication

One control unit no longer hears another on the network: engine, gearbox, ABS, airbags, dashboard. The cause is often electrical — supply, ground, connector — rather than the silent unit itself. Codes by part →

U04xx — Invalid data

A control unit still receives the messages of another, but their content is implausible or corrupted. The unit that sends them is the first suspect, together with its supply. Codes by part →