P0220 means Throttle/Pedal Position Sensor/Switch B Circuit. The computer has found a fault in the second throttle or pedal position sensor circuit (sensor B). It is a generic OBD-II code, so the definition is the same on any make, but the most likely cause varies by engine; confirm with a scan tool and the service information for your vehicle before buying parts.
What P0220 means
Most vehicles built in the last two decades use electronic throttle control instead of a throttle cable: the accelerator pedal carries two or three position sensors, and the throttle body has a motor and two position sensors of its own. The computer compares the redundant sensors constantly, and any disagreement triggers reduced-power mode as a safety measure. Older engines with a throttle cable control idle with a separate idle air control valve.
P0220 symptoms
- Reduced power or limp mode
- Throttle response limited
- Check engine light
- Stalling on some vehicles
Common causes of P0220
- Failed sensor
- Wiring or connector fault
- Reference voltage problem
How to diagnose P0220
- Compare sensor A and B readings on a scan tool through the throttle range
- Check reference voltage and ground at the connector
- Inspect the connector and harness
Can you drive with P0220?
Use caution; the engine may go into reduced power suddenly.
P0220 tips
On electronic throttles the two position sensors are built into the throttle body; a throttle body replacement is often the repair if the wiring tests good.
Will P0220 clear itself?
If the fault stops, the computer turns off the check engine light by itself after several drive cycles without seeing it again, and the code stays in memory as history for a while. Clearing P0220 with a scan tool after a repair is fine, but if the cause is still there the code returns, sometimes within one drive. Disconnecting the battery also clears codes on most vehicles, but it erases learned fuel trims and idle settings as well.
Related codes
| Code | Meaning |
|---|---|
| P0120 | Throttle/Pedal Position Sensor/Switch A Circuit |
| P0222 | Throttle/Pedal Position Sensor/Switch B Circuit Low Input |
| P2135 | Throttle/Pedal Position Sensor/Switch A/B Voltage Correlation |
Guides that help
When it is more than a sensor
Throttle and idle codes are fixed at the throttle body, the pedal, a sensor or a leak. If those check out and the engine still runs poorly, a compression test separates a control problem from a worn engine; compare engines by code on our engines page.
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