P0232 means Fuel Pump Secondary Circuit High. The voltage on the fuel pump’s power circuit is present when the pump should be off, or higher than expected. 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 P0232 means
Modern engines measure boost and fuel rail pressure and compare them with a desired value calculated from engine speed, load and throttle. When actual pressure falls short of desired for long enough, the computer sets a code and often reduces power to protect the engine. Watching desired and actual values side by side on a scan tool shows whether the shortfall is constant or only appears under load.
P0232 symptoms
- Fuel pump running with the key off on some vehicles
- Battery drain
- Check engine light
Common causes of P0232
- Stuck fuel pump relay
- Wiring shorted to voltage
- Control module driver fault
How to diagnose P0232
- Check whether the pump runs with the key off
- Swap or test the fuel pump relay
- Check the control circuit
Can you drive with P0232?
Usually yes, but a stuck relay can drain the battery.
P0232 tips
If the fuel pump keeps running with the key off, pull the relay right away to prevent draining the battery while you diagnose. Swapping the fuel pump relay with an identical relay from another circuit is a quick test; if the problem moves, replace the relay.
Will P0232 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 P0232 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 |
|---|---|
| P0230 | Fuel Pump Primary Circuit |
| P0231 | Fuel Pump Secondary Circuit Low |
| P0087 | Fuel Rail/System Pressure Too Low |
Guides that help
When it is more than a sensor
Our superchargers page lists supercharger kits, and diesel owners can read the 6.7 Cummins turbo guide. If a failed turbo or fuel pump has damaged the engine, compare engines by code on our engines page.
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