P0003
Fuel Volume Regulator A Control Circuit Low
Fuel & air metering
Generic OBD-II
High
What it means
The fuel volume regulator (also called the suction control or fuel metering valve) sets how much fuel the high-pressure pump delivers on direct-injection and diesel engines. "Circuit Low" means the PCM sees an abnormally low voltage on the solenoid's control wire — usually a short to ground or a failed solenoid. Because it governs fuel supply, it can cause hard starting, stalling, or weak running.
High
Can I keep driving? Risky — because this controls fuel supply, the car may be hard to start, stall, or lose power; get it diagnosed promptly.
Common symptoms
What you'll notice
- Check-engine light on
- Hard starting or long cranking
- Stalling or rough running under load
- Reduced power
- Poor fuel economy
Common causes
Most likely first
- Short to ground or open in the regulator control wiring/connectorLikely
- Failed fuel volume regulator (suction control) solenoidCommon
- Corroded or loose electrical connections at the regulatorCommon
- Failed PCM driver (rare)Less often
How to diagnose & fix
Work through it in order
- Scan and record freeze-frame data to see when the fault sets.
- Inspect the regulator connector and wiring for shorts to ground, chafing, or corrosion.
- Measure the solenoid's resistance and check its power and ground against spec.
- Replace the fuel volume regulator if it's electrically out of spec.
- Only consider the PCM after wiring and the solenoid check out. Clear and re-test.
FAQ
Quick answers
Is it safe to drive with P0003?+
Treat it cautiously. Because the regulator controls high-pressure fuel delivery, the engine can start hard, stall, or lose power. Have it looked at before relying on the car.
Can I just clear P0003?+
It will come back until the wiring or solenoid fault is repaired — this is an electrical circuit code, not a one-time glitch.
Related codes
Often seen with P0003
Read & clear P0003 yourself
Scan your car, confirm the code, and clear it once it's fixed — with OBD DashX on your phone.
✓ Verified name — SAE J2012 / ISO 15031-6Guidance reviewed by OBD DashX