P0233
Fuel Pump Secondary Circuit Intermittent
Fuel delivery
Generic OBD-II
High
What it means
P0233 means the ECM detects an intermittent fault in the fuel pump's secondary (control) circuit — the wiring or driver stage that switches the pump. Because fuel delivery drops out whenever the circuit glitches, the engine can stall or refuse to restart without warning. Loose or corroded wiring and a weak relay are the usual culprits, not always the pump itself.
High
Can I keep driving? Drive with caution — an intermittent fuel-pump circuit can cause sudden stalling or a no-restart, so avoid long trips until it's diagnosed.
Common symptoms
What you'll notice
- Check-engine light on
- Intermittent stalling, especially under load
- Hard starting or occasional no-start
- Hesitation or loss of power
Common causes
Most likely first
- Loose, corroded, or intermittent wiring/connector in the fuel-pump secondary circuitLikely
- Failing fuel-pump relayCommon
- Faulty fuel-pump (driver/control) moduleCommon
- Worn or failing fuel pumpLess often
How to diagnose & fix
Work through it in order
- Read freeze-frame data, then wiggle-test the fuel-pump wiring and connectors while monitoring for signal dropouts.
- Inspect and reseat connectors; clean corrosion and repair damaged wiring in the pump circuit.
- Test the fuel-pump relay and its control signal from the module.
- Check fuel-pump feed voltage and ground under load; measure pump current draw.
- Replace the pump control module or fuel pump only after wiring, connectors, and relay check out.
FAQ
Quick answers
Is it safe to drive with P0233?+
Not for long trips — the pump circuit is cutting in and out, which can leave you stranded with a no-restart. Get it diagnosed promptly.
Can I just clear P0233?+
You can, but an intermittent fault comes back as soon as the loose connection or weak relay acts up. Repair the circuit.
Related codes
Often seen with P0233
Read & clear P0233 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