P023A
Charge Air Cooler Coolant Pump A Control Circuit/Open
Turbo/boost — charge air cooling
Generic OBD-II
Low
What it means
P023A means the ECM detected an open circuit in the control wiring for the charge air cooler coolant pump 'A'. On engines with a liquid-cooled intercooler, this electric pump circulates coolant to keep intake charge temperatures down; an open circuit stops that cooling, which mainly reduces performance and raises knock risk under sustained boost rather than stopping the car.
Low
Can I keep driving? Safe to drive short-term — intake air may run hotter under sustained boost, which can reduce power and increase knock risk, so avoid extended hard driving until fixed.
Common symptoms
What you'll notice
- Check-engine light on
- Often no symptoms in normal driving
- Higher intake temperatures and reduced power under sustained boost
- Possible knock or timing pull under heavy load
Common causes
Most likely first
- Open circuit in the charge air cooler coolant pump 'A' control wiringLikely
- Failed coolant pump motor or its relay/fuseCommon
- Corroded or disconnected connector at the pumpCommon
- Faulty ECM control driver (least likely)Less often
How to diagnose & fix
Work through it in order
- Read freeze-frame data and check the pump's fuse, relay, and connector for an open circuit.
- Verify the pump receives voltage and ground on command; check wiring continuity.
- Replace the coolant pump if it has power and ground but doesn't run.
- Repair open wiring or corroded terminals as needed, then clear and re-test.
FAQ
Quick answers
Is it safe to drive with P023A?+
For short trips, yes. This is the low-temperature coolant pump for the intercooler — if it stops, intake charge runs hotter under boost, so avoid extended hard driving until it's repaired.
Can I just clear P023A?+
It returns as soon as the ECM commands the pump again and sees the open circuit. Fix the wiring or pump first.
Related codes
Often seen with P023A
Read & clear P023A 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