P2446
AIR System Pump Stuck On Bank 2
Secondary air injection / emissions
Generic OBD-II
Low
What it means
P2446 means the secondary air injection pump for bank 2 is running (or feeding air) when the ECM has commanded it off. This system should only push fresh air into the exhaust briefly at cold start, so a pump stuck on is mainly an emissions concern and can cause occasional rich-running. Typical causes are a stuck relay, a stuck air-switching valve, or a wiring short.
Low
Can I keep driving? Generally drivable — this is an emissions fault, but a pump running when it shouldn't can briefly upset the mixture and should be fixed.
Common symptoms
What you'll notice
- Check-engine light on
- Air pump audibly running when it should be off
- Possible rough or rich-running spells after warm-up
- May fail an emissions/readiness test
Common causes
Most likely first
- Air pump relay stuck closed (energized)Likely
- Air switching/control valve stuck open, letting the pump keep feeding airCommon
- Short to voltage in the pump control wiringCommon
- Faulty check valve allowing continued airflowLess often
- Faulty ECM control driver (less common)Less often
How to diagnose & fix
Work through it in order
- Read freeze-frame data and check for other secondary-air (AIR) codes.
- Confirm whether the air pump keeps running after cold start with the engine warm.
- Test the air pump relay and its control circuit for a stuck-on (short-to-voltage) condition.
- Check the air switching/control valve and check valve for sticking open.
- Replace the stuck relay, valve, or repair the wiring as found. Clear and re-test.
FAQ
Quick answers
Is it safe to drive with P2446?+
Usually yes for short trips. A secondary-air pump stuck on mainly affects emissions and can cause brief rich-running, so it's not urgent but shouldn't be left indefinitely.
Can I just clear P2446?+
It returns if the relay, valve, or wiring is keeping the pump energized. Clearing it doesn't fix the stuck-on condition.
Related codes
Often seen with P2446
Read & clear P2446 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