P0220: Throttle or pedal position sensor B circuit malfunction

What P0220 means

This code means the signal from sensor B is missing or inconsistent. On cars with an electronic throttle, both the throttle body and the accelerator pedal carry two position sensors that cross-check each other for safety. Whether sensor B belongs to the throttle or the pedal is up to each manufacturer. Having lost one of the two, the ECU cannot double check what your foot is asking for, so it limits power.

Most common causes

• Loose, dirty or corroded throttle body or pedal connector
• Broken or chafed wire in the sensor harness
• Worn or faulty position sensor B (usually built into the throttle body or pedal)
• Problem with the 5 volt supply it shares with other sensors
• ECU fault (rare)

Symptoms

• Engine or throttle warning light on
• Limp mode with reduced power
• Car does not respond properly to the accelerator
• Rough or slightly high idle

Can you drive with P0220?

With care You can drive with care, but the car often goes into limp mode with little power and may respond poorly to the throttle. Get it to a garage soon.

How to check it

With the ignition on and the engine off, watch both pedal position signals live (and the throttle ones, if the reader shows them) while pressing the pedal slowly. Both should rise smoothly together; if one drops out or jumps, that part is the suspect.

How to read and clear P0220 with Final OBD

Plug an OBD2 scanner in under the steering wheel, switch the ignition on and open Final OBD. Under Faults you’ll see P0220 with this same explanation and whether it’s confirmed, pending or permanent.

With Free you read this code with its short description for nothing, and clear it if the engine stores it over standard OBD. With Pro you get the full explanation, how the car was running when it was logged (revs, temperature, load) and clearing in every control unit.

Clearing the code only turns the light off: if the cause is still there, it comes back. Clear it once it’s fixed, and not right before the ITV. It’s all in how to read and clear fault codes and in the ITV and OBD.

Similar codes

• P0208 Injector circuit malfunction, cylinder 8
• P0217 Engine overheating
• P0218 Transmission overheating
• P0219 Engine overspeed condition
• P0221 Throttle or pedal position sensor B range or performance problem
• P0222 Throttle or pedal position sensor B circuit low
• P0223 Throttle or pedal position sensor B circuit high
• P0230 Fuel pump primary circuit malfunction
• P0200 Injector circuit malfunction
• P0201 Injector circuit malfunction, cylinder 1
• P0202 Injector circuit malfunction, cylinder 2
• P0203 Injector circuit malfunction, cylinder 3

P0220 is a generic code, so it means the same on any make, for example on Alfa Romeo, Dacia, Kia, Opel / Vauxhall, Toyota, Škoda. See what Final OBD does on your car in makes and models.