P0223: Throttle or pedal position sensor B circuit high

What P0223 means

High input means the voltage is above anything the sensor can produce in any position. The usual causes are an open ground circuit, a wire touching a positive feed or a failed sensor. 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.

Most common causes

• Loose, corroded or unplugged sensor connector
• Broken sensor ground wire
• Signal wire touching a positive feed
• Faulty position sensor B
• 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 P0223?

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 your foot off the pedal, watch the live signal from position sensor B: if it reads maximum without pressing anything, the fault is electrical. Check the connector and the sensor ground wire first.

How to read and clear P0223 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 P0223 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

• P0219 Engine overspeed condition
• P0220 Throttle or pedal position sensor B circuit malfunction
• P0221 Throttle or pedal position sensor B range or performance problem
• P0222 Throttle or pedal position sensor B circuit low
• P0230 Fuel pump primary circuit malfunction
• P0231 Fuel pump secondary circuit low
• P0232 Fuel pump secondary circuit: high signal
• P0234 Turbocharger or supercharger A overboost
• P0200 Injector circuit malfunction
• P0201 Injector circuit malfunction, cylinder 1
• P0202 Injector circuit malfunction, cylinder 2
• P0203 Injector circuit malfunction, cylinder 3

P0223 is a generic code, so it means the same on any make, for example on Audi, Dacia, Fiat, Kia, Opel / Vauxhall, Toyota. See what Final OBD does on your car in makes and models.