P0232: Fuel pump secondary circuit: high signal

What P0232 means

The fuel pump sends fuel from the tank to the engine. Some cars use a second circuit to control it, for example to change its speed or to run a second pump, and exactly what that circuit does is up to each manufacturer. The ECU has measured a voltage on it that is higher than it should ever be, which almost always points to an electrical problem.

Most common causes

• Loose, corroded or damaged connector at the pump or its control module
• Chafed wire touching another wire that carries voltage
• Fuel pump relay sticking or faulty
• Faulty fuel pump control module, on cars that have one
• Internal fault in the pump itself
• Faulty engine ECU, which is rare

Symptoms

• Engine warning light on
• Hard starting or long cranking
• Hesitation or lack of power when accelerating
• On some cars the pump runs at full speed all the time and sounds louder

Can you drive with P0232?

With care You can usually keep driving, but the engine could run short of fuel and cut out. Get it checked soon and avoid long trips until then.

How to check it

With the ignition on and the engine off, listen for the pump humming for a few seconds near the tank. If your reader shows live fuel pressure, note it at idle and under acceleration for the workshop.

How to read and clear P0232 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 P0232 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

• P0222 Throttle or pedal position sensor B circuit low
• P0223 Throttle or pedal position sensor B circuit high
• P0230 Fuel pump primary circuit malfunction
• P0231 Fuel pump secondary circuit low
• P0234 Turbocharger or supercharger A overboost
• P0235 Turbo boost pressure sensor A: circuit fault
• P0236 Turbo boost pressure sensor A: range or performance problem
• P0237 Turbo boost pressure sensor A: low signal
• P0200 Injector circuit malfunction
• P0201 Injector circuit malfunction, cylinder 1
• P0202 Injector circuit malfunction, cylinder 2
• P0203 Injector circuit malfunction, cylinder 3

P0232 is a generic code, so it means the same on any make, for example on Abarth, Cupra, Hyundai, Jeep, Mini, Seat. See what Final OBD does on your car in makes and models.