P0533: A/C refrigerant pressure sensor: high input
The ECU sees a voltage that is too high from the air conditioning pressure sensor. Usually an open wire, the plug or the sensor itself.
| Code | P0533 |
|---|---|
| System | Engine and transmission |
| Group | P05xx, Speed, idle and auxiliary inputs |
| Type | Generic: it means the same on every make |
| Can you keep driving? | Yes, no rush |
What P0533 means
The ECU is getting a voltage from the A/C pressure sensor that is higher than it should ever be. Common reasons are a broken wire, a poor earth or the sensor itself. It can also show up when the pressure really is very high, for example if the condenser fan is not running.
Most common causes
- Sensor plug loose or corroded
- Sensor earth wire broken or making poor contact
- Signal wire touching a supply wire
- Faulty pressure sensor
- Genuinely excessive pressure from overcharging, a clogged condenser or a fan that does not run
Symptoms
- Engine warning light on
- Air conditioning stops cooling
- Radiator fan may stay on at full speed
Can you drive with P0533?
Yes, no rush You can keep using the car. If the engine starts running hotter than usual, get the cooling fan checked soon.
Open the bonnetthe in-depth explanation
How to check it
With the air conditioning on, check that the front cooling fan spins. On the scan tool, a pressure stuck at the maximum with the engine off points to an electrical fault rather than real pressure.
How to read and clear P0533 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 P0533 with its description and whether it’s confirmed, pending or permanent.
If the engine stores it over standard OBD, with FREE you read this code with its explanation for nothing and clear it. With PRO you also read the faults of every control unit and clear them in all of them.
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 an inspection. It’s all in how to read and clear fault codes and in inspections and OBD.
Similar codes
- P052F There is a fault in the glow plug control unit 1 system voltage
- P0530 A/C refrigerant pressure sensor: circuit fault
- P0531 The air conditioning refrigerant pressure sensor gives readings outside the
- P0532 A/C refrigerant pressure sensor: low input
- P0534 The air conditioning system has lost refrigerant charge
- P0535 The air conditioning evaporator temperature sensor has an electrical fault
- P0536 The air conditioning evaporator temperature sensor gives readings outside the
- P0537 The air conditioning evaporator temperature sensor gives a lower signal than
- P0500 Vehicle speed sensor malfunction
- P0501 Vehicle speed sensor range/performance
- P0502 Vehicle speed sensor circuit low input
- P0503 Vehicle speed sensor intermittent, erratic or high
To understand it properly
We explain how that system works, with drawings and no waffle, in our mechanics guide: Air conditioning.
What does code P0533 mean?
The ECU is getting a voltage from the A/C pressure sensor that is higher than it should ever be. Common reasons are a broken wire, a poor earth or the sensor itself. It can also show up when the pressure really is very high, for example if the condenser fan is not running.
Can you drive with P0533?
You can keep using the car. If the engine starts running hotter than usual, get the cooling fan checked soon.
How do you clear P0533?
With an OBD2 scanner and an app like Final OBD, which clears it for free if it’s stored by the engine control unit. But clearing it only turns the light off: if the cause isn’t fixed, P0533 comes back.
Read it on your car
Final OBD reads and clears engine faults through standard OBD for free, each one explained in plain English. With PRO it also reads the faults of every control unit, each make’s own codes included, and clears them in all of them.
