P2003: Diesel particulate filter efficiency below threshold (bank 2)
The ECU believes the bank 2 particulate filter is no longer trapping soot properly. Often the pressure sensor, its pipes or a damaged filter.
| Code | P2003 |
|---|---|
| System | Engine and transmission |
| Group | P20xx, Emissions: catalysts and AdBlue |
| Type | Generic: it means the same on every make |
| Can you keep driving? | With care |
What P2003 means
The diesel particulate filter (DPF) traps soot from a diesel’s exhaust. The ECU monitors it by measuring the pressure difference before and after the filter; if the difference is too small, it concludes gases are passing through unfiltered, as if the filter were cracked or missing. It only applies to engines with two banks (V engines); bank 2 is the side without cylinder 1.
Most common causes
- Differential pressure sensor pipes loose, split or swapped
- Faulty or out-of-calibration differential pressure sensor
- Exhaust leak between the engine and the filter
- Particulate filter cracked or with broken internal material
- Filter replaced or tampered with and the ECU not adapted
Symptoms
- Engine warning light on
- Visible black smoke from the exhaust
- On some cars, loss of power or limp mode
- The car may fail the emissions part of its inspection
Can you drive with P2003?
With care You can drive, but if the filter is not trapping soot the car pollutes more and may fail its inspection. Have it checked soon.
Open the bonnetthe in-depth explanation
How to check it
With live data, watch the DPF differential pressure: it should rise clearly from idle as you raise the revs. If it barely moves, check the two small pipes from the filter to the sensor before suspecting the filter.
How to read and clear P2003 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 P2003 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
- P2000 The nitrogen oxide trap on bank 1 removes less pollution than required
- P2001 The NOx trap on bank 2 is operating below the efficiency threshold
- P2002 Diesel particulate filter efficiency below threshold (bank 1)
- P2004 Intake manifold runner control stuck open (bank 1)
- P2005 Intake manifold runner control stuck open (bank 2)
- P2006 Intake manifold runner control stuck closed (bank 1)
- P2007 Intake manifold runner control stuck closed (bank 2)
- P2008 Intake manifold runner control circuit open or faulty (bank 1)
- P2009 Intake manifold runner control circuit low (bank 1)
- P2015 Intake runner position sensor: range or performance problem (bank 1)
- P2016 Intake manifold runner position sensor circuit low (bank 1)
What does code P2003 mean?
The diesel particulate filter (DPF) traps soot from a diesel’s exhaust. The ECU monitors it by measuring the pressure difference before and after the filter; if the difference is too small, it concludes gases are passing through unfiltered, as if the filter were cracked or missing. It only applies to engines with two banks (V engines); bank 2 is the side without cylinder 1.
Can you drive with P2003?
You can drive, but if the filter is not trapping soot the car pollutes more and may fail its inspection. Have it checked soon.
How do you clear P2003?
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, P2003 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.
