P2033: Exhaust gas temperature sensor circuit high (bank 1, sensor 2)

What P2033 means

The exhaust gas temperature sensor watches exhaust heat to protect the turbo, catalyst or particulate filter, and to manage regenerations on diesels. The sensor voltage is above what is possible, so the ECU treats it as false. It is an electrical problem rather than a genuinely abnormal temperature. Sensor 2 is the second one counting from the engine; exhaust temperature sensors are numbered by their order along the pipe, and exactly where each sits (before or after the catalyst or filter) is up to each manufacturer.

Most common causes

• Sensor connector unplugged or with open pins
• Sensor wire broken or burnt by heat
• Signal wire touching a positive feed
• Failed exhaust gas temperature sensor
• Engine ECU fault (rare)

Symptoms

• Engine warning light on
• Particulate filter regenerations may stop taking place
• Possible loss of power or limp mode

Can you drive with P2033?

With care You can drive with care, but without this reading the engine may limit power or skip particulate filter regenerations, leading to a clogged filter. Get it fixed soon.

How to check it

With a cold engine, check this sensor’s temperature on live data: it should read close to the outside temperature. An impossible value (very low or extremely high) confirms an electrical fault, so inspect the connector and the wire along the exhaust.

How to read and clear P2033 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 P2033 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

• P2016 Intake manifold runner position sensor circuit low (bank 1)
• P2017 Intake manifold runner position sensor circuit high (bank 1)
• P2031 Exhaust gas temperature sensor circuit fault (bank 1, sensor 2)
• P2032 Exhaust gas temperature sensor circuit low (bank 1, sensor 2)
• P2047 AdBlue injector circuit open or faulty (bank 1, unit 1)
• P204F Reductant (AdBlue) system performance (bank 1)
• P207F Reductant (AdBlue) quality performance
• P2080 Exhaust gas temperature sensor reading out of range (bank 1, sensor 1)
• P2002 Diesel particulate filter efficiency below threshold (bank 1)
• P2003 Diesel particulate filter efficiency below threshold (bank 2)
• P2004 Intake manifold runner control stuck open (bank 1)
• P2005 Intake manifold runner control stuck open (bank 2)

P2033 is a generic code, so it means the same on any make, for example on Citroën, Hyundai, Mini, Renault, Seat, Volvo. See what Final OBD does on your car in makes and models.