P2081: Exhaust gas temperature sensor circuit intermittent (bank 1, sensor 1)
The exhaust gas temperature sensor signal drops out or jumps now and then. It is nearly always a poor contact at the connector or heat-damaged wiring.
| Code | P2081 |
|---|---|
| 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 P2081 means
The exhaust gas temperature sensor watches exhaust heat to protect the turbo, catalyst or particulate filter, and to manage regenerations on diesels. The ECU sees the reading come and go or jump in impossible ways. That usually points to a poor contact rather than a dead sensor. Sensor 1 is the one closest to the engine; exhaust temperature sensors are numbered by their order along the pipe, and what sits between them (turbo, catalyst, filter) is up to each manufacturer.
Most common causes
- Sensor connector with poor contact or corrosion
- Wire chafed or cooked by exhaust heat
- Wiring that moves with engine vibration
- Sensor with an intermittent internal fault
Symptoms
- Engine warning light on
- Particulate filter regenerations may stop taking place
- Possible loss of power or limp mode
Can you drive with P2081?
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.
Open the bonnetthe in-depth explanation
How to check it
With the engine idling and the sensor temperature on live data, gently move the wire and connector (without touching the hot exhaust). If the reading jumps, you have found the poor contact.
How to read and clear P2081 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 P2081 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
- P207D The position sensor or switch circuit for the intake manifold air actuator on
- P207E The position sensor or switch circuit for the intake manifold air actuator on
- P207F Reductant (AdBlue) quality performance
- P2080 Exhaust gas temperature sensor reading out of range (bank 1, sensor 1)
- P2082 The exhaust gas temperature sensor (bank 2
- P2083 The exhaust gas temperature sensor (bank 2, sensor 1) fails now and then
- P2084 Exhaust gas temperature sensor reading out of range (bank 1, sensor 2)
- P2085 The exhaust gas temperature sensor (bank 1, sensor 2) fails now and then
- 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)
What does code P2081 mean?
The exhaust gas temperature sensor watches exhaust heat to protect the turbo, catalyst or particulate filter, and to manage regenerations on diesels. The ECU sees the reading come and go or jump in impossible ways. That usually points to a poor contact rather than a dead sensor. Sensor 1 is the one closest to the engine; exhaust temperature sensors are numbered by their order along the pipe, and what sits between them (turbo, catalyst, filter) is up to each manufacturer.
Can you drive with P2081?
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 do you clear P2081?
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, P2081 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.
