P2100: Throttle actuator A control motor circuit open
The ECU sees no current flowing in the electric motor that opens the throttle. Usually a loose connector, a broken wire or the throttle body itself.
| Code | P2100 |
|---|---|
| System | Engine and transmission |
| Group | P21xx, Throttle, injection and emissions |
| Type | Generic: it means the same on every make |
| Can you keep driving? | Better not |
What P2100 means
On cars with an electronic accelerator, a small electric motor opens and closes the throttle plate that lets air into the engine. This code means the circuit for that motor is open, so current is not getting through. For safety, the ECU usually cuts power sharply.
Most common causes
- Loose, dirty or corroded throttle body connector
- A broken wire to the throttle motor
- The motor inside the throttle body has failed
- A blown fuse or faulty relay feeding the throttle system
- A fault in the engine ECU, which is uncommon
Symptoms
- Engine or throttle warning light on
- The car barely accelerates (limp mode)
- Idle speed slightly high or fixed
- In some cases the engine stalls
Can you drive with P2100?
Better not With no throttle control the car runs in limp mode and responds poorly, which can be dangerous when joining traffic or overtaking. Only drive if you must, straight to a garage.
Open the bonnetthe in-depth explanation
How to check it
With the ignition off, check the throttle body connector is fully seated and no wires are under strain. Look in the handbook for the electronic throttle fuse and check it too.
How to read and clear P2100 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 P2100 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
- P2101 Throttle actuator A control motor circuit range or performance
- P2102 Throttle actuator A control motor circuit low
- P2103 The throttle actuator A control motor gives a higher signal than normal
- P2104 Throttle control system: forced idle
- P2105 Throttle control system: forced engine shutdown
- P2106 Throttle control system: forced limited power
- P2107 Throttle actuator control module processor fault
- P2108 Throttle actuator control module performance
What does code P2100 mean?
On cars with an electronic accelerator, a small electric motor opens and closes the throttle plate that lets air into the engine. This code means the circuit for that motor is open, so current is not getting through. For safety, the ECU usually cuts power sharply.
Can you drive with P2100?
With no throttle control the car runs in limp mode and responds poorly, which can be dangerous when joining traffic or overtaking. Only drive if you must, straight to a garage.
How do you clear P2100?
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, P2100 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.
