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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 at a glance
CodeP2100
SystemEngine and transmission
GroupP21xx, Throttle, injection and emissions
TypeGeneric: 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.

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 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

P2100 is a generic code, so it means the same on any make, for example on Alfa Romeo, Dacia, Kia, Opel / Vauxhall, Toyota, Škoda. See what Final OBD does on your car in makes and models.

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.