P0003

Fuel Volume Regulator A Control Circuit Low

Q: Is it safe to drive with P0003?

Treat it cautiously. Because the regulator controls high-pressure fuel delivery, the engine can start hard, stall, or lose power. Have it looked at before relying on the car.

Q: Can I just clear P0003?

It will come back until the wiring or solenoid fault is repaired — this is an electrical circuit code, not a one-time glitch.

Fuel & air metering Generic OBD-II High

What it means

The fuel volume regulator (also called the suction control or fuel metering valve) sets how much fuel the high-pressure pump delivers on direct-injection and diesel engines. "Circuit Low" means the PCM sees an abnormally low voltage on the solenoid's control wire — usually a short to ground or a failed solenoid. Because it governs fuel supply, it can cause hard starting, stalling, or weak running.

High

Can I keep driving? Risky — because this controls fuel supply, the car may be hard to start, stall, or lose power; get it diagnosed promptly.

Real-world scan data

Seen in

270

scans in the past year

Found in

<0.1%

of scans

0.1%

of scans that found faults

Appears alongside · share of P0003 scans

P0001in 35.9% of scans

Figures reflect only diagnostic scans recorded through our own apps and tools. Cars are typically scanned because a symptom or warning light prompted it, so these counts describe our scan records — not the incidence of faults in any model, and not the quality, reliability, or safety of any vehicle. No comparison between manufacturers or models is implied. All trademarks belong to their respective owners; no affiliation or endorsement is implied.

Common symptoms

What you'll notice

Check-engine light on
Hard starting or long cranking
Stalling or rough running under load
Reduced power
Poor fuel economy

Common causes

Most likely first

Short to ground or open in the regulator control wiring/connectorLikely
Failed fuel volume regulator (suction control) solenoidCommon
Corroded or loose electrical connections at the regulatorCommon
Failed PCM driver (rare)Less often

How to diagnose & fix

Work through it in order

Scan and record freeze-frame data to see when the fault sets.
Inspect the regulator connector and wiring for shorts to ground, chafing, or corrosion.
Measure the solenoid's resistance and check its power and ground against spec.
Replace the fuel volume regulator if it's electrically out of spec.
Only consider the PCM after wiring and the solenoid check out. Clear and re-test.

FAQ

Quick answers

Is it safe to drive with P0003?+

Treat it cautiously. Because the regulator controls high-pressure fuel delivery, the engine can start hard, stall, or lose power. Have it looked at before relying on the car.

Can I just clear P0003?+

It will come back until the wiring or solenoid fault is repaired — this is an electrical circuit code, not a one-time glitch.

Read & clear P0003 yourself

Scan your car, confirm the code, and clear it once it's fixed — with OBD DashX on your phone.

▶ Get it on Google Play

✓ Verified name — SAE J2012 / ISO 15031-6Guidance reviewed by OBD DashX