P0231

Fuel Pump Secondary Circuit Low

Q: Is it safe to drive with P0231?

Not reliably. A weak or failing pump circuit can cut fuel delivery and leave you stranded. Address it promptly.

Q: Can I just clear P0231?

You can, but it returns as soon as the circuit fault recurs. This is an electrical fault, not something that clears itself.

Fuel delivery Generic OBD-II High

What it means

P0231 means the voltage on the fuel-pump secondary (control) circuit is lower than expected. This circuit drives the fuel pump, so a fault here can reduce or cut off fuel delivery — leading to hard starting, stalling, or a no-start until the wiring, relay, or pump is repaired.

High

Can I keep driving? Risky — a failing fuel-pump circuit can starve the engine and cause stalling or a no-start, so plan to fix it before it strands you.

Real-world scan data

Seen in

262

scans in the past year

Found in

<0.1%

of scans

0.1%

of scans that found faults

Appears alongside · share of P0231 scans

P0202in 46.6% of scans

P0201in 45.0% of scans

P0203in 45.0% 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 a crank with no-start
Engine starts then stalls, or stalls under load
Poor performance and hesitation

Common causes

Most likely first

Faulty fuel-pump relayLikely
Broken, shorted, or corroded wiring in the pump control (secondary) circuitCommon
Poor ground or connector at the pump or relayCommon
Failed fuel pump or pump driver moduleLess often
PCM fuel-pump driver fault (less common)Less often

How to diagnose & fix

Work through it in order

Read freeze-frame data, then check the fuel-pump fuse and relay first.
Inspect the pump control wiring, grounds, and connectors for damage or corrosion.
Measure control-circuit voltage and pump feed with the key on and while cranking.
If the circuit is good but pressure is low, test the pump and its driver module. Clear and re-test.

FAQ

Quick answers

Is it safe to drive with P0231?+

Not reliably. A weak or failing pump circuit can cut fuel delivery and leave you stranded. Address it promptly.

Can I just clear P0231?+

You can, but it returns as soon as the circuit fault recurs. This is an electrical fault, not something that clears itself.

Read & clear P0231 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