O2 Sensor Reference Voltage Circuit High Bank 1 Sensor 1
What it means
P2246 means the reference voltage the ECM supplies to the bank 1, sensor 1 wide-band air/fuel sensor is reading too high. That reference lets the sensor measure the mixture precisely, so a fault makes the ECM distrust it and fall back to default fueling. The usual causes are a wiring short to voltage, an open, or a failing sensor.
Can I keep driving? Drivable, but the ECM loses accurate air/fuel feedback from the primary sensor, so fueling and economy can suffer until it's fixed.
Real-world scan data
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
- Rough running or slightly uneven idle
- Increased fuel consumption
- Hesitation as the ECM falls back to open-loop fueling
Common causes
Most likely first
- Faulty wide-band air/fuel (O2) sensor on bank 1, sensor 1Likely
- Reference voltage wire shorted to voltage or open in the sensor circuitCommon
- Poor connection or corrosion at the sensor connectorCommon
- Chafed or damaged sensor harnessLess often
- Rarely, a faulty ECM/PCM reference supplyLess often
How to diagnose & fix
Work through it in order
- Read freeze-frame data and confirm it's the bank 1, sensor 1 reference circuit.
- Inspect the sensor connector and harness for shorts to voltage, opens, and corrosion.
- Backprobe the reference circuit to see whether it's pinned high with the sensor connected vs. unplugged.
- Compare against the wiring diagram — the reference voltage is supplied by the ECM, so isolate sensor vs. ECM.
- If the circuit checks out but the sensor is faulty, replace the air/fuel sensor and retest.
FAQ
Quick answers
Is it safe to drive with P2246?+
Can I just clear P2246?+
Related codes
Read & clear P2246 yourself
Scan your car, confirm the code, and clear it once it's fixed — with OBD DashX on your phone.