OBD-II code · Powertrain (generic)
P0233 Fuel Pump Secondary Circuit Intermittent
Intermittent fault on the secondary fuel pump circuit (transfer/lift pump or low-pressure stage). Wiring faults of this kind typically come from chafing, water ingress at connector seals, or pin push-back — a wiggle test on the harness while the code is active often confirms the location.
Is it safe to drive with P0233?
Usually safe to drive in the short term. Get it diagnosed when convenient, sooner if the car drives differently.
Common causes
- Most likelyConnector loose or corroded
- Less likelyConnector with intermittent contact under vibration
- Less likelyHarness routed against vibrating component
Symptoms
- Check engine light on
- Hard start, no start, or stalling under load
- Power loss especially at high load or rpm
- Possible long cranking time
Repair at a glance
- Difficulty
- Medium
- DIY friendly
- Often, with basic tools
- Typical labour
- 0.5–3 h
- Emissions test
- Likely to fail
- After the fix
- A drive cycle is needed before the light stays off
- Parts involved
- Secondary Fuel Pump, Pump Wiring
Related codes
Code data: OBDex open dataset (CC0). Labour times are typical ranges, not a quote.