OBD-II code · Powertrain (generic, extended)

P236A Cylinder 12 Pressure Sensor Circuit Intermittent or Erratic

Cylinder 12 pressure sensor signal jumps or drops out intermittently — connector or wiring issue. 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 P236A?

Usually safe for short trips, but don’t ignore it: the underlying fault can get more expensive over time.

Common causes

  • Most likelyIntermittent contact at connector
  • Less likelyConnector with intermittent contact under vibration
  • Less likelyHarness routed against vibrating component

Repair at a glance

Difficulty
Hard
DIY friendly
Best left to a mechanic
Typical labour
1.5–5 h
Emissions test
Likely to fail
Parts involved
Cylinder Pressure Sensor 12

Code data: OBDex open dataset (CC0). Labour times are typical ranges, not a quote.