OBD-II code · Powertrain (generic, extended)
P288A Park Lock/Pawl Actuator Circuit High
Voltage on the park lock or pawl actuator control line is above the expected window. 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 P288A?
The car may go into limp mode (reduced power). Get it diagnosed before a long trip.
Common causes
- Most likelyControl wire shorted to B+
- PossibleOpen actuator coil
- Less likelyConnector pins corroded - high contact resistance
Repair at a glance
- Difficulty
- Hard
- DIY friendly
- Best left to a mechanic
- Typical labour
- 2–7 h
- Emissions test
- Usually unaffected
- Parts involved
- Park Lock Actuator, Park Pawl, Wiring Harness
Related codes
Code data: OBDex open dataset (CC0). Labour times are typical ranges, not a quote.