Air intakeGeneric OBD-II codeUrgency: Garage soon
Code P0226: throttle/pedal sensor C: range or performance
P0226 means: throttle or pedal position sensor/switch "C": circuit out of range or performance problem.[1][2] The ECU receives a voltage signal outside the expected range from the throttle or pedal position sensor. In electronic throttle systems, several potentiometers report the opening and the speed at which it opens or closes, and the ECU drives the throttle motor using them.[1]
What code P0226 means
The ECU receives a voltage signal outside the expected range from the throttle or pedal position sensor. In electronic throttle systems, several potentiometers report the opening and the speed at which it opens or closes, and the ECU drives the throttle motor using them.[1]
The CarWiki page title matches this definition ("C", range or performance), but its text talks about sensor "B"; the Engine-Codes.com definition is taken as the valid one.[2]
Original definition (SAE J2012): Throttle/Pedal Position Sensor/Switch C Circuit Range/Performance[1][2]
Causes of P0226
From most to least likely, according to the sources.
Symptoms
- Engine warning light on.[1][2]Engine warning light: faults that cause it
- Poor throttle response and loss of power.[1][2]Less power: faults that cause it
- Engine jerking or stuttering when accelerating.[2]Jerking: faults that cause it
- Higher fuel consumption.[2]Uses more fuel: faults that cause it
- Difficulty starting.[2]Hard to start: faults that cause it
How to diagnose P0226
In order: from the most likely and cheapest to check to the most expensive.
- 1Read the stored codes and check whether there are others from the same group of pedal or throttle sensors.[1][2]
- 2Inspect the sensor's connectors and wiring: corrosion, chafed wires or cuts.[1][2]
- 3Clean the throttle if there is dirt and check that it moves freely.[2]
- 4Use the diagnostic tool to verify that the sensor signal varies smoothly as you move the pedal and the throttle, and that the supply is correct.[1][2]
- 5Replace the sensor only if the checks point to it; look at the ECU software update last.[2]
Can I keep driving with P0226?
Garage soon
It affects throttle control and can limit engine power. The sources consulted give no explicit urgency level; have it checked without delay.[1][2]
Documented faults related to P0226
Known faults of specific engines and cars, with their repair cost, the affected years and their sources.
Accelerator pedal: the most serious faults by engine and car
- High severityFrequency: Rare1.0 VVT-i2010 recall for the accelerator pedalIn January 2010 Toyota recalled, as part of a worldwide campaign, the Aygo, Peugeot 107 and Citroën C1 built between February 2005 and August 2009 because of an accelerator pedal that could stay partly depressed or return slowly to idle.
- Critical severityFrequency: OccasionalMercedes-Benz GLE V167Accelerator pedal mounting plate that bends and releases the pedalThe plate that holds the accelerator pedal module can bend and release the pedal from the body; the pedal can then stay pressed down, prevent kickdown or obstruct the brake pedal. It affected 882 GLE models built between 3 and 17 May 2023.
- High severityFrequency: OccasionalToyota Aygo IAccelerator pedal slow to return on the Toyota Aygo (2010 campaign)In January 2010, Wikipedia records a Toyota recall over the accelerator pedal, which could return slowly to idle; it covered the Aygo, 107 and C1 built between February 2005 and August 2009, although it was later clarified that it only affected the automatic Aygo.
Engine sensors: the most serious faults by engine and car
- High severityFrequency: Occasional2.0 DTI and 2.2 DTIVP44 injection pump and air mass meter failureGerman Wikipedia documents recurring failures of the Bosch VP44 injection pump and the air mass meter in the early years of this engine. An owner testimony for this engine describes the pump being replaced at 192,500 km, at a cost the owner calls «prohibitive».
- Medium severityFrequency: Common2.0 TDIClogged particulate filter or faulty pressure sensorThe 2.0 TDI's particulate filter clogs if the car mostly makes short journeys, because it never gets to regenerate; sometimes the fault is just the differential pressure sensor. Cleaning it costs around €200 and replacing it, €800 to €3,000.Repair (garage): €800–€3,000
- Medium severityFrequency: Common1.4 and 1.6 8vCrankshaft position sensor failure (TDC sensor)The crankshaft position sensor (capteur PMH, or TDC sensor) appears repeatedly in the reliability sources for the Clio II, the Kangoo I and the Dacia Logan I with this engine, with hard cold starting or stalling as the main symptoms. It is a cheap part, but the failure can leave you stranded.
- Medium severityFrequency: Common1.4 and 1.6 16vCrankshaft position sensor failureThe crankshaft position sensor (capteur PMH) appears repeatedly in the reliability sources for almost every generation with this engine, with hard cold starting, stalling or the car cutting out unexpectedly. It is a cheap part, but the failure can leave you stranded.
Frequently asked questions
Can I drive with code P0226?
Engine-Codes.com only mentions the engine light and poor throttle response. If the car responds normally you can drive to the garage, but with poor pedal response you should not keep driving.[1]
What does sensor "C" mean?
It is one of the several throttle or pedal position sensors or circuits; the letter tells you which of them has failed. The car's manual says which one it is.[1][2]
Does the sensor need replacing?
Only if it is confirmed to be damaged: the sources also point to the wiring, the connectors and dirt in the throttle as causes.[1][2]
Will I pass the MOT with code P0226?
If the code has switched on the engine warning light, no: with that light on, the inspection records a serious defect, and on Euro 5 and Euro 6 cars the ITV (Spain's roadworthiness inspection, similar to the MOT) also reads the OBD diagnostic system. Repair the fault before you go; clearing the code just before the inspection does not help either, because it counts as a serious defect.[3]
Not sure what is wrong with your car? Describe what you notice in the symptom diagnosis or see all fault codes.
Sources
Every fact on this page links to its source. If you find an error, let us know.
- P0226 Throttle/Pedal Position Sensor/Switch 'C' Circuit Range/Performance Problem (copia en Internet Archive)Engine-Codes.com · Technical documentation · consulted 29 October 2026
- OBD DTC Fehlercode P0226CarWiki · Technical documentation · consulted 29 October 2026 · in German
- Desmontando mitos: ¿puede pasar mi coche la ITV con el testigo de «avería motor» encendido?Diariomotor · Motoring press · published 8 March 2021 · consulted 2 October 2026 · in Spanish