The wastegate lets exhaust bypass the turbine to limit boost; actuator A is either a pulse-width-modulated solenoid on a pneumatic wastegate can or an electric actuator with a position sensor. P0246 means the control circuit of actuator A reads high – the control wire is shorted to voltage, so the driver cannot switch the valve to ground. GM checks with the driver on for less than 0.5 Ω to battery voltage, 10 of 20 samples, warning light in the first trip; Ford's driver chip reports it after 2–5 s, and Ford's functional check of the wastegate control pressure (P1015/P1016) only runs when P0245/P0246 are clear. Boost control is then switched off and only the spring-set base boost remains – less power, but no risk of overboost.
Medium severity. Can I keep driving?Drive without demanding power and go to a repair shop soon. If you see a lot of blue smoke or hear a metallic noise, shut off the engine.
Symptoms
- Check engine light on
- Clearly less power, boost only at base level
- Sluggish acceleration, turbo lag
- Reduced engine power message possible
Most likely causes
- Control wire touching voltage (damaged harness, neighbouring wire)
- Solenoid shorted internally (very low resistance, driver overcurrent)
- Moisture or corrosion in the connector
- Driver stage in the engine module faulty
What to check, in order
Start with the simplest. You can tick off each step.
Good to know
- Repair difficulty: medium
- It can trigger limp mode.
- It affects emissions.
What each character of P0246 means
- P: Powertrain: engine and transmission
- 0: Generic code: same on every make
- 2: Fuel injection
- 46: Specific fault in that system
Frequently asked questions
Can I keep driving with code P0246?
Drive without demanding power and go to a repair shop soon. If you see a lot of blue smoke or hear a metallic noise, shut off the engine.
What causes code P0246?
The most common causes are: control wire touching voltage (damaged harness, neighbouring wire); solenoid shorted internally (very low resistance, driver overcurrent); moisture or corrosion in the connector.
Related codes
- P0243Turbocharger/Supercharger Wastegate Actuator A
- P0245Turbocharger/Supercharger Wastegate Actuator A Low
- P0250Turbocharger/Supercharger Wastegate Actuator B High
- P0244Turbocharger/Supercharger Wastegate Actuator A Range/Performance
- P0299Turbocharger/Supercharger A Underboost Condition
Sources
- law.cornell.edu: 13 CCR 1968.2
- gsi.ext.gm.com: 18OBDG03A Engine Diagnostics
- fordservicecontent.com: OBD Operations Summary Gasoline 2020 2023
- saabwisonline.com: dtc p0243 p0245 or p0246
Values and procedures vary by manufacturer. If it affects brakes, steering, fuel or high voltage, see a professional. Updated: 2026-11-04. How we build these pages.