P2258 reports that the line controlling secondary air (AIR) pump A or its relay sits at too high a level, usually because it is shorted to battery voltage or the driver cannot pull it down. The pump only runs briefly after a cold start to heat the catalyst faster, so the fault mainly raises warm-up emissions. GM's 2018 tables (LWE section) check it while the low-side driver is switched on: 0.5 ohm or less between signal and supply, in 20 of 25 samples of 250 ms, Type B with the MIL after two trips. VW's 2014 book for the Touareg 3.0 TSI (CGFA) gives a signal current of 0.60 to 2.40 A as criterion. Ford names P2258 beside P0412 as a secondary air fault that disables its catalyst temperature model. P2257 is the low counterpart; P2259/P2260 belong to circuit B.
Low severity. Can I keep driving?Yes, you can keep driving, though it should be repaired: the car pollutes more at startup and may not pass an inspection.
Symptoms
- MIL on, often without any noticeable change in driving
- Secondary air pump silent after a cold start
- Higher hydrocarbon emissions during warm-up, possibly a failed emissions test
Most likely causes
- Control wire of the AIR pump relay chafed through and touching a battery-voltage feed
- Secondary air relay with shorted coil or welded contacts
- Moisture or corrosion in the relay or pump connector bridging terminals
- Faulty output stage in the engine control module
What to check, in order
Start with the simplest. You can tick off each step.
Good to know
- Repair difficulty: medium
- It affects emissions.
What each character of P2258 means
- P: Powertrain: engine and transmission
- 2: Generic code: same on every make
- 2: Fuel injection
- 58: Specific fault in that system
Frequently asked questions
Can I keep driving with code P2258?
Yes, you can keep driving, though it should be repaired: the car pollutes more at startup and may not pass an inspection.
What causes code P2258?
The most common causes are: control wire of the AIR pump relay chafed through and touching a battery-voltage feed; secondary air relay with shorted coil or welded contacts; moisture or corrosion in the relay or pump connector bridging terminals.
Related codes
- P2257AIR System Control A Circuit Low
- P0418AIR System Control A Circuit
- P0412AIR System Switching Valve A Circuit
- P2260AIR System Control B Circuit High
- P0411AIR System A Incorrect Flow Detected
Sources
- gsi.ext.gm.com: 18OBDG03A Engine Diagnostics
- static.nhtsa.gov: MC 10119356 9999
- newtonnet.co.uk: fordobd2012
- law.cornell.edu: 13 CCR 1968.2
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.