P2433: AIR System Air Flow/Pressure Sensor Circuit High (Bank 1)

With P2433 the bank 1 secondary air pressure signal sits above its upper limit, pointing to a signal wire shorted to the 5 V reference or to battery voltage, an open sensor ground or a failed sensor. GM uses more than 95 % of the reference on the 2005–2006 3.8L V6, more than 94 % on the 2006 Corvette and CTS-V V8s and in the 2018 tables (800 of 1,000 samples), always as a Type B fault watched without a break. Volkswagen's 2014 data put the threshold above 4.65 V (Beetle, Golf CBFA) or above 4.5 V (2.5L engine). A broken ground often shared with other sensors can make them report at the same moment, which helps narrow the search. P2432 is the low-side partner, P2438 the bank 2 version.

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.

Bank 1 is the side of the engine with cylinder 1. Inline engines only have this bank.

Symptoms

Check engine lamp after two trips
Secondary air readiness stays incomplete

Most likely causes

Signal wire shorted to 5 V reference or battery voltage
Open sensor ground or corroded ground terminal
Pressure sensor failed internally

What to check, in order

Start with the simplest. You can tick off each step.

Listen for the pump running during a cold start
Check the sensor's ground and make sure the signal wire is not receiving voltage from another circuit.
Check the fuse and relay
Inspect the hoses and valve for moisture or carbon
Run the actuator test with the scanner

Good to know

Repair difficulty: medium
It affects emissions.

What each character of P2433 means

P: Powertrain: engine and transmission
2: Generic code: same on every make
4: Emissions
33: Specific fault in that system

Frequently asked questions

Can I keep driving with code P2433?

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 P2433?

The most common causes are: signal wire shorted to 5 V reference or battery voltage; open sensor ground or corroded ground terminal; pressure sensor failed internally.

Related codes

Sources

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.