P261C: Coolant Pump B Control Circuit Low

P261C points to a control line of coolant pump B pulled toward ground. VW's 2014 Touareg data book sets it when the signal voltage drops below 2.8-3.2 V. Ford (gasoline summaries 2020-2023 and 2024) relies on a smart driver that watches pump B, which cools components in the hot loop, and sets P261C or P261D as soon as it reports an output fault, within a 5 s window above 11 V. Audi's bulletin 2043142 (2.0 TFSI CAE/CPM, model years 2012 to 2016) names the low-side code alongside P261A and P261B and replaces the after-run pump with an updated part and bracket. GM's hybrid tables put P261C both in the control fault bundle and in the no-flow bundle of the switchable water pump. Look for chafed wires near hot parts, then for a pump with an internal short.

Medium severity. Can I keep driving?Watch the temperature gauge. If it climbs or a warning appears, stop the car in a safe place and turn off the engine: overheating can cause serious damage.

Symptoms

Malfunction indicator lamp on
Auxiliary pump does not run, no after-run cooling
Rising temperatures at turbo or electronics in heavy use

Most likely causes

Chafed wire to ground near exhaust or engine parts
Internal short in the pump electronics, often after water ingress
Corroded connector bridging pins

What to check, in order

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

With the engine cold, check the coolant level; never do this when the system is hot
With the connector unplugged, check whether the signal wire is making contact with ground.
Check the actual temperature in live data
Make sure the fan comes on when it should
Check the thermostat and connector
Measure the sensor and replace it if its readings do not make sense

Good to know

Repair difficulty: medium
It affects emissions.

What each character of P261C means

P: Powertrain: engine and transmission
2: Generic code: same on every make
6: Control modules and outputs
1C: Specific fault in that system

Frequently asked questions

Can I keep driving with code P261C?

Watch the temperature gauge. If it climbs or a warning appears, stop the car in a safe place and turn off the engine: overheating can cause serious damage.

What causes code P261C?

The most common causes are: chafed wire to ground near exhaust or engine parts; internal short in the pump electronics, often after water ingress; corroded connector bridging pins.

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.