P0403: Exhaust Gas Recirculation "A" Control Circuit

P0403 means Exhaust Gas Recirculation "A" Control Circuit. The engine computer has found a problem in the EGR valve control circuit. The control module has detected a fault in the circuit itself, such as an open circuit, a short, or a signal outside the electrical limits it expects.

CodeP0403
SystemExhaust gas recirculation
SeverityModerate
TypeGeneric powertrain

Can I keep driving? Drivable with care. Diagnose soon: performance, economy or other components can be affected.

Common symptoms

  • Check engine light on
  • Possible rough idle or knocking
  • Failed emissions test

Possible causes

  • Faulty EGR valve or solenoid
  • Wiring or connector fault
  • Faulty EGR position sensor
  • Engine computer driver fault (rare)

How to diagnose P0403

  1. Inspect the connector and wiring.
  2. Check power, ground and signal circuits.
  3. Command the valve on a scan tool and confirm it responds.

What the code means, digit by digit

PPowertrain0Generic (SAE) code4Sub-system03Specific fault

Generic codes have the same definition on every OBD-II vehicle (petrol cars from model year 1996 in the US, 2001 in the EU; diesels later). Manufacturers can add their own enhanced codes; those are not listed here.

Related codes

General guidance only. Fault codes describe what the engine computer saw, not which part failed: confirm with testing before replacing parts, and follow the vehicle's service information.