P213D — Exhaust Gas Recirculation Throttle Control Circuit "B" High

P213D — Exhaust Gas Recirculation Throttle Control Circuit "B" High. A fault in the exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system. The car is usually drivable while you plan the repair. Typical causes: failed EGR valve or position sensor, ECM control circuit fault, carbon buildup blocking the EGR valve or passages.

powertrain (engine/transmission)

Is it safe to drive?

Short-term driving is OK Generally safe to drive in the short term. Expect rough idle, pinging and higher emissions; on some cars the engine may derate. If the engine stalls or runs very rough, treat it as urgent.

How to diagnose with an OBD scanner

Read the code and freeze frame Connect an OBD2 scanner, confirm P213D is stored, and save the freeze frame data — it shows engine conditions when the fault was detected.
Check for companion codes and TSBs Related codes often reveal the real root cause. Also check manufacturer technical service bulletins (TSB) for your make and model — many P0xxx issues have factory fixes or software updates. Search by VIN on the manufacturer site or nhtsa.gov.
Inspect wiring and connectors Visually inspect the wiring harness and connectors related to the exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system for damage, corrosion, chafing or poor contact.
Subsystem check Command the EGR valve open/closed with a scanner and watch idle quality and position feedback.
Subsystem check Remove and inspect the EGR valve and passages for carbon blockage before replacing parts.
Verify the repair Clear the code, complete a full drive cycle including the conditions from the freeze frame, and confirm P213D does not return.

Approximate repair cost

Repair cost depends on which component actually failed. Typical scenarios for P213D (parts and labor, USD, independent shop rates): Clean the EGR valve and passages: $120–$350; Repair vacuum lines or wiring: $80–$250; Replace the EGR valve: $250–$650. Overall, fixing P213D usually costs between $80 and $650. An accurate diagnosis before buying parts saves money — the most expensive scenario is rarely the first one to check.

Common questions

What is the most common cause of P213D?

The most common causes are: failed EGR valve or position sensor, ECM control circuit fault, carbon buildup blocking the EGR valve or passages.

What are the symptoms of P213D?

Drivers most often notice: increased NOx emissions, rough idle or stalling at idle, Check Engine Light on, hesitation and pinging under load.

Is it safe to drive with P213D?

Generally safe to drive in the short term. Expect rough idle, pinging and higher emissions; on some cars the engine may derate. If the engine stalls or runs very rough, treat it as urgent.

What does OBD2 code P213D mean?

How do I diagnose P213D myself?

Start with a scan: confirm P213D, save the freeze frame and note any companion codes. Then inspect the wiring and connectors related to the exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system, and verify the suspect component against live data before buying parts.

What does P213D mean?

Seeing P213D on your scanner? The control unit has caught the exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system operating outside its calibrated window. The formal description is “Exhaust Gas Recirculation Throttle Control Circuit "B" High”, and the code is grouped under powertrain (engine/transmission) faults.

To set P213D, the control module compares live readings of the exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system against calibrated limits, usually over several drive cycles. Alongside the code it stores a freeze frame — a snapshot of rpm, load, coolant temperature and vehicle speed at the moment of failure. Reading that snapshot first saves diagnostic time.

What causes P213D?

failed EGR valve or position sensor
carbon buildup blocking the EGR valve or passages
vacuum leaks in EGR control lines
faulty EGR solenoid or wiring
ECM control circuit fault

Common symptoms of P213D

increased NOx emissions
rough idle or stalling at idle
Check Engine Light on
hesitation and pinging under load
slight power loss

How to diagnose P213D

Connect an OBD2 scanner, confirm P213D is stored, and save the freeze frame data — it shows engine conditions when the fault was detected.
Related codes often reveal the real root cause. Also check manufacturer technical service bulletins (TSB) for your make and model — many P0xxx issues have factory fixes or software updates. Search by VIN on the manufacturer site or nhtsa.gov.
Visually inspect the wiring harness and connectors related to the exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system for damage, corrosion, chafing or poor contact.
Command the EGR valve open/closed with a scanner and watch idle quality and position feedback.
Remove and inspect the EGR valve and passages for carbon blockage before replacing parts.
Clear the code, complete a full drive cycle including the conditions from the freeze frame, and confirm P213D does not return.

How to fix P213D

Start with the cheapest and most common causes before replacing expensive parts:

Clean the EGR valve and passages — $120–$350
Repair vacuum lines or wiring — $80–$250
Replace the EGR valve — $250–$650

How much does it cost to fix P213D?

Repair cost depends on which component actually failed. Typical scenarios for P213D (parts and labor, USD, independent shop rates):

Clean the EGR valve and passages: $120–$350
Repair vacuum lines or wiring: $80–$250
Replace the EGR valve: $250–$650

Overall, fixing P213D usually costs between $80 and $650. An accurate diagnosis before buying parts saves money — the most expensive scenario is rarely the first one to check.

Can you drive with P213D?