P244A — Diesel Particulate Filter Differential Pressure Too Low Bank 1

OBD2 code P244A flags a problem with the diesel particulate filter (DPF) (diesel particulate filter differential pressure too low bank 1). Short, gentle driving to a shop is usually possible. Common culprits: failed regeneration due to sensor or wiring faults, excessive ash loading (end of DPF life), faulty differential pressure or exhaust temperature sensor.

powertrain (engine/transmission)

Is it safe to drive?

Drive with caution Drive only enough to reach a service. A saturated DPF pushes the car into limp mode, and continued driving with failed regenerations dilutes engine oil with fuel — that damages the engine itself.

How to diagnose with an OBD scanner

Read the code and freeze frame Connect an OBD2 scanner, confirm P244A 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 diesel particulate filter (DPF) for damage, corrosion, chafing or poor contact.
Subsystem check Read DPF soot load and differential pressure in live data before and after a forced regeneration.
Subsystem check Verify exhaust temperature and pressure sensor readings are plausible at idle and under load.
Verify the repair Clear the code, complete a full drive cycle including the conditions from the freeze frame, and confirm P244A does not return.

Approximate repair cost

Repair cost depends on which component actually failed. Typical scenarios for P244A (parts and labor, USD, independent shop rates): Forced regeneration / cleaning: $150–$400; DPF replacement: $1,500–$4,000; Replace a pressure or temperature sensor: $150–$450. Overall, fixing P244A usually costs between $150 and $4,000. An accurate diagnosis before buying parts saves money — the most expensive scenario is rarely the first one to check.

Common questions

Will P244A clear itself?

Sometimes P244A clears after a few drive cycles if the fault was intermittent — for example a loose connector or a tank of bad fuel. The underlying cause usually remains, so the code tends to return. Clear it once; if it comes back, diagnose rather than erase it repeatedly.

What is the most common cause of P244A?

The most common causes are: failed regeneration due to sensor or wiring faults, excessive ash loading (end of DPF life), faulty differential pressure or exhaust temperature sensor.

How do I diagnose P244A myself?

Start with a scan: confirm P244A, save the freeze frame and note any companion codes. Then inspect the wiring and connectors related to the diesel particulate filter (DPF), and verify the suspect component against live data before buying parts.

What does OBD2 code P244A mean?

Is it safe to drive with P244A?

Drive only enough to reach a service. A saturated DPF pushes the car into limp mode, and continued driving with failed regenerations dilutes engine oil with fuel — that damages the engine itself.

What does P244A mean?

When P244A appears on a scan, it means the control module has flagged a problem in the diesel particulate filter (DPF): diesel particulate filter differential pressure too low bank 1. The fault sits in the powertrain (engine/transmission) group of the OBD2 standard.

“Bank 1” means the side of the engine that contains cylinder 1. Verify which side that is on your specific engine before testing or replacing parts.

This code does not appear from a single bad reading: the module must see the fault condition repeat under defined operating conditions before it turns on the warning light. The freeze frame captured with P244A — engine load, rpm, temperature, speed — tells you exactly when the problem occurs, so reproduce those conditions when testing.

Common symptoms of P244A

frequent regeneration attempts
rising oil level from fuel dilution
Check Engine or DPF warning light on
loss of power and limp mode
increased fuel consumption

What causes P244A?

faulty differential pressure or exhaust temperature sensor
soot-overloaded DPF from short-trip driving
excessive ash loading (end of DPF life)
failed regeneration due to sensor or wiring faults

How to diagnose P244A

Connect an OBD2 scanner, confirm P244A 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 diesel particulate filter (DPF) for damage, corrosion, chafing or poor contact.
Read DPF soot load and differential pressure in live data before and after a forced regeneration.
Verify exhaust temperature and pressure sensor readings are plausible at idle and under load.
Clear the code, complete a full drive cycle including the conditions from the freeze frame, and confirm P244A does not return.

How to fix P244A

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

Forced regeneration / cleaning — $150–$400
DPF replacement — $1,500–$4,000
Replace a pressure or temperature sensor — $150–$450

How much does it cost to fix P244A?

Repair cost depends on which component actually failed. Typical scenarios for P244A (parts and labor, USD, independent shop rates):

Forced regeneration / cleaning: $150–$400
DPF replacement: $1,500–$4,000
Replace a pressure or temperature sensor: $150–$450

Overall, fixing P244A usually costs between $150 and $4,000. An accurate diagnosis before buying parts saves money — the most expensive scenario is rarely the first one to check.

Can you drive with P244A?