P246A — Exhaust Gas Temperature Sensor Circuit Intermittent/Erratic Bank 2 Sensor 3

OBD2 code P246A flags a problem with the sensor and actuator circuits (exhaust gas temperature sensor circuit intermittent/erratic bank 2 sensor 3). The car is usually drivable while you plan the repair. Common culprits: faulty sensor or actuator of the affected circuit, blown fuse feeding the circuit, corroded, loose or damaged connector.

powertrain (engine/transmission)

Is it safe to drive?

Short-term driving is OK In most cases the car remains drivable, possibly with reduced performance or a disabled auxiliary system. If symptoms include stalling, no-start or brake/steering warnings, treat it as urgent.

How to diagnose with an OBD scanner

  1. Read the code and freeze frame Connect an OBD2 scanner, confirm P246A is stored, and save the freeze frame data — it shows engine conditions when the fault was detected.
  2. 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.
  3. Inspect wiring and connectors Visually inspect the wiring harness and connectors related to the exhaust gas temperature sensor circuit intermittent/erratic bank 2 sensor 3 for damage, corrosion, chafing or poor contact.
  4. Subsystem check Measure reference voltage, ground and signal continuity at the component connector.
  5. Subsystem check Wiggle-test the harness while watching the signal in live data — dropouts reveal broken wires.
  6. Verify the repair Clear the code, complete a full drive cycle including the conditions from the freeze frame, and confirm P246A does not return.

Approximate repair cost

Repair cost depends on which component actually failed. Typical scenarios for P246A (parts and labor, USD, independent shop rates): Replace the faulty sensor or actuator: $150–$500; Control module repair: $300–$1,000; Repair wiring or connectors: $80–$250. Overall, fixing P246A usually costs between $80 and $1,000. An accurate diagnosis before buying parts saves money — the most expensive scenario is rarely the first one to check.

Common questions

Will P246A clear itself?

Sometimes P246A 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.

How much does it cost to fix P246A?

Replace the faulty sensor or actuator — $150–$500; Control module repair — $300–$1,000; Repair wiring or connectors — $80–$250. Exact cost depends on the root cause, your vehicle and local labor rates — a proper diagnosis is the cheapest first step.

What does OBD2 code P246A mean?

OBD2 code P246A flags a problem with the sensor and actuator circuits (exhaust gas temperature sensor circuit intermittent/erratic bank 2 sensor 3). The car is usually drivable while you plan the repair. Common culprits: faulty sensor or actuator of the affected circuit, blown fuse feeding the circuit, corroded, loose or damaged connector.

Is it safe to drive with P246A?

In most cases the car remains drivable, possibly with reduced performance or a disabled auxiliary system. If symptoms include stalling, no-start or brake/steering warnings, treat it as urgent.

What is the most common cause of P246A?

The most common causes are: faulty sensor or actuator of the affected circuit, blown fuse feeding the circuit, corroded, loose or damaged connector.

What does P246A mean?

P246A (Exhaust Gas Temperature Sensor Circuit Intermittent/Erratic Bank 2 Sensor 3) is stored when self-diagnostics detect abnormal readings or behaviour of the sensor and actuator circuits. It belongs to the powertrain (engine/transmission) category.

In this definition, “Bank 2” is the side of the engine opposite to cylinder 1 and “Sensor 3” is the downstream (after the catalytic converter) sensor. Mixing up banks and sensor positions is the most common DIY mistake with this code — verify the physical location before replacing anything.

To set P246A, the control module compares live readings of the sensor and actuator circuits 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.

Common symptoms of P246A

  • Check Engine Light on
  • possible limp mode depending on the affected component
  • the affected system operates intermittently or not at all
  • increased fuel consumption in some cases

What causes P246A?

  • poor ground connection
  • corroded, loose or damaged connector
  • control module driver fault
  • faulty sensor or actuator of the affected circuit
  • open or shorted wiring in the circuit

How to diagnose P246A

  1. Connect an OBD2 scanner, confirm P246A is stored, and save the freeze frame data — it shows engine conditions when the fault was detected.
  2. 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.
  3. Visually inspect the wiring harness and connectors related to the exhaust gas temperature sensor circuit intermittent/erratic bank 2 sensor 3 for damage, corrosion, chafing or poor contact.
  4. Measure reference voltage, ground and signal continuity at the component connector.
  5. Wiggle-test the harness while watching the signal in live data — dropouts reveal broken wires.
  6. Clear the code, complete a full drive cycle including the conditions from the freeze frame, and confirm P246A does not return.

How to fix P246A

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

  • Replace the faulty sensor or actuator — $150–$500
  • Control module repair — $300–$1,000
  • Repair wiring or connectors — $80–$250

How much does it cost to fix P246A?

Repair cost depends on which component actually failed. Typical scenarios for P246A (parts and labor, USD, independent shop rates):

  • Replace the faulty sensor or actuator: $150–$500
  • Control module repair: $300–$1,000
  • Repair wiring or connectors: $80–$250

Overall, fixing P246A usually costs between $80 and $1,000. An accurate diagnosis before buying parts saves money — the most expensive scenario is rarely the first one to check.

Can you drive with P246A?

In most cases the car remains drivable, possibly with reduced performance or a disabled auxiliary system. If symptoms include stalling, no-start or brake/steering warnings, treat it as urgent.

Related OBD2 codes