Broken, chafed, or disconnected wiring in the bypass control circuit; Corroded or loose electrical connector at the bypass valve or PCM; Failed charge air cooler bypass valve solenoid or actuator; Open winding inside the bypass valve motor or solenoid; Faulty powertrain control module driver circuit (less common); Blown fuse or poor ground connection serving the bypass circuit

DTC codes / P02xx · Fuel and air metering (injector circuits) / P022A

P022ACharge Air Cooler Bypass Control A Circuit/Open

Q: What does code P022A mean?

Charge Air Cooler Bypass Control A Circuit/Open. P022A indicates that the powertrain control module has detected an open circuit or abnormal voltage on the control circuit for the charge air cooler bypass valve, often called the intercooler bypass. The computer commands the valve to move and monitors the electrical feedback, but the signal falls outside the expected range, so it flags the circuit as open.

P022A indicates that the powertrain control module has detected an open circuit or abnormal voltage on the control circuit for the charge air cooler bypass valve, often called the intercooler bypass. The computer commands the valve to move and monitors the electrical feedback, but the signal falls outside the expected range, so it flags the circuit as open.

SystemPowertrain

Code typeGeneric (all makes)

SeverityMedium

Fix difficultyIntermediate

AreaFuel and air metering (injector circuits)

Symptoms you may notice

Illumination of the check engine light, often with no other noticeable symptoms
Reduced engine power or a limp-home mode under heavy acceleration
Poor throttle response or hesitation when accelerating from a stop
Decreased fuel economy due to incorrect charge air routing
Possible turbocharger surge or whistling noises during acceleration
In rare cases, the engine may run rough or stall after startup

Common causes, most likely first

Broken, chafed, or disconnected wiring in the bypass control circuit
Corroded or loose electrical connector at the bypass valve or PCM
Failed charge air cooler bypass valve solenoid or actuator
Open winding inside the bypass valve motor or solenoid
Faulty powertrain control module driver circuit (less common)
Blown fuse or poor ground connection serving the bypass circuit

How to diagnose and fix it

Scan all modules for stored and pending codes, and record freeze-frame data to understand when the fault occurs
Visually inspect the bypass valve connector and wiring harness for damage, corrosion, or loose pins
Disconnect the bypass valve and measure resistance across its control terminals to check for an open winding
Back-probe the control circuit at the valve and command the valve on and off with a scan tool to verify voltage and ground switching
Check continuity and resistance of each wire from the bypass valve to the PCM, looking for opens or shorts
Verify the PCM ground and power supply are intact, and check any related fuses
If wiring and valve test good, substitute a known-good bypass valve or perform a PCM driver test before replacing the PCM

What the bypass valve circuit test reveals

A common oversight is replacing the bypass valve without first checking the connector pins, because a backed-out terminal or green corrosion can mimic a failed valve perfectly.
The code can set intermittently from vibration or engine movement, so a wiggle test of the harness while watching live data often exposes the real fault.
Some vehicles use a three-wire valve with a position sensor, and a shorted sensor signal can drag the control circuit voltage out of range and set P022A even though the motor is fine.
A stuck-open bypass valve may not set P022A at all, because the electrical circuit remains intact; this code is strictly about the control circuit, not mechanical function.
After repairs, the PCM may require a bypass valve relearn or a drive cycle before the monitor will pass, so clearing the code and immediately rechecking can be misleading.

Can I keep driving with P022A?

You can usually drive the vehicle to a repair shop, but avoid heavy acceleration and towing because the bypass valve may not route charge air correctly, which can reduce power and stress the turbocharger. If the engine enters limp mode or runs poorly, stop driving and have it towed.

Tools that help

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Guidance is general and written for all OBD-II vehicles. Exact tests and values vary by model, so confirm the fault before replacing parts.