Loose, corroded, or damaged electrical connector at the BARO sensor; Chafed or broken wire in the BARO sensor signal or ground circuit; Faulty barometric pressure sensor (internal intermittent failure); Poor connection at the PCM harness connector; Water intrusion or contamination in the sensor or connector; Failed PCM (rare, but possible if other sensors on the same reference circuit are affected)

DTC codes / P22xx · Fuel and air metering (injector circuits) / P2230

P2230Barometric Pressure Circuit Intermittent

Q: What does code P2230 mean?

Barometric Pressure Circuit Intermittent. P2230 indicates that the powertrain control module (PCM) has detected an intermittent fault in the barometric pressure (BARO) sensor circuit, meaning the signal from the sensor drops out or becomes erratic rather than failing completely. The PCM uses this sensor to determine atmospheric pressure for fuel delivery and altitude compensation, so an intermittent signal can cause drivability issues or simply trigger the warning light.

P2230 indicates that the powertrain control module (PCM) has detected an intermittent fault in the barometric pressure (BARO) sensor circuit, meaning the signal from the sensor drops out or becomes erratic rather than failing completely. The PCM uses this sensor to determine atmospheric pressure for fuel delivery and altitude compensation, so an intermittent signal can cause drivability issues or simply trigger the warning light.

SystemPowertrain

Code typeGeneric (all makes)

SeverityLow

Fix difficultyIntermediate

AreaFuel and air metering (injector circuits)

Symptoms you may notice

Check engine light illuminated, often with no other noticeable symptoms
Rough idle or stumbling during acceleration
Poor fuel economy or rich-running condition
Hesitation or lack of power, especially at high altitude
Intermittent stalling or surging while driving
Hard starting or extended crank time

Common causes, most likely first

Loose, corroded, or damaged electrical connector at the BARO sensor
Chafed or broken wire in the BARO sensor signal or ground circuit
Faulty barometric pressure sensor (internal intermittent failure)
Poor connection at the PCM harness connector
Water intrusion or contamination in the sensor or connector
Failed PCM (rare, but possible if other sensors on the same reference circuit are affected)

How to diagnose and fix it

Inspect the BARO sensor connector for looseness, corrosion, or pushed-out pins and clean or repair as needed
Check the sensor wiring harness for chafing, breaks, or heat damage and repair any faults
Measure reference voltage and ground at the sensor connector with a multimeter; compare to manufacturer specifications
Back-probe the signal wire and wiggle the harness while watching live BARO data on a scan tool to catch intermittents
If wiring and connections are good, replace the barometric pressure sensor
Clear the code and perform a road test to verify the repair; if the code returns, inspect PCM connectors and wiring

Intermittent BARO faults that fool technicians

A BARO sensor that fails intermittently may pass all static tests, so wiggling the harness while monitoring live data is often the only way to expose the fault.
On many vehicles the barometric pressure sensor is integrated into the mass air flow (MAF) sensor, so a P2230 may actually point to a failing MAF sensor rather than a stand-alone BARO sensor.
Corrosion inside the sensor connector from water intrusion is a common hidden cause that visual inspection alone may miss; disconnecting and inspecting the pins is essential.
The PCM may substitute a default barometric pressure value when the signal is intermittent, masking drivability symptoms and making the fault appear only as a stored code.
A poor ground connection shared with other sensors can create intermittent BARO signals, so checking ground integrity at the sensor and PCM is a critical step.

Can I keep driving with P2230?

The vehicle is generally safe to drive with P2230 because the PCM can substitute a default barometric pressure value, but avoid towing heavy loads or driving at high altitude until the fault is repaired, as fuel delivery may be slightly off.

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.