OBD-II Code · Powertrain
P0033
Turbocharger Bypass Valve Control Circuit
Severity
medium
Worth booking. It costs fuel, emissions or comfort until it is fixed.
Can you drive it
Only if running normally
A short trip to a shop may be reasonable if the light is steady and the car runs normally. Stop safely for a flashing light, severe shaking, overheating, loss of power, or another urgent warning. The code alone cannot confirm safety.
Indicative cost (USD)
$150–$700
Varies by vehicle, diagnosis, parts, and local labor. This is not a repair quote.
Wastegate / bypass solenoid control circuit fault.
How a shop works this
Work from evidence to part, not the other way round. A code names a circuit or a symptom; it does not name the part that failed.
Note every code that is set, not just this one.
Codes that appear together usually narrow the cause faster than any one of them read alone.
Read the freeze frame — the conditions the fault was recorded under.
Cold or warm, idle or load, road speed and engine speed. A fault that only appears cold is a different fault from one that only appears under load, even with the same code on the scanner.
Confirm the fault is current rather than history.
Clear the code and see whether it returns under those same conditions. A code that does not come back may have been logged during a repair, a flat battery, or a bad connection that has since been disturbed.
Then work the likely-causes list in the order shown.
That order is what a shop checks first for this code — wiring and connections before the component they run to, because a connector costs nothing to inspect and is a common answer.
If the code comes back after a repair, the underlying fault is still there. That is the point to bring in a scanner with live data and freeze-frame, or a shop that has one.
Common symptoms
- Check engine light
- Boost surge / loss of boost
Likely causes
- Failed solenoidMost common
- Wiring
- PCM driver
Read the full diagnostic procedureP0033 sets when the ECU detects a generic circuit fault on the turbocharger/supercharger bypass valve (BPV / blow-off valve / diverter valve) control…
P0033 sets when the ECU detects a generic circuit fault on the turbocharger/supercharger bypass valve (BPV / blow-off valve / diverter valve) control circuit - either the solenoid or motor that opens the BPV to bleed boost during throttle lift, or the position sensor on a sensor-equipped BPV. Modern boost-by-wire systems use an electronically-actuated diverter valve so the ECU can dump boost during gear changes, throttle-tip-out, and emissions-relevant transients; P0033 is the circuit-level fault on that loop.
Cheapest-first ladder
- Locate the BPV (typically on the cold-side of the compressor housing on turbocharged engines) and visually inspect the connector and harness - heat-cycled connectors crack open.
- DMM the solenoid resistance pin-to-pin - typical readings are 12-30 ohms; open or shorted readings confirm internal valve failure.
- Bidirectional-command the BPV with a scan tool and listen/feel for the click - no click means harness or solenoid is dead; if it clicks but the code returns, the position-sensor circuit (on equipped models) is the next suspect. Expensive-misdiagnosis trap: turbocharger replacement when the BPV solenoid is a $80-$200 standalone part.
Vehicle-specific patterns2008-2014 VW / Audi 2.0T TSI (EA888 family) throws P0033 frequently from a torn diverter valve diaphragm or failed solenoid - VW issued a series of u…
- 2008-2014VW / Audi 2.0T TSI (EA888 family) throws P0033 frequently from a torn diverter valve diaphragm or failed solenoid - VW issued a series of upgraded diverter valve part numbers (rev D and rev G being the durable versions).
- 2007-2010Mini Cooper S R56 with the N14 turbo throws P0033 from a stuck BPV solenoid.
- 2011-2018Ford F-150 3.5L EcoBoost throws P0033 from a sticking turbo bypass valve actuator after the diaphragm ages.
- 2013-2019Subaru WRX with the FA20DIT 2.0L direct-injection turbo throws P0033 from a failed electronic BPV that's specific to the FA20 design.
Estimated repair$90 to $450
Look up another code
P0033 — frequently asked
What does a P0033 code mean?
Wastegate / bypass solenoid control circuit fault.
What causes a P0033 code?
Common causes: Failed solenoid; Wiring; PCM driver.
What are the symptoms of a P0033 code?
Typical symptoms: Check engine light; Boost surge / loss of boost.
Is it safe to drive with a P0033 code?
Only if running normally. A short trip to a shop may be reasonable if the light is steady and the car runs normally. Stop safely for a flashing light, severe shaking, overheating, loss of power, or another urgent warning. The code alone cannot confirm safety. Estimated repair: $150-$700.
How do I diagnose a P0033 code?
Work from evidence to part, not the other way round. A code names a circuit or a symptom; it does not name the part that failed. 1. Note every code that is set, not just this one. 2. Read the freeze frame — the conditions the fault was recorded under. 3. Confirm the fault is current rather than history. 4. Then work the likely-causes list in the order shown.
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