OBD-II Code · Forced Induction
P0246
Turbo Wastegate Solenoid A High
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)
$100–$400
Varies by vehicle, diagnosis, parts, and local labor. This is not a repair quote.
Wastegate solenoid circuit voltage high.
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 issues
Likely causes
- Failed solenoidMost common
- Wiring short to power
Read the full diagnostic procedureP0246 reports the wastegate solenoid A control circuit voltage is above the expected threshold, indicating an open circuit, a short to power, or a di…
P0246 reports the wastegate solenoid A control circuit voltage is above the expected threshold, indicating an open circuit, a short to power, or a disconnected solenoid.
Start with the simplest check
confirm the solenoid is plugged in and the connector is not backed out, which is shockingly common after recent service near the engine bay. Measure solenoid resistance (should be 14-30 ohms on most platforms); an infinite reading confirms an open winding. Probe the control circuit at the solenoid harness side with the connector unplugged and the key on: you should see roughly 12V on the supply pin, and the PCM driver pin should sit near 12V at rest and pulse to ground when commanded. The expensive misdiagnosis is replacing a perfectly good turbocharger when a $4 connector pin or a $90 solenoid was the only fault.
Vehicle-specific patterns2007-2010 BMW 335i N54 wastegate solenoid connector terminals back out as the rubber seal hardens, producing intermittent P0246 fixed by re-tensionin…
- 2007-2010BMW 335i N54 wastegate solenoid connector terminals back out as the rubber seal hardens, producing intermittent P0246 fixed by re-tensioning or replacing the connector;
- 2011-2014Ford Edge/Explorer 3.5L EcoBoost wastegate solenoid pigtail fails at the splice inside the harness loom (TSB 14-0036);
- 2010-2013Mazdaspeed3 2.3L DISI BCS connector clip breaks and the plug walks off under vibration;
- 2014-2019Subaru WRX FA20DIT wastegate solenoid harness pulls tight against the alternator bracket.
Estimated repair$90 to $420.
Look up another code
P0246 — frequently asked
What does a P0246 code mean?
Wastegate solenoid circuit voltage high.
What causes a P0246 code?
Common causes: Failed solenoid; Wiring short to power.
What are the symptoms of a P0246 code?
Typical symptoms: Check engine light; Boost issues.
Is it safe to drive with a P0246 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: $100-$400.
How do I diagnose a P0246 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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