Diagnostic Trouble Code

P2293

Fuel Pressure Regulator 2 Performance

What the code means

The ECU has detected that the high-pressure fuel system is not achieving or controlling fuel pressure as expected.

P2293 is generally described as Fuel Pressure Regulator 2 Performance. It indicates a fuel-pressure control or performance problem, but it does not by itself identify which component has caused it.

On direct-injection petrol engines, diagnosis needs to consider both the electrical and mechanical sides of the high-pressure fuel system. Requested and actual fuel pressure can show that the system is not delivering what the ECU expects, but further testing is needed to establish why.

The Speed Tweaks video on this page follows a VW Golf 1.6 FSI with an engine-management light, cutting out, lack of power and fuel-pressure faults. In that case, a quick physical inspection of the high-pressure pump and its mechanical drive revealed the problem.

The fault was not initially expected to be in this area, which is a useful reminder that a quick inspection of a known mechanical failure point can sometimes save a great deal of unnecessary testing.

Possible causes

What could cause P2293?

High-pressure fuel pump unable to achieve the required pressure

Worn or damaged high-pressure pump lifter or follower

Wear or damage in the mechanical drive to the high-pressure pump

Low-pressure fuel supply problem

Fuel-pressure control or regulating fault

Fuel-pressure sensor or signal problem

Wiring or connector fault

Restriction or contamination in the fuel system

Other mechanical or electrical faults affecting fuel pressure

Diagnostic approach

What should you check?

1. Read the complete fault memory. Check for accompanying fuel-pressure, mixture, misfire or supply faults that may provide more information about what the engine-management system has detected.
2. Compare requested and actual fuel pressure. Use live data to establish whether the fuel pressure follows the ECU's target and identify the conditions under which the pressure begins to deviate.
3. Don't assume the high-pressure pump itself has failed. A high-pressure pump can only work correctly if its fuel supply, control and mechanical drive are all functioning properly.
4. Inspect the pump drive where applicable. On FSI applications with this arrangement, inspect the high-pressure pump lifter or follower and the mechanical components that operate the pump. Wear or damage here can prevent a good pump from producing the pressure expected by the ECU.
5. Check the low-pressure supply. Make sure the high-pressure pump is receiving an adequate fuel supply before condemning components on the high-pressure side.
6. Check pressure measurement and control. If the mechanical system is sound, investigate the appropriate pressure sensor, regulating system, wiring and control signals using vehicle-specific information.
7. Confirm the repair. After correcting the fault, compare requested and actual fuel pressure again and confirm that the cutting-out, lack of power and stored faults have been resolved.

Speed Tweaks diagnostic video

Watch the P2293 diagnostic process

Watch the Speed Tweaks workshop guide to diagnosing P2293.

Watch on YouTube →

A useful thing to remember

Use the fault code to identify the system that needs investigating, not as an instruction to replace the component named in the description. Sometimes a quick physical inspection can tell you more than another hour of guessing.