Does P0230 mean I need a new fuel pump?

Not necessarily, and often not. P0230 describes a fault in the circuit that controls the pump, not the pump's mechanical condition. The relay, the relay socket, the wiring and, on many modern cars, a separate fuel pump control module are all more common culprits than the pump itself. A worn pump drawing excessive current can set the code, so the pump is not ruled out, but it should be tested rather than assumed.

Can I test the fuel pump relay myself?

Usually yes, and it is worth doing. Find the fuel pump relay in the fuse box, identify another relay in the same box with an identical part number serving something non-critical such as the horn or the heated rear window, and swap them over. If the car now starts, or the fault transfers to the other circuit, the relay is faulty. While the relay is out, look into its socket for browning around the pins, which indicates a high-resistance connection that needs repairing rather than just a new relay.

Will P0230 fail an MOT?

Yes. The engine management lamp is a major defect for petrol cars first used from 1 July 2003 and diesels from 1 July 2008, accounting for 371,859 recorded failures. There is a second problem: the emissions check requires the engine to run steadily for a sustained period, and a car that stalls partway through cannot complete it, which is itself a major failure.

Is it safe to drive a car that keeps cutting out?

No. When the engine stops, the power steering assistance goes with it and the brake servo loses its vacuum after one or two presses of the pedal, so the steering becomes very heavy and the brakes need far more effort at exactly the moment you need them. On a quiet road that is unpleasant; on a roundabout or a slip road it is dangerous. Treat an intermittent stall as a repair to make now rather than one to schedule.

Powertrain code · standard

P0230Fuel pump control circuit fault

Standard definition: Fuel Pump Primary Circuit Malfunction

Last updated 27 July 2026

Quick answer

The engine control unit has found a fault in the circuit that switches the fuel pump on. It is the wiring, the relay or the pump control module at fault rather than the pump necessarily being worn out, and the usual consequence is a car that will not start or cuts out.

How the car works this out

The control unit does not usually power the fuel pump directly. It switches a relay, or commands a separate pump control module, and monitors that circuit for the expected electrical response. P0230 is set when the circuit is open, shorted, or drawing a current that does not match what a healthy pump circuit should draw. Because the fault is in the control side rather than the pump's mechanical condition, a pump that tests fine on the bench can still produce this code.

What you might notice

Engine cranks but will not start
Cutting out while driving, sometimes restarting afterwards as though nothing happened
Loss of power under load as the fuel supply falters
No fuel pump whirr from the rear of the car when the ignition is switched on
Intermittent non-starts that come and go with heat or vibration

What causes it

Most likely first. A code names the check that failed, not the part that failed it, so more than one of these can produce the same number.

1A failed or intermittently sticking fuel pump relayCommon
How to check: Swap the relay with an identical one from a non-critical circuit such as the horn or the heated rear window and see whether the fault moves. It is the fastest free test available.
2Corroded or burnt relay socket terminals, which cause a high-resistance connection that gets worse as it heats upCommon
How to check: Pull the relay and look into the socket for browning or heat discolouration around the high-current pins.
3A failed fuel pump control module, fitted in the boot or under the rear seat on many modern carsPossible
4Damaged wiring between the control unit, the relay and the pump, often chafed where it passes under the car or through a body grommetPossible
5A fuel pump drawing excessive current as it wears, which the control circuit reports as a faultPossible
How to check: A current draw measurement on the pump supply. A pump pulling well above specification is on its way out even if it still runs.
6A poor earth at the fuel pump or its moduleLess common

What to do about it

1Listen at the fuel filler with the ignition switched on. A healthy system gives a two-second whirr as the pump primes, and silence narrows the problem down immediately.
2Swap the fuel pump relay for an identical one elsewhere in the fuse box before spending anything. Relays are a very common cause and this test costs nothing.
3Inspect the relay socket for heat damage. A browned socket needs repairing properly, because fitting a new relay into a burnt socket simply repeats the failure.
4Do not run the tank very low while this fault exists. Fuel cools and lubricates the in-tank pump, and running near empty puts extra strain on it.
5Treat an intermittent stall as urgent rather than an inconvenience. Losing the engine at a roundabout takes the power steering assistance and the brake servo help with it.

Can you keep driving?

An engine that can cut out without warning is a genuine hazard, not just an inconvenience. When it stops, the steering becomes heavy and the brakes lose their servo assistance after a pedal press or two, which is a difficult combination if it happens as you pull onto a roundabout. Get it repaired before relying on the car.

Will it fail an MOT?

The lamp is a major defect, one of 371,859 recorded failures against an illuminated engine malfunction indicator lamp. The greater practical risk is that the car cannot complete the test: the emissions check needs the engine to run steadily at idle and at a raised speed for a sustained period, and a car that cuts out partway through cannot be tested. An emissions test that cannot be completed is recorded as a major failure in its own right.

The light this turns on

Engine management lightThe engine management system has found a fault it cannot correct and has stored a code for it. The car will usually still drive, but an illuminated engine light is an automatic MOT failure on petrol cars first used from 1 July 2003 and diesels from 1 July 2008.

Common questions

Does P0230 mean I need a new fuel pump?: Not necessarily, and often not. P0230 describes a fault in the circuit that controls the pump, not the pump's mechanical condition. The relay, the relay socket, the wiring and, on many modern cars, a separate fuel pump control module are all more common culprits than the pump itself. A worn pump drawing excessive current can set the code, so the pump is not ruled out, but it should be tested rather than assumed.
Can I test the fuel pump relay myself?: Usually yes, and it is worth doing. Find the fuel pump relay in the fuse box, identify another relay in the same box with an identical part number serving something non-critical such as the horn or the heated rear window, and swap them over. If the car now starts, or the fault transfers to the other circuit, the relay is faulty. While the relay is out, look into its socket for browning around the pins, which indicates a high-resistance connection that needs repairing rather than just a new relay.
Will P0230 fail an MOT?: Yes. The engine management lamp is a major defect for petrol cars first used from 1 July 2003 and diesels from 1 July 2008, accounting for 371,859 recorded failures. There is a second problem: the emissions check requires the engine to run steadily for a sustained period, and a car that stalls partway through cannot complete it, which is itself a major failure.
Is it safe to drive a car that keeps cutting out?: No. When the engine stops, the power steering assistance goes with it and the brake servo loses its vacuum after one or two presses of the pedal, so the steering becomes very heavy and the brakes need far more effort at exactly the moment you need them. On a quiet road that is unpleasant; on a roundabout or a slip road it is dangerous. Treat an intermittent stall as a repair to make now rather than one to schedule.

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