P2228 — Barometric Pressure Circuit Low
Moderate severityWhat it means
P2228 is stored when the engine control unit sees a fault involving the barometric (atmospheric) pressure sensor. The barometric pressure sensor lets the control unit adjust fuelling and timing for altitude and weather; a fault skews those corrections. A “low” reading means the signal is stuck near the bottom of its range, which usually points to a short to ground or an internally failed sensor.
Common symptoms
- The live reading sits abnormally low or at zero
- Hesitation or poor performance, especially at altitude
- Hard starting
- Higher fuel consumption
Likely causes
- Signal wire shorted to ground
- Internally failed sensor pulling the signal low
- A faulty barometric/MAP pressure sensor
- A wiring or connector fault
What to check first
- Compare the live signal against a known-good range and check for a short to ground
- At key-on the sensor should read local atmospheric pressure
- Inspect the sensor connector and wiring
Can you keep driving?
Usually drivable, but fuelling and timing suffer; diagnose before long trips or mountain driving.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most common cause of P2228?
The most likely cause is: Signal wire shorted to ground. Several other faults can set P2228 as well, so confirm the real cause with live data and the checks above before replacing any parts.
Can I just clear P2228 and keep driving?
Clearing P2228 with an OBD2 scanner turns the warning light off, but if the underlying fault has not been repaired the code will usually come back within a few drive cycles. Fix the cause first, then clear the code to confirm the repair worked.
How serious is P2228?
P2228 is a moderate-severity code. The car is often still drivable, but have it diagnosed soon — the underlying problem can get worse and it may fail an emissions test.
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