P261A Coolant pump B control circuit/open
What P261A means
Many cars have an auxiliary electric coolant pump that circulates coolant for the turbo, heater or engine after shutdown. P261A means the engine computer found an open circuit in that pump's control circuit. Depending on the pump's job, the heater, turbo cooling or after-run cooling may not work.
P261A is a generic SAE J2012 code: it means the same on every make. The exact cause still depends on the car, so read the freeze-frame data before replacing parts.
At a glance
- Severity
- Medium
- Typical repair cost
- 180–900 €
- Workshop time
- 1–3 h
- Repair difficulty
- Medium
- DIY possible
- No
- Check engine light
- Yes
Parts and labour at an independent workshop in Europe. Main dealers charge more; the cause decides the bill, not the code.
Symptoms
- Check engine light on
- Weak heater output at idle
- Engine temperature higher than normal in some cases
- No pump noise after switching off
Common causes
- Failed auxiliary coolant pump
- Failed relay or fuse
- Broken wiring or corroded connector
- Pump jammed by debris
- Engine computer driver fault (rare)
Can I keep driving with P261A?
You can drive, but have it checked within one or two weeks. Watch the temperature gauge; if it rises, stop and let the engine cool.
What to check first
- Check the fuse and relay for the auxiliary pump
- Inspect the pump connector and wiring
- Command the pump with a scan tool and listen for it running
- Replace the pump if it gets power but does not run
Related codes
- P2635 Fuel pump A low flow/performance
- P2637 Torque management feedback signal A
- P2687 Fuel supply heater control circuit/open
- P2463 Diesel particulate filter restriction, soot accumulation (bank 1)
- P2459 Diesel particulate filter regeneration frequency (bank 1)
- P2418 EVAP system switching valve control circuit/open
- P2400 EVAP leak detection pump control circuit/open
- P22FB NOx sensor performance, sensing element (bank 1 sensor 1)
Data: TORKO fault-code catalogue, built on OBDex (CC0-1.0) and reviewed against workshop practice. Informational only — it does not replace a diagnosis by a mechanic.
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