P046E
EGR Sensor B Circuit Range/Performance
EGR sensor B reads in range but plausibility check fails — slow response or stuck reading. EGR mixes inert exhaust into intake to lower combustion peak temperature — too little raises NOx, too much causes misfires and rough running.
- Check engine light: Yes
- Emissions related: Yes
- Repair difficulty: medium
Symptoms
- Check engine light on
- Pinging or knocking under load
- Power loss and hesitation
- Possible rough idle
- Failed emissions inspection (NOx)
Common causes
Ordered by how often each turns out to be the cause.
- Sensor driftCommon
- Sensor element aged beyond calibration windowLess likely
- Sensor mounting loose - signal dampingLess likely
Parts involved
- EGR Valve
P046E is a generic OBD-II code defined by SAE J2012. Exact wording and diagnostic procedure vary by manufacturer and model. Code definitions are drawn from the public-domain OBDex dataset; the workshop notes are our own.