P256D
Engine Idle Speed Selector Sensor/Switch Circuit High
Idle-speed selector input reads stuck high — short to battery voltage or analog signal at maximum. Wiring faults of this kind typically come from chafing, water ingress at connector seals, or pin push-back — a wiggle test on the harness while the code is active often confirms the location.
- Check engine light: Yes
- Emissions related: No
- Repair difficulty: medium
Symptoms
- Check engine light on
- Idle speed too high, too low, or unstable
- Possible stalling at idle or after cold start
Common causes
Ordered by how often each turns out to be the cause.
- Switch wire shorted to battery voltageCommon
- Connector pins corroded - high contact resistanceLess likely
- Supply wire pinched against B+ sourceLess likely
Parts involved
- Idle Speed Selector Switch
P256D 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.