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Error Code P20C1: What It Means & What To Do?

OBD Code P20C1 - Reductant Heater C Control Circuit/Open

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Is that Check Engine Light flashing? Are you experiencing reduced engine performance? Are you dealing with fall in fuel efficiency of your vehicle? If you answer is “YES” then your vehicle is set to OBD error code P20C1. In order to have deeper knowledge of this error code, you will need to go through our following sections.

Learn More About OBD Error Code P20C1

You might be amazed to know that your vehicle’s exhaust gas recirculation system, also known as the EGR system is responsible for controlling and reducing the NOX emissions. Powertrain control module will set this error code P20C1 when it detects that there is unusual voltage in the reductant heater C control circuit or in the other words error code P20C1 is defined as the reductant heater C control circuit open.

What causes this problem with the Reductant Heater C Control Circuit/Open?

  • Malfunctioning reductant heater
  • Faulty reductant heater harnesses
  • Poor electrical connections within the reductant heater circuit

Replace/Repair These Parts To Fix Code P20C1

    1. Powertrain Control Module - Your vehicle’s Powertrain Control Module (PCM) if corroded can lead to creating a short within the powertrain control module. If that happens to your vehicle, it will badly impact your vehicle’s engine performance. If you want to replace the faulty PCM to get rid of this error code P20C1, then you can find one with us.
    2. Reductant Tank Heater - Do you wish to prevent your diesel exhaust fluid from freezing? If your answer is “YES”, then you definitely need to inspect and replace the faulty reductant tank heaters today. This will help you to get rid of the error code P20C1.
    3. EGR System & Parts - A Faulty engine gas recirculation can create performance issues with your vehicle, something that you definitely don’t want to happen with your beloved vehicles. So, what are you waiting for? Replace the faulty one today.
    4. Diesel Particulate System & Parts - Keep your diesel particulate system and all the related parts in best of its shape for filtering the harmful carbon particulates produced in the combustion. Get rid of this error code P20C1 by replacing the faulty DPF filters and parts.
    5. Catalytic Converter - Excel your emission test like a pro with brand new catalytic converter from PartsAvatar. Replace the faulty ones today to get rid of the error code P20C1.
    6. Diesel Exhaust Fluid - Don’t let dirty diesel exhaust fluid affect your DPF system effectiveness. Replace the dirty diesel exhaust fluids to improve your vehicle’s performance and get rid of the error code P20C1.
    7. Glow Plug Control Module - If you wish to have a healthy glow plug in your vehicle, then you need to make sure that your car’s glow plug control module is working perfectly. If not, replace the bad one today.

    Symptoms Of OBD Error Code P20C1

    We at Parts Avatar Canada care for our customers, and that’s why we will help you to diagnose P20C1 code by listing out some major symptoms. They are mentioned below as follows


    Common Symptoms


    • Decline in engine performance
    • Excessive black emissions from exhaust system
    • Low fuel economy
    • Occurence of other related error codes

    How To Correct P20C1 Reductant Heater C Control Circuit/Open

    Learn the ways with which you can correct this trouble code:

    • Firstly, you will need to undergo faulty reductant heater replacement
    • Repair or replace all the open or shorted reductant heater wires and connectors
    • Undergo fixing the electrical connections for the reductant heater C control Circuit
    • Repair or replace the faulty catalytic converters and other related exhaust parts
    • Make sure that your vehicle’s control modules - glow plug control modules and powertrain control module are in best shape, if not, then undergo their replacement at the earliest.

    However, if you face any issue then we have stocked a wide range of best priced PCM, EGR System, Diesel Particulate Filter, Catalytic Converter, Diesel Exhaust Fluid, Reductant Tank Heater, Reductant Heater Harness, Glow Plug Control Module and more to help you out in fixing your car.

    Easy Diagnosis Of Engine Error OBD Code P20C1

    It is essential to diagnose this fault code. Here are some steps which a mechanic should follow for diagnosing the problem that triggered a P20C1 code to be stored:

    • To start your diagnosis, you will need to get hold of a diagnostic scanner, digital volt/ohmmeter and a reliable source of vehicle diagnostics.It will be really helpful if you could get hold of technical service bulletin (TSB) specific to your vehicle. Believe us it will prove to be extremely helpful for you in your diagnosis process. While choosing a TSB, make sure that it matches your vehicle year, make, and model and also the engine size.
    • To begin you diagnosis, undergo a complete visual inspection of your vehicle’s reductant heater C control Circuit and related harnesses and connectors.Make sure the wires and connectors are not burnt or damaged, in case they are you will need repair or replace them. Now, connect the diagnostic scanner to the diagnostic port of your vehicle and restore all the store codes and freeze the frame data. Not the information and clear all the codes.
    • Next step is to test drive the vehicle till the vehicles PCM enters the readiness mode or the code is reset. In case of an intermittent code, it will be more difficult to diagnose it as the condition which set this code needs to be worsen in order to diagnose this code. In case the code resets itself, then you will need to look into the vehicle information source to get the diagnostic flow charts flow charts, connector pin out charts, connector face views, as well as component testing procedures and specifications. You will need this information to move on to the next diagnosis step. Make use of the DVOM to check the power supply to the SCR control system.
    • Also, check the fuses with loaded circuit to avoid an sort of misdiagnosis. In case you discover inappropriate power or voltage, then you will need to test the output control circuit voltage. If this voltage turns out to be insufficient then check if the controller is bad or is facing any programming error. In case the voltage output circuit turns out to be within the needed parameters, then use the DVOM to check the reductant heater element for C control Circuit. You can consider as failed if the heater fails to meet manufacturer’s specifications.

    Common Mistakes When Diagnosing the P20C1 Code

    When you undergo error code P20C1 diagnosis, few misdiagnosis are common. In order to make sure that you don’t commit any, make sure to keep an eye on the following failures:

    • Failing glow plug control module
    • Failing reductant tank heater
    • Troublesome wiring

    Other Diagnostic Codes Related To OBD Code P20C1

    P20C2 - Reductant Heater "C" Control Circuit Performance

    P20C3 - Reductant Heater "C" Control Circuit Low

    P20C4 - Reductant Heater "C" Control Circuit High