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Guide To P20C3 OBD Error Code Solutions

OBD Code P20C3 - Reductant Heater C Control Circuit Low

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Are you wondering how this error code P20C3 might affect your engine’s health? How serious this problem is and how you should tackle with it? If YES, then you are at the right place. We at PartsAvatar have worked out the causes, symptoms and the steps to diagnose & correct it. OBD error code P20C3 is defined as the Reductant Heater C Control Circuit Low. To know more about this error code, take a look at the sections below.

Learn More About OBD Error Code P20C3

The OBD Error code P20C3 is a generic error code and will be set by your vehicle’s PCM, when it detects low voltage in the control circuit for the on-board reductant heater control circuit C. This designation C is used as there are other reductant heaters in use too. To know about few of the common causes behind this error, take a look at the subsequent section.


What causes this problem with the Reductant Heater C Control Circuit Low


  • Reductant heater that turns out to be faulty
  • Open or shorted harnesses of the reductant heater
  • Poor electrical connection of the reductant heater circuit

Replace/Repair These Parts to Fix Code P20C3

  1. Powertrain Control Module - Your car’s pcm performs various important functions that help your vehicle to run smoothly. It is the computer of your vehicle, don’t delay it’s repair if the P20C3 code is flashing. If needed replace with PartsAvatar order from the comfort of your home, and have it delivered right to your doorstep.
  2. Reductant Tank Heater - If you are already not aware of the fact, we would love to enlighten you with the fact that you can go a long way with a faulty reductant tank heater. Why so? Because a faulty reductant tank heater will not be able to unfreeze the diesel exhaust fluid under extreme temperatures. So, don’t think twice and replace the faulty reductant tank heaters today.
  3. EGR System & Parts - If you are facing OBD error code P20C3 with decreased engine performance and acceleration, then your vehicle’s egr system and parts might be damaged. Inspect and replace the faulty ones today.
  4. Diesel Particulate System & Parts - Avoid increased vehicle’s emissions and occurence of OBD error code P20C3, replace the faulty diesel particulate system and parts today.
  5. Catalytic Converter - Do not risk failing a emission test, make sure your car’s catalytic converters are in good shape. Replace the faulty ones today and buy brand new ones today only at PartsAvatar.
  6. Diesel Exhaust Fluid - Dirty diesel exhaust fluid can be hazardous to your vehicle’s health. Don’t take a chance and buy new ones today.
  7. Glow Plug Control Module - Need to undergo glow plug control module replacement? Worried about the cost? Well, you no longer need to worry about that as we have for you best priced glow plug control module in stock for you.

Symptoms of The OBD Error Code P20C3

For us our customers are everything, and that’s why we will help you to diagnose P20C3 code by mentioning some important symptoms below:


Common Symptoms


  • Fall in engine performance
  • Increase in black smokes from the exhaust
  • Decline in fuel economy
  • Occurence of related SCR codes

How to Correct P20C3 Reductant Heater C Control Circuit Low

After you know the symptoms of your vehicle’s problem, it becomes easy to detect it and get started with solving it. So, next on our list is few common steps to correct this issue with your vehicle’s.


  • You will need to undergo faulty reductant heater replacement
  • Replace all the open or shorted reductant heater wires and connectors
  • Fix the electrical connections for the reductant heater C control circuit
  • Change 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.

Apart from this, you might need to replace other damaged parts too like PCM, EGR System, Diesel Particulate Filter, Catalytic Converter, Diesel Exhaust Fluid, Reductant Tank Heater, Reductant Heater Harness, Glow Plug Control Module and more. You can easily find all these parts with us. Not only that you can get these parts shipped to your door free, if your cart value happens to exceed $99.

Easy Diagnosis of Engine Error OBD Code P20C3

Here are some steps which you should follow in order to diagnose this fault code P20C3:


In order to diagnose this OBD error code P20C3, you will need to collect few things such as 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 start 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 P20C3 Code


When you undergo error code P20C3 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 P20C3

P20C1 - Reductant Heater "C" Control Circuit/Open

P20C2 - Reductant Heater "C" Control Circuit Performance

P20C4 - Reductant Heater "C" Control Circuit High