P261D OBD Error Code: Problem & Solutions

<<See All OBD Codes

If you experience an exponential increase in the engine temperatures, and your car engine is stalling with improper throttle response and Check Engine Light turned on. It might be indicative to OBD Code P261D error.

OBD-II Code P261D is defined as a Coolant Pump ‘B’ Control Circuit High.

A cooling system works by circulating liquid coolant through passages in the engine block and cylinder head(s). As the coolant flows through these passages, heat is transferred from the engine components to the coolant. The heated coolant then makes its way through a rubber hose to the radiator in the front of the engine compartment. As it flows through the thin tubes in the radiator, the hot liquid is cooled by the air flow entering the engine compartment through the grill in front of the vehicle. Once the fluid is cooled, it returns to the engine to absorb more heat. The water pump has the job of keeping the fluid circulating through the system when the engine is running.

When this water pump doesn’t function properly and the pump emits high resistance output that normal, OBD code P261D gets stores in the powertrain control module.

What causes this problem with the Coolant Pump "B" Control Circuit High?

• Damaged, burnt, shorted, disconnected, or corroded wiring and/or connectors
• Damaged, split, dislodged, hardened, or perforated vacuum lines causing vacuum leaks
• Defective coolant pump actuator and coolant control solenoid
• Mechanical defects of the variable vanes
• Defective, or malfunctioning temperature sensor
• Restricted intercooler PCM or PCM needs reprogramming

1. Engine Control Module - Dead cells in batteries can cause a failure in the engine control module. Many times a battery is left in the rig long after a cell has died. This would affect the grounding in the car battery.
2. Powertrain Control Module - If there are some faults in the PCM, then it may throw off the timing and fuel settings of the engine, which can negatively affect the performance. A flawed PCM may cause the vehicle to experience a reduction in fuel efficiency, power as well as acceleration.
3. Electronic Control Unit - Do you know that the poor performance or unexplained drops in fuel economy or efficiency are often associated to onboard car computer problems, or defective ECU issues?
4. Diagnostic Tools – Use factory grade diagnostic tools to resolve OBD code P261D error. Buy new diagnostic tools and equipment for us.
5. Engine Coolant Temperature Sensor - One major symptom of defective engine coolant temperature sensor is an overheating car engine. This can also cause engine misfiring. Take care of your car engine coolant temperature sensor and replace it if needed.
6. Water Pump - When the water pump fails completely, it will not be able to circulate coolant through the engine block. This can lead to an overheating situation and if not repaired or replaced quickly, can cause additional engine damage like cracked cylinder heads, pushed head gaskets, or burnt pistons.
7. Hybrid Drive Cooling Pump – If the engine temperature gauge runs hot on a frequent basis, it's more likely than not a problem with the cooling pump. Thus, contact a mechanic to diagnose this problem and replace the water pump if needed.
8. Water Pump Pulley – From time to time you might hear a high pitched sound that comes from the front of the motor. This is usually caused by a loose belt that creates a buzzing or whining sound during circulation. The loose belt is commonly caused by a loose pulley or bearings that operate the water pump.
9. Electric Water Pump Relay – Faulty relay will affect the power supply to the pump motor and thus might need proper repair and replacement. Buy new motor relay and replace it now!

Have you ever wondered why it is so important to know the symptoms of the problem? Well, it is extremely essential to know the symptoms of the problem in order to detect it. Keeping this in mind, let’s throw some light on a few common symptoms of OBD error code P261D.

Common Symptoms

• Affected hybrid motor power and acceleration
• Malfunction indicator light on
• Irregular throttle response
• White smoke from radiator

To correct this issue you might need to undergo few replacements for the defective parts such as:

• Repair or replace malfunctioned coolant pump
• Repair or replace faulty wiring and connectors to the circuit
• Replace faulty hybrid motor
• Repair and reprogram faulty powertrain control module

If you need any parts to fix this problem you can easily find them with us. Not only that we also have in stock the best in range auto parts and that too at the most budget friendly prices ever online. Whether you need a spark plug or Pcm, Coolant Pump, Coolant Pump Relay, Water Pump, Ecm, Electronic Pressure Regulator, Water Pump Relay, Camshaft, you can simply rely on us for quality auto parts.

Here are some steps which you should follow in order to diagnose this fault code P261D:

• All fault codes present and the freeze frame data are recorded. This information is used to determine any intermittent fault that can be diagnosed later on.
• Knowing how coolant system work makes diagnosing faults in the system considerably easier, so spend an hour or so reading the relevant section(s) in the repair manual, and locate all the parts and components that make up the cooling system. Do not proceed to next step without understanding of how the system works, where all the components that make up the system are located, and how these components interact to make the system work as intended.
• If the pump motor does not rotate freely, or does not rotate at all, consult the manual to determine the correct procedure to test the resistance, and continuity of the motor, along with all wiring, sensors, and connectors associated with it.
• If the coolant pump is controlled, locate all associated hoses, actuators, and control solenoids. Inspect all hoses for visible damage such as splitting, cracking, hardening, or perforations and replace all hoses and lines as required.
• If no damage to pump lines is found, locate the actuator that controls the vanes, and connect the coolant pump to it where the system normally attaches to the actuator.

Common Mistakes When Diagnosing the P261D Code

• Replacement of the coolant pump without checking the associated wirings and terminals.
• Powertrain Control Module (PCM) replacement without inspecting the sensors and data transmission units.
• Worn out and damaged wiring and connectors not checked and replaced.