P26A6Engine Coolant Bypass Valve A Position Sensor Circuit Low
- Generic OBD-II code · Powertrain
- Turns on the check-engine light
- Matters for the ITP
- How the car detects it
- P26A6 means the valve A feedback voltage has dropped below its plausible floor, typically from a short to ground, a lost reference voltage or a failed sensor. GM sets it on the Volt (2011 HPC2/VICM and 2016 VICM) once the signal falls under 5 % of reference, about 0.25 V, in 40 of 50 samples at 100 ms; it is Type B, so the lamp comes on after two trips. Subaru issued a service manual correction for P26A6 (09-132-25: Forester from 2019, Outback/Legacy from 2020, Impreza/Crosstrek from 2021) telling technicians to skip the first diagnostic step. On 2022–2023 Ram 1500 trucks with the 3.6 L V6, bulletin 07-005-24 links P26A6 to a cracked gear and swaps the three-way coolant valve, a job of about 0.7 h.
- What you may notice
- Check engine light
- Delayed warm-up or reduced heater output
- Valve position shown at or near zero on the scan tool
- Likely causes
- LikelyFeedback wire chafed through and shorted to ground
- PossibleOpen 5 V reference supply to the sensor
- PossibleInternal sensor failure, e.g. after coolant intrusion
- RareCracked valve gear (Ram 3.6 L, 07-005-24)
- Inspection (ITP)
- Matters for the ITP. While the check-engine light is on, the car fails the emissions check.
- Repair
- Medium · Usually a job for a workshop.Typical cost: €80 – €800
- Related codes
Explanation from obdex (CC0), exactly as the app shows it. Guidance only; confirm with a workshop.