P26C5Exhaust Flow Control Valve A Control Circuit/Open
- Generic OBD-II code · Powertrain
- Turns on the check-engine light
- Matters for the ITP
- How the car detects it
- Exhaust flow control valve A is the electrically driven flap that switches the sound path or back pressure of the exhaust, mostly on sporty models with selectable exhaust modes. P26C5 means the output stage driving valve A finds the circuit open or otherwise unusable. In Ford's gasoline OBD summaries 2020–2024 a smart driver watches the output continuously and reports the fault after about five seconds; valve A belongs to bank 1 there, the second valve uses P2BF8 to P2BFA. Ford bulletins 21-2011 and 25-2146 (Mustang GT500, 2.3 L and 5.0 L) list it alongside a cluster notice that exhaust modes cannot be selected, traced to pinched wiring, a misaligned actuator bracket or a badly seated exhaust. Deutz names it for the exhaust flap of MD1 engines. The flap then stays where it last stopped.
- What you may notice
- Exhaust mode selection not available message
- Exhaust sound no longer changes between modes
- Check engine lamp on some vehicles
- Likely causes
- LikelyPinched, broken or unplugged actuator wiring near the exhaust
- PossibleMisaligned actuator bracket or poorly seated exhaust straining the harness
- PossibleOpen winding or internal fault in the valve actuator
- 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: €50 – €1,500
- Related codes
Explanation from obdex (CC0), exactly as the app shows it. Guidance only; confirm with a workshop.