Powertrain, generic (extended)

P26CA Engine Coolant Pump Control Circuit/Open

Check engine lightOn
EmissionsRelevant
Drive cycleNot required
Limp modePossible

Many engines replace the belt-driven water pump with an electric pump that has its own control electronics. P26CA flags a fault in the control connection to that pump. In the Ford 2.0 L hybrid system the pump is commanded over LIN and also has a backup run line wired to ignition; the PCM compares the state of this line reported by the pump with the real ignition state and sets P26CA after five seconds of mismatch. Toyota applies it to A25A engines (Camry, RAV4, Highlander, Sienna and Venza, 2020–2024) use the code with suffixes for a grounded or broken circuit and for a missing signal, in some cases with coolant leaking from the pump into its connector. Ford service messages 46857 and 47790 trace it to water in harness connectors. The pump may run on a fallback speed or stop.

Likely causes

Water or corrosion in the pump connector or harness connectors
Coolant leaking from the pump body into its electronics
Broken control or backup run wire between module and pump

Symptoms

  • Check engine lamp on
  • Rising coolant temperature or temperature warning
  • Coolant traces at the electric pump

Repair estimate

DifficultyMediumWorkshop job
Parts and labour€50–1,200
Time0.5–3 h

Typical range across vehicles; the real cost depends on what the testing finds.

Parts involved

engine coolant pumppump relaywiring harness

Related codes

P26CBP26CCP26CDP26D3U019F

References: fordservicecontent.com, static.nhtsa.gov, static.nhtsa.gov, static.nhtsa.gov.