Powertrain, generic (extended)

P2CE1 Intake Air Heater C Circuit/Open

Check engine lightOn
EmissionsRelevant
Drive cycleNot required
Limp modeNo

P2CE1 reports an interrupted circuit at intake air heater C, part of the grid-type pre-heat system a diesel uses to warm the incoming air for cold starts. Volvo and Mack use exactly this code on heavy trucks: their 2019 solution K53338075 for 11, 13 and 16 litre engines, including Mack MP7, MP8 and MP10, from US10+OBD13 onwards lists P2CE1-13, the suffix marking an open circuit, among the pre-heat relay codes. It warns that an ohmmeter check of the supply power cable may miss a damaged cable and asks to renew relay and cable together; a 2019 EMS software release also improved relay robustness for these codes. Heavy-duty OBD rules call for circuit continuity checks on intake air heaters. P0543 and P2605 are the open-circuit codes for heaters A and B.

Likely causes

Damaged supply power cable between relay and heater, not always visible on an ohmmeter
Pre-heat relay contacts or output burnt open
Poor terminal tension at the heating element or relay plug
Heating element C itself burnt through

Symptoms

  • Hard starting and long cranking in cold weather
  • White smoke after a cold start
  • Engine warning lamp

Repair estimate

DifficultyMediumWorkshop job
Parts and labour€80–900
Time0.5–3 h

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

Parts involved

intake air heater cheater relaywiring harnessecm

Related codes

P2CE2P2CE3P2CE4P0543P2605P0540

References: static.nhtsa.gov, static.nhtsa.gov, law.cornell.edu.