AutoCodes – Ford – P20A3 Ford

P20A3 Ford Code - Reductant Purge Control Valve Circuit High

Quick Answer

In order to reverse the reductant flow direction (for line purge) a 4-2-way valve (reverting valve) needs to be switched. Common causes include Faulty Reductant Purge Control Valve, Reductant Purge Control Valve harness is open or shorted, Reductant Purge Control Valve circuit poor electrical connection. Severity is High - diagnose this code as soon as possible. Driving is not recommended if the warning light is flashing, the engine runs poorly, or safety-related symptoms are present.

What it means: P20A3 Ford indicates Reductant Purge Control Valve Circuit High.
Common causes: Common causes include Faulty Reductant Purge Control Valve, Reductant Purge Control Valve harness is open or shorted, Reductant Purge Control Valve circuit poor electrical connection.
Severity: High - diagnose this code as soon as possible.
Can I drive?: Driving is not recommended if the warning light is flashing, the engine runs poorly, or safety-related symptoms are present.

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Code Popularity 3,616

How popular is this code, among other codes? Low

Repair Importance Level

Urgent (Diagnose now) (3 / 3)

Repair Difficulty Level

Advanced (Pro) (3 / 3)

What is this?

Table of contents Created and updated by William Orellana on Jun 14, 2020

Description
Possible Causes
How To Fix
Cost to Diagnose
Comments
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Code P20A3 Ford Description

In order to reverse the reductant flow direction (for line purge) a 4-2-way valve (reverting valve) needs to be switched. The valve is switched by a solenoid.
The reverting valve functional check monitors the pressure drop when the purge cycle is started. To run this test the pressure level must exceed a calibration threshold (280 kPa) at beginning of test. For a successful test result, the pressure must drop by another threshold (230 kPa) within the time.
If the test is not successfully passed the purge cycle will be terminated immediately because of the risk of uncontrolled injection of reductant into the exhaust pipe.

OBDII Code P20A3 Ford - Reductant Purge Control Valve Circuit High - AutoCodes.com — P20A3 Ford Code - Reductant Purge Control Valve Circuit High

What does this mean?

What are the Possible Causes of the DTC P20A3 Ford?

Faulty Reductant Purge Control Valve
Reductant Purge Control Valve harness is open or shorted
Reductant Purge Control Valve circuit poor electrical connection

How to Fix the DTC P20A3 Ford?

Review the 'Possible Causes' above and visually examine the corresponding wiring harness and connectors. Check for damaged components and inspect connector pins for signs of being broken, bent, pushed out, or corroded.

What is the Cost to Diagnose the Code?

Labor: 1.0

To diagnose the P20A3 Ford code, it typically requires 1.0 hour of labor. Rates vary by location, vehicle, and shop. Many shops charge between $80–$150 per hour; dealerships and metro areas may be higher, independents may be lower.

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About the author: William Orellana is a Master Mechanic and Mechanical Engineer with over 30 years of experience diagnosing and repairing vehicles. Learn more about his background.