HomeFault codes › P0236 to P0240

P0236–P0240 Turbocharger/Supercharger Boost Sensor A Circuit Range/Performance

Investigate soon

The sensor still works, but its reading has drifted outside the window the ECU expects. That usually means a tired sensor or a problem with what it is measuring, not a broken wire.

Can you drive it? The car is most likely in limp mode with boost cut. It is drivable gently, but it will not make full power and should not be driven hard until it is fixed.

Which code is which

Same fault, different cylinder or bank — diagnosed the same way. Several set together usually means one shared cause.

CodeDefinitionSeverity
P0236Turbocharger/Supercharger Boost Sensor A Circuit Range/PerformanceInvestigate soon
P0240Turbocharger/Supercharger Boost Sensor B Circuit Range/PerformanceInvestigate soon

The definition

P0236: Turbocharger/Supercharger Boost Sensor A Circuit Range/Performance.

P0236 is a powertrain code (the engine or gearbox), defined by the SAE standard - it means the same thing on any make of car, and any generic OBD-II reader will decode it.

What to check first

Cheapest and fastest checks first:

  1. Read the freeze-frame data stored with the fault - engine speed, load and temperature at the moment it logged tell you whether this happens cold, hot or under load.
  2. Check the connector at the part for corrosion, and that it is fully seated.
  3. Clear the code and see whether it returns, and under what conditions.

Reading the code is the easy part

A code names the circuit that complained. What tells you why is watching the sensor behind it while the engine runs — and that is where a code reader stops and a diagnostic tool starts.

VAGPULSE reads every module in a VW, Audi, Skoda or SEAT — not just the engine — shows the live measuring blocks behind this fault, gives you the freeze-frame conditions it was logged under, and clears it once you have fixed it. It also does what a generic OBD reader cannot on a VAG: service resets, coding, adaptations, and Stage 1–3 flashing with your original file saved first.

$249 once. No subscription, unlimited cars. Windows 10/11.

See VAGPULSE — $249 Look up another code

Software downloads instantly · cable ships September 30 · cable guarantee — refund if it won't connect

Prefer to work on your phone? The VAGPULSE Android app is a free download and its demo mode runs against a sample car with no hardware at all, so you can see exactly what it reads before spending anything. Reading your car with it needs the VAGPULSE cable, which comes with the licence.

Common questions

What does P0236 mean?

P0236 means Turbocharger/Supercharger Boost Sensor A Circuit Range/Performance. The sensor still works, but its reading has drifted outside the window the ECU expects. That usually means a tired sensor or a problem with what it is measuring, not a broken wire.

Can I drive with P0236?

The car is most likely in limp mode with boost cut. It is drivable gently, but it will not make full power and should not be driven hard until it is fixed.

Related reading

← All VAG fault codes · Guides · VAGPULSE