P0003 fault code: Fuel Volume Regulator Control Circuit Low

P0003 means “Fuel Volume Regulator Control Circuit Low” — a fuel and air metering fault in the powertrain.

Can I DIY?

Professional-only boundary. Do not back-probe a live fuel-regulator connector; professional only.

Do not DIYReviewed page boundary
ToolsSpecialist equipment

This is the conservative boundary from the reviewed code record. This page has no frozen site-wide safety grade, so it does not publish a repair route.

What to tell the garage about P0003

Do not drive until checked. The signal on the fuel volume regulator control wire is lower than the computer allows. The circuit is reading as stuck low, which is not the same as an open-circuit P0001.

Take these reviewed, code-specific details with you. They help the garage confirm the fault without turning this page into a repair procedure.

  • Fuel Volume Regulator Control Circuit Low: Registration number
  • Fuel Volume Regulator Control Circuit Low: Exact code P0003 and any companion codes from the same scan
  • Fuel Volume Regulator Control Circuit Low: Whether the engine management light is steady or flashing
  • Fuel Volume Regulator Control Circuit Low: Whether anyone has already unplugged the regulator connector
P00xxFuel and air metering
MOT fail riskif the warning light stays on

What does P0003 mean?

P0003 is a generic (SAE standard) powertrain code reported by your car’s engine control unit. It sits in the P00xx block, which covers fuel and air metering. The stored description is “Fuel Volume Regulator Control Circuit Low”. The code itself tells you which circuit or system tripped the fault — not always the exact part that failed.

Will P0003 fail an MOT?

DVSA treats an illuminated malfunction indicator as a Major MOT defect until it is out. P0003 is a low control-circuit result on the volume regulator, not an emissions-lab reading.

Before booking your test, check what usually fails on your car: see our MOT pass rates by make and model, built from 33.1 million DVSA tests.

Related guides

Car diagnostic test cost: compare the scopeUK booking marketplaces currently publish diagnostic averages of about £52–£65. Engine management light on: steady or flashing?A steady engine management light means the computer has stored a fault. Drive with caution and get the code read. A flashing light is different — stop when it is safe.
P0001Fuel Volume Regulator Control Circuit/Open P0002Fuel Volume Regulator Control Circuit Range/Performance P0004Fuel Volume Regulator Control Circuit High P0005Fuel Shutoff Valve 'A' Control Circuit/Open P0006Fuel Shutoff Valve 'A' Control Circuit Low P0007Fuel Shutoff Valve 'A' Control Circuit High P0008Engine Position System Performance P0009Engine Position System Performance

P0003 — quick answers

Is it safe to drive with P0003?

Do not drive until checked. We have no verified driving guidance for P0003. Treat as do not drive until checked. A low-circuit reading is not a DIY voltage-drop exercise on live fuel wiring.

Will P0003 fail my MOT?

DVSA treats an illuminated malfunction indicator as a Major MOT defect until it is out. P0003 is a low control-circuit result on the volume regulator, not an emissions-lab reading.

Fault-code identifiers are standard diagnostic facts. Their explanations and diagnostic guidance on this site are original editorial summaries, not reproduced SAE wording. MOT defect rules reflect the DVSA MOT inspection manual (2026). This page is general guidance for UK drivers, not a substitute for a professional diagnosis.