P0005 fault code: Fuel Shutoff Valve 'A' Control Circuit/Open

P0005 means “Fuel Shutoff Valve 'A' Control Circuit/Open” — a fuel and air metering fault in the powertrain.

Can I DIY?

Professional-only boundary. Do not bridge shut-off valve A; fuel isolation is professional work.

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 P0005

Do not drive until checked. The computer cannot complete the circuit that drives fuel shut-off valve A. That valve may not be commanded open or closed until the open circuit is found.

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

  • Fuel Shutoff Valve 'A' Control Circuit/Open: Registration number
  • Fuel Shutoff Valve 'A' Control Circuit/Open: Exact code P0005 and any companion codes from the same scan
  • Fuel Shutoff Valve 'A' Control Circuit/Open: Whether the engine management light is steady or flashing
  • Fuel Shutoff Valve 'A' Control Circuit/Open: Whether the engine was starved of fuel or would not switch off
P00xxFuel and air metering
MOT fail riskif the warning light stays on

What does P0005 mean?

P0005 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 Shutoff Valve 'A' Control Circuit/Open”. The code itself tells you which circuit or system tripped the fault — not always the exact part that failed.

Will P0005 fail an MOT?

MOT testers fail an illuminated engine management light as Major until it stays off. P0005 is a shut-off valve A open-circuit flag, not a filler-cap or EVAP leak test.

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 P0003Fuel Volume Regulator Control Circuit Low P0004Fuel Volume Regulator Control Circuit High P0006Fuel Shutoff Valve 'A' Control Circuit Low P0007Fuel Shutoff Valve 'A' Control Circuit High P0008Engine Position System Performance P0009Engine Position System Performance

P0005 — quick answers

Is it safe to drive with P0005?

Do not drive until checked. We have no verified driving guidance for P0005. Treat as do not drive until checked. Do not bypass a shut-off valve to keep fuel flowing.

Will P0005 fail my MOT?

MOT testers fail an illuminated engine management light as Major until it stays off. P0005 is a shut-off valve A open-circuit flag, not a filler-cap or EVAP leak test.

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.