P0026 fault code: Intake Valve Control Solenoid Circuit Range/Performance

P0026 means “Intake Valve Control Solenoid Circuit Range/Performance” — a fuel and air metering fault in the powertrain.

Can I DIY?

Professional-only boundary. Do not pull the intake solenoid to clean it; 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 P0026

Do not drive until checked. Bank 1 intake valve-lift (or VVT) solenoid is not staying inside the computer’s range window. Air in on this bank is the concern — not the exhaust solenoid on the same head.

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

  • Intake Valve Control Solenoid Circuit Range/Performance: Registration number
  • Intake Valve Control Solenoid Circuit Range/Performance: Exact code P0026 and any companion codes from the same scan
  • Intake Valve Control Solenoid Circuit Range/Performance: Whether the engine management light is steady or flashing
  • Intake Valve Control Solenoid Circuit Range/Performance: Whether anyone has already removed the intake solenoid
P00xxFuel and air metering
MOT fail riskif the warning light stays on

What does P0026 mean?

P0026 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 “Intake Valve Control Solenoid Circuit Range/Performance”. The code itself tells you which circuit or system tripped the fault — not always the exact part that failed.

Will P0026 fail an MOT?

MOT testers fail a lit engine management light as Major until it stays off. P0026 is Bank 1 intake valve-control range/performance, not P0027 (exhaust) and not a catalyst 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 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

P0026 — quick answers

Is it safe to drive with P0026?

Do not drive until checked. P0026 has no verified driving guidance, so treat as do not drive. Leave the Bank 1 intake solenoid in its bore; a hot cam cover is not a DIY site.

Will P0026 fail my MOT?

MOT testers fail a lit engine management light as Major until it stays off. P0026 is Bank 1 intake valve-control range/performance, not P0027 (exhaust) and not a catalyst 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.