P0029 fault code: Exhaust Valve Control Solenoid Circuit Range/Performance

P0029 means “Exhaust Valve Control Solenoid Circuit Range/Performance” — a fuel and air metering fault in the powertrain.

Can I DIY?

Professional-only boundary. Do not reuse a P0027 exhaust-solenoid story for P0029.

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 P0029

Do not drive until checked. Bank 2 exhaust valve-control solenoid is outside its performance band (P0029). This is the other bank’s exhaust path, not P0027 and not the intake codes on either head.

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

  • Exhaust Valve Control Solenoid Circuit Range/Performance: Registration number
  • Exhaust Valve Control Solenoid Circuit Range/Performance: Exact code P0029 and any companion codes from the same scan
  • Exhaust Valve Control Solenoid Circuit Range/Performance: Whether the engine management light is steady or flashing
  • Exhaust Valve Control Solenoid Circuit Range/Performance: Whether P0027 or P0028 are stored on the same scan
P00xxFuel and air metering
MOT fail riskif the warning light stays on

What does P0029 mean?

P0029 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 “Exhaust 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 P0029 fail an MOT?

MOT testers fail an illuminated malfunction indicator as Major. P0029 is Bank 2 exhaust valve-control range/performance, distinct from P0027, and is not a turbo-bypass circuit.

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

P0029 — quick answers

Is it safe to drive with P0029?

Do not drive until checked. P0029 has no verified driving guidance, so do not drive until checked. Bank 2 exhaust solenoid work needs workshop command tests, not a copied invoice.

Will P0029 fail my MOT?

MOT testers fail an illuminated malfunction indicator as Major. P0029 is Bank 2 exhaust valve-control range/performance, distinct from P0027, and is not a turbo-bypass circuit.

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.