P0080 fault code: Exhaust Valve Control Solenoid Circuit High

P0080 means “Exhaust Valve Control Solenoid Circuit High” — a fuel and air metering fault in the powertrain.

Can I DIY?

Professional-only boundary. Do not feed 12 V into the exhaust cam solenoid to hear a click.

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 P0080

Do not drive. The exhaust-valve control solenoid circuit is high, so the solenoid may remain powered and hold exhaust timing away from the commanded angle.

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 High: Registration number
  • Exhaust Valve Control Solenoid Circuit High: Exact code P0080 and any companion codes
  • Exhaust Valve Control Solenoid Circuit High: Whether the engine management light is steady or flashing
  • Exhaust Valve Control Solenoid Circuit High: Any bang or pop from the exhaust after the lamp came on
P00xxFuel and air metering
MOT fail riskif the warning light stays on

What does P0080 mean?

P0080 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 High”. The code itself tells you which circuit or system tripped the fault — not always the exact part that failed.

Will P0080 fail an MOT?

Engine malfunction indicator lamp on is a Major MOT fail. Circuit-high exhaust-valve control is not an extra MOT named defect.

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

P0080 — quick answers

Is it safe to drive with P0080?

Do not drive. We have no verified driving guidance for P0080. Do not drive until checked. A held-on exhaust solenoid is still a valve-timing control fault, not a 'drive it warm' emissions quirk.

Will P0080 fail my MOT?

Engine malfunction indicator lamp on is a Major MOT fail. Circuit-high exhaust-valve control is not an extra MOT named defect.

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.