P240A: EVAP System Leak Detection Pump Heater Control Circuit/Open

What it means

The control module detects an open or interrupted control circuit for the EVAP leak detection pump heater. The code does not indicate an oxygen-sensor heater fault.

At a glance

• Usually lights the check-engine light
• Affects emissions; the car can fail an emissions test

How it works

The EVAP leak detection pump heater warms the pump or its sensing components when required for operation. The control module monitors the heater control circuit and sets P240A when it detects an open or interrupted path. This code concerns the EVAP pump heater, not an oxygen-sensor heater.

Common causes

Most likely first.

1. Open in heater or wiring
2. Pin pushed back out of connector body
3. Cracked solder joint inside the module or sensor

Symptoms

• Check engine light on

How to diagnose it

1. Check freeze-frame data and heater-command or circuit-status data, if available, to confirm when the open is detected.
2. Inspect the pump-heater connector for a pushed-back pin, corrosion, looseness, or heat damage.
3. Follow the heater wiring and check for a break, chafe, or disconnected section between the pump and module.
4. With power off and the circuit isolated as specified by the manufacturer, check heater and wiring continuity to locate the open.
5. If the external circuit is intact, test the heater and relevant module or sensor connections against the manufacturer's specification.

Common fixes

• Reseat a backed-out connector pin and secure the connection.
• Repair an open in the heater wiring.
• Replace a failed pump-heater element or assembly.
• Repair a confirmed internal solder or connection fault in the affected component.

Can I keep driving?

P240A usually turns on the check-engine light without changing normal engine operation, so short-term driving is generally possible. The EVAP system may not complete its emissions checks until the heater circuit is repaired.