Post-DPF EGT sensor open circuit.
P2033 — also written P2O33, P 2033, 2033 — is the OBD-II code for egt sensor circuit high (bank 1, sensor 2). Same code, same fix: this page covers every spelling of it.
Basically, the brain of the car thinks your exhaust is melting. We see this constantly on Vauxhall and VW diesels where the sensor probe has simply burnt out or the salt on our roads has rotted the connector.
P2033 is a emissions fault code, typically costing £90–£400 to put right in a UK garage.
What P2033 actually feels like to drive
- The 'Service Vehicle Soon' message on the dash (classic Vauxhall quirk).
- Engine goes into 'Limp Mode'—feels like you've lost the turbo completely.
- DPF warning light won't go out, even after a long motorway run.
- The car stops doing automatic regenerations, leading to 'soot loading' errors.
- A sudden drop in MPG because the ECU is running a rich 'component protection' map.
What causes P2033?
- Failed sensor
- Broken wire
UK vehicles that throw P2033 most often
- Vauxhall Insignia 2.0 CDTi (A20DTH) 2009-2015
- Volkswagen Golf Mk6/Mk7 2.0 TDI (CRBC/CUNA) 2012-2017
- Ford Focus 1.6/2.0 TDCi (DV6/DW10) 2011-2018
- Audi A3 2.0 TDI (Common Rail) 2008-2016
- Land Rover Discovery Sport 2.0 TD4 (Ingenium) 2015-2019
- Nissan Qashqai 1.5 dCi (K9K) 2014-2018
How P2033 is fixed
- Replace sensor
- Repair loom
The P2033 misdiagnosis that wastes money
I see folks jumping straight to a DPF replacement because the dash says "DPF Full," but half the time they're being lied to. A dead EGT sensor 2 (usually the one after the cat or just before the DPF) gets stuck reading 1000°C. The ECU thinks the exhaust is on fire, panics, and shuts down the regeneration process. You end up with a blocked filter as a symptom, not the cause. Don't let a garage sell you a £900 DPF until they've checked the 5v reference to that sensor.
What a UK garage should charge for P2033
A genuine Bosch or NTK sensor will set you back between £80 and £160 depending on the lead length. Budget £60 for a diagnostic plug-in to confirm the fail. Labour is usually an hour (£60-£100), but if that sensor is seized solid in the pipe—which they usually are in Scotland—expect an extra hour of 'heat and beat' time. If you go to a main dealer, you're looking at £350+ easily; an indie like us usually sorts it for under £220.
P2033 repair cost in the UK
Most P2033 repairs land between £90–£400 including parts and labour. The spread is wide because the cheap fix (a sensor, a hose, a leak) and the expensive fix (a major component) throw the same code — which is why a proper diagnosis before parts are bought saves the most money.
Bob's tip on P2033
Ask the garage to show you the 'Live Data' on their scanner. If Sensor 2 is reading exactly 1000°C or -40°C while the engine is stone cold, the sensor is toast or the wire is snapped. Don't let them 'just clear the code'—it'll come back as soon as the EGT climbs. Also, insist they use a proper flare nut wrench and heat to remove the old one. If they round off the nut because they were lazy, you'll be paying for a whole new exhaust section or a massive labour bill for them to drill it out.
Can you drive with P2033?
Yes.
Urgency: medium.