Post-throttle air leak — unmetered air.
P2282 — also written P2282, P 2282, 2282 — is the OBD-II code for air leak between throttle body and intake valves. Same code, same fix: this page covers every spelling of it.
This code means the engine is sucking in 'unmeasured' air that the computer didn't account for, usually caused by a split hose or a cracked manifold. It’s a plague on Vauxhall diesels and Ford EcoBoost engines across the UK.
P2282 is a fuel & air fault code, typically costing £60–£400 to put right in a UK garage.
What P2282 actually feels like to drive
- The car 'kangaroos' or stutters when you're pulling away from a roundabout.
- A loud whistling or 'whooshing' sound under acceleration, like a jet engine taking off.
- 'Service Vehicle Soon' message on the dash (common on Insignias).
- Car goes into 'Limp Mode' as soon as you hit 60mph on the dual carriageway.
- Erratic idling where the rev needle bounces between 800 and 1100 RPM at traffic lights.
What causes P2282?
- Failed intake manifold gasket
- Split inlet elbow
- Failed brake vacuum hose
UK vehicles that throw P2282 most often
- Vauxhall Insignia 2.0 CDTi (A20DTH) 2008-2017
- Vauxhall Astra J 1.7 CDTi 2009-2015
- Ford Focus 1.0 EcoBoost (M1DA) 2012-2018
- Vauxhall Corsa D 1.3 CDTi 2006-2014
- Ford Mondeo Mk4 2.0 TDCi 2007-2014
- Land Rover Freelander 2 (2.2 SD4) 2010-2014
How P2282 is fixed
- Smoke-test intake
- Replace gasket or hose
The P2282 misdiagnosis that wastes money
I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve seen brand-new Bosch MAF sensors and throttle bodies fitted to cars that still have P2282 logged. People see 'Air Leak' and assume it’s a sensor telling lies. In reality, on the Vauxhall CDTi engines, it’s almost always the intercooler hose splitting on the underside where you can't see it, or the plastic intake manifold itself cracking around the swirl flap actuator. You’re throwing £200 at sensors when a £40 piece of rubber or a bit of soap and water would have found the real culprit.
What a UK garage should charge for P2282
A basic diagnostic plug-in will run you £50–£80. If it’s just a split vacuum hose or a brake booster pipe, you’re looking at £100 all-in. However, if the intake manifold on an Insignia has failed, you’re looking at £350–£450 for a Pierburg replacement and a few hours of my time. If it's a simple intercooler hose, expect to pay £60 for the part (Gates or Febi) and £40 labour. Main dealers will easily double these prices with their £150+ hourly rates.
P2282 repair cost in the UK
Most P2282 repairs land between £60–£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 P2282
Don't let a garage just 'clear the code and see'. If P2282 is there, there is a physical hole somewhere. Insist on a smoke test—it’s the only way to be 100% sure. We charge about £60 for a smoke session, and it finds leaks in ten minutes that would take hours to find by hand. Also, if you're driving a Vauxhall, ask them to check the 'MAP sensor' for carbon buildup while they're at it; if that hole is plugged with soot, it triggers this code because the car can't 'see' the boost pressure properly.
Can you drive with P2282?
Yes but rough idle.
Urgency: medium.