what does this symbol mean?
SAE J2012 A scan tool screen showing the code P0191

P0191: Fuel rail pressure sensor circuit range/performance

An OBD-II trouble code meaning the fuel rail pressure sensor’s reading is outside the range the engine computer expects, or doesn’t behave as it should.

How to read it

P0191 is one of the standard OBD-II trouble codes stored when the check engine light comes on. SAE J2012, the standard that defines the codes, names it “Fuel Rail Pressure Sensor Circuit Range/Performance”; Volkswagen’s service information gives the same name.

Also searched as: code P0191, P0191 code.

Code names follow SAE J2012. Manufacturers add codes of their own, and the same code can have several causes: the vehicle’s service information or a qualified mechanic can say what it means for a particular car.

What the monitor checks

The federal rule’s catch-all covers any other electronic powertrain component that sends input to or takes commands from the on-board computer and has a measurable effect on emissions.

What the manual says to do

Ford’s F-150 manual says that if the indicator stays on, the vehicle should be serviced at the first available opportunity, and that continued driving with it on can mean higher emissions, lower fuel economy, rougher running and more costly repairs.

How the light goes out

Under the federal rule, the check engine light may go out once the fault has not come back during three trips in a row in which its monitor runs without finding it. The system may erase the stored code if the same code has not been registered again in at least 40 engine warm-up cycles.

More OBD-II trouble codes

Sources

Last reviewed September 28, 2026 by Rory Hansen. How we research

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