P0173 Fuel Trim Malfunction (Bank 2) — Causes & Fix

What Does P0173 Mean?

P0173 means the ECU's fuel-trim adaptation has run out of authority — it is adding or removing as much fuel as the calibration allows and the mixture is still off target. The root cause is a real airflow or fuel-delivery error: intake leaks and air-mass metering on one side, fuel starvation or injector delivery drift on the other. Trim data identifies which bank and direction before any parts are changed.

P0173 at a Glance

• What it means: Long-term fuelling adaptation has reached the limit of its control window.
• Most common cause: Fuel delivery below demand
• Severity: Moderate to serious — rail-pressure faults cause power loss and non-starts.
• Can you drive?: Short distances in limp mode only. Diagnose promptly.
• Typical repair cost: £40-£150 for sensor/regulator work; £100-£350 per injector where back-leak is the cause.