Ford 6.7 Diesel Code P132B – What Does It Mean and How to Fix?

There's nothing worse than when your vehicle is misbehaving, especially when it comes to a sudden lack of power. What was once a dependable car that gave you the sensation that it could tow an airplane while going uphill has now become a slow piece of metal that makes you nervous every time you want to overtake a truck.

P132B code highlights

• Level of urgency:Medium
• Possible culprits:MAF sensor, air leak, vacuum leak
• Price for repair:$100 - $350
• If neglected:Loss of power, unstable work
• DIY repairs:Possible
• Can you drive?Yes

What does the P132B code mean and what causes it?

DTCs (Diagnostic Trouble Codes) are great when it comes to troubleshooting an issue. Whenever there's something wrong with the car and an error code is triggered, it will also be memorized in the ECU, and then later it can be read using a diagnostic tool.

From then on, possible problems can be narrowed down to just a few causes, since something like a MIL present in your instrument cluster could mean many different things and there is no way to tell exactly what's wrong without doing a diagnostic. In this particular case, the fault code P132B on a Ford 6.7 Diesel engine can be translated to "Turbocharger/Supercharger Boost Control A Performance".

If this seems a bit confusing, don't worry, because we're now going to give you some of the reasons that could cause this problem.

• Turbocharger actuator not working properly

This seems to affect quite a lot of vehicles, so it should be one of the first things you check when deciding to troubleshoot this issue. Usually, the actuators themselves aren't actually faulty, but the wiring can break many times near the VGT (Variable Geometry Turbine) actuator.

This issue becomes more evident if the boost gauge is only reaching a low pressure (under 20 psi) and if the vehicle has close to no power at low RPM. If the wiring turns out to be in good shape, then it's worth checking the actuator itself for problems, usually using an external 12V power source.

• Bad MAP sensor

It is important to know that the P132B DTC makes its appearance when the difference between the manifold absolute pressure (MAP) and the desired MAP value is greater than the threshold it is calibrated to.

As with any sensor, always check the wiring and the connections, and if not, put the sensor itself on the list of possible causes of the vehicle's power loss.

• Exhaust leak at EGR valve

Another common issue on these engines that could trigger the aforementioned error code would be an exhaust leak at the EGR (Exhaust Gas Recirculation) valve inlet pipe flex joint.

This almost always comes accompanied by a MIL and it might also trigger the P0299 error code, along with the P132B code. Cracked flex joints usually occur because of a loose fastener between the EGR cooler and the pipe support bracket.

This issue should be taken quite seriously, since not only will it cause the car to have limited performance, but it could also lead to other problems, such as high temperatures under the hood, damage to the EGR actuator and bypass vacuum line, the windshield washer hose and nozzle on the right side, or even the engine air intake duct.

• Faulty turbocharger boost control solenoid or bad connections/wiring

As usual, inspect for any damaged components, such as wires and plugs, and if everything seems to be good, check the solenoid itself.

How to fix the issue?

First of all, as you might already know, whenever you are greeted by a warning light in the instrument cluster, you should always perform a diagnostic before trying to do anything else. Since certain warning lights can mean so many different things, it would be very time-consuming or expensive to just assume what the problem is.

Also, there might be situations in which you will replace a ton of components that are not actually faulty, only to find out that the problem is still there. If you've already checked for error codes and the P132B code is there (along with the P0299 code in certain situations), you can start visually inspecting certain components for damage.

Checking all of them, especially their wiring and connections will be very time-consuming, so be prepared to spend quite a lot of your time verifying them.

When it comes to the EGR and the inlet pipe, remember to also check for soot deposits around these components, and if they are present, they are almost certainly the cause of your problems. Also, another helpful thing to do in this situation would be to listen closely with the engine running, since a bigger leak will almost always be audible, thus making it easier to find and fix.

Most shops out there are more than willing to help with the problem, and if you don't necessarily want any of them to mess with your car, the least they can do to help would be to take the diagnostic for you and give you an insight into what might be causing problems.

Bear in mind, if there is anything related to wiring or connectors, the troubleshooting process could take a long time, and since shops charge you by hours worked, things can get quite expensive, so be prepared for that.

How to avoid this problem?

Apart from performing a thorough verification of your vehicle from time to time and driving it correctly, there's very little you could do to prevent this issue, but this brings us to the very important topic of driving the vehicle as it was intended to be driven.

Diesel engines are appreciated for their good fuel economy, but they are also known to develop quite nasty problems when they are not used properly. Have you ever wondered how trucks can drive for millions of miles on a single engine, while many passenger cars suffer from issues way earlier?

This is due to the driving regime that consists of constant speeds and RPM on highways. The constant temperatures and oil pressure will make the engine both perform and last as intended by the factory. This is also possible to a certain extent on passenger vehicles, so we would advise you to think twice when buying a diesel-powered vehicle.

If the driving you do doesn't consist of long journeys outside towns, sometimes you might be better off with a gasoline-powered car. You might prefer spending a little bit more money on fuel than spending a lot more money on parts and labor. When driven in town, or over very short distances, diesel engines will accumulate soot deposits that will cause them to stop working as they should, and over the long run could also permanently damage them.

You definitely don't want big chunks of soot to break loose and enter the combustion chamber, since that would be something similar to a rock doing the same thing. Just imagine the extent of the damage if something like this were to make contact with the valves, pistons, or cylinder walls. 

Is it safe to drive like this?

One thing you could try if you encounter this issue would be to pull over in a safe place and turn the engine off for a short period. Sometimes, this makes the MIL go away for a while, and that might get you to either a nearby shop or to your destination safely.

While the car will not self-destruct if driven for a short period like this, it is definitely not a good idea to ignore the issue and keep on driving for too many miles. The limited performance of the engine won't only affect the rate at which you're moving, but also the fuel economy.

This problem can also become quite dangerous, since there might be certain situations in which the power the car is lacking would have been useful, such as when overtaking. Last but not least, driving like this can also cause other components to develop faults and what might have been a relatively cheap and easy fix could soon turn into an expensive nightmare.

Final thoughts

Cars these days have very clever electronics and while sometimes they might be a pain when they stop working as intended, they can also be very helpful when it comes to troubleshooting a problem.

Imagine if you had to manually check every single wire, connection, or hose when you encountered a warning light. Luckily, it's not the case, since modern diagnostic tools will tell you pretty much everything that's wrong with a car, thus greatly shortening the time it takes to find what's wrong with a vehicle.