OBD-II trouble code
C0268: Pump Motor Circuit Shorted
The ABS module detected a short in the anti-lock brake pump motor circuit. ABS, traction, and stability control are disabled, but your normal (base) brakes still work.
Quick facts
- System
- Chassis
- Category
- ABS / Hydraulic
- Severity
- High severity
- Drivable
- Usually safe to drive short-term
- Repair cost range
- $250 – $1,200
- DIY difficulty
- Advanced DIY
What does C0268 mean?
The anti-lock brake system uses an electric pump motor in the hydraulic control unit to build and move brake fluid pressure during ABS, traction, and stability events. The electronic brake control module (EBCM) supplies the ground for the motor and monitors its feedback voltage — high when the motor is off and at rest, lower as the motor winds down after being commanded — to judge whether the motor is healthy. C0268 sets when the module detects an unexpected short in that circuit: an unintended path to ground or between conductors in the motor windings, the wiring, or the internal driver.
A short in the pump-motor circuit can draw excessive current, so the module shuts down ABS, traction control, and stability control as a protective measure and lights the warnings. Your standard hydraulic brakes are not affected — the vehicle stops normally when you press the pedal — but the electronically controlled functions stay offline until the fault is repaired.
The most common source is failing pump-motor windings inside the EBCM/hydraulic unit, which give improper feedback and set the code; a chafed or pinched high-current wire touching ground can do the same. Because the pump motor is usually integral to the module, a genuine internal short means replacing or rebuilding the EBCM. C0268 (shorted) is the companion of C0267 (open), and it frequently appears alongside C0265; seeing this group together strongly suggests a failing EBCM circuit board. Rule out damaged external wiring and a bad ground before condemning the module.
Common causes
- Shorted pump-motor windings inside the EBCM/hydraulic unit
- Chafed or pinched high-current wiring shorting to ground
- Moisture or corrosion bridging terminals at the EBCM connector
- Failed internal pump-motor driver circuit within the EBCM
- EBCM internal circuit board failure
- Poor high-current ground causing abnormal feedback
Symptoms
- ABS warning light on
- Traction control and stability control (ESC) warning lights on
- ABS, traction, and stability features disabled
- Normal (base) braking still works
- May blow the ABS pump fuse in a hard short
Diagnostic steps
- 1.Scan the ABS module and record C0268 plus any companion codes (C0265 and C0267 often accompany it).
- 2.Check the ABS pump fuse; a repeatedly blown fuse points to a hard short in the wiring or motor.
- 3.Inspect the high-current pump wiring for chafing, pinch points, or insulation damage, and the EBCM connector for moisture or corrosion bridging terminals.
- 4.Perform resistance and short-to-ground tests on the pump-motor circuit with the motor disconnected to separate a wiring short from an internal motor short.
- 5.Command a pump self-test with a capable scan tool and watch feedback voltage for the abnormal reading.
- 6.If external wiring, connector, and ground are all good and the motor circuit is shorted internally, the EBCM/pump assembly is the likely fix and typically needs replacement or rebuild with programming.
Repair cost
$250 – $1,200
If the short is in external wiring or a connector, the repair can be modest. When the short is inside the pump motor or the EBCM's driver — the more common case — the fix is EBCM/hydraulic-unit replacement or rebuild plus programming, commonly $500-$1,200 at a shop. Mail-in module rebuild services can lower the parts cost to roughly $150-$300.
Estimate your repair
Run the numbers for your vehicle
Open the Repair Cost Estimator with abs module / ebcm replacement preselected. Adjust labor rate and vehicle category to fit your situation.
Related repairs
DIY vs shop
This is an advanced DIY job. It typically requires specialty tools, scan-tool access, lifting equipment, or careful sequencing to avoid causing new failures. Plan for extended downtime and have a backup vehicle. Most owners are better served by a shop that has done this repair before.