11-06-2025
5 min.
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P2487 Exhaust Gas Temperature Sensor Circuit High Bank 2 Sensor 5

P2487 is a generic OBD-II diagnostic trouble code that indicates the Engine Control Module (ECM) has detected an abnormally high voltage or signal from the Exhaust Gas Temperature (EGT) Sensor located at Bank 2 Sensor 5. This means the sensor is reporting a value above the expected operating range, or the ECM believes the exhaust gas temperature is unrealistically high due to an electrical fault in the sensor circuit.

Exhaust Gas Temperature sensors continuously monitor exhaust temperatures to protect critical emission system components such as the Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF), catalytic converter, turbocharger, and Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) system. When the ECM receives an excessively high signal from Bank 2 Sensor 5, it may activate protective strategies, reduce engine power, or suspend regeneration processes to prevent potential damage.

What Does P2487 Mean?

Modern diesel engines and many turbocharged gasoline engines use multiple Exhaust Gas Temperature sensors throughout the exhaust system.

These sensors monitor temperatures before and after components including:

Turbocharger
Diesel Oxidation Catalyst (DOC)
Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF)
SCR catalyst
Catalytic converter

Bank 2 refers to the side of the engine opposite Cylinder 1 on V-type engines.

Sensor 5 is generally positioned toward the rear of the exhaust aftertreatment system, although its exact location varies by manufacturer.

When the ECM detects that the voltage from this sensor remains higher than the allowable range for a specified period, it stores diagnostic code P2487 and turns on the Check Engine Light.

Common Symptoms of P2487

The symptoms depend on whether the high signal is caused by an electrical fault or an actual overheating condition.

Common symptoms include:

Check Engine Light illuminated
Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) on
Reduced engine performance
Limp mode activation
DPF regeneration disabled
Increased exhaust emissions
Reduced fuel economy
Emission system warning messages
Failed emissions inspection
Additional exhaust system fault codes

In many cases, the vehicle may remain drivable despite the stored code.

Common Causes of P2487

A high circuit signal usually results from an electrical problem, although genuine exhaust overheating is also possible.

Faulty exhaust gas temperature sensor

An internally failed sensor may continuously report excessively high temperatures.

Open or damaged ground circuit

A poor ground connection can cause the sensor voltage to rise beyond the normal operating range.

Short to voltage

A wiring fault that allows battery voltage to reach the sensor signal wire can trigger this code.

Damaged wiring

The wiring harness may suffer from:

Melted insulation
Burned wires
Heat damage
Broken conductors
Chafing against metal components

Loose electrical connector

A poor electrical connection may create intermittent high-voltage readings.

Corroded connector terminals

Corrosion can interfere with proper signal transmission.

Exhaust overheating

Less commonly, genuine excessive exhaust temperatures caused by engine or fuel system problems may contribute to abnormal sensor readings.

ECM fault

Although rare, an internal ECM malfunction may incorrectly interpret the sensor signal.

Vehicles Commonly Affected by P2487

P2487 is most commonly found on diesel vehicles equipped with advanced exhaust aftertreatment systems.

Commonly affected vehicles include:

Ford F-Series Power Stroke
Ford Transit Diesel
Chevrolet Silverado Duramax
GMC Sierra Duramax
Ram 2500 Cummins
Ram 3500 Cummins
Mercedes-Benz Sprinter
Mercedes-Benz GLS Diesel
BMW X5 Diesel
BMW 5 Series Diesel
Audi Q7 TDI
Volkswagen Touareg TDI
Volkswagen Amarok
Land Rover Discovery
Range Rover Sport Diesel
Jeep Grand Cherokee EcoDiesel
Nissan Navara
Isuzu D-Max
Mitsubishi L200
Toyota Land Cruiser Diesel

Certain turbocharged gasoline engines equipped with multiple EGT sensors may also store this code.

How Is P2487 Diagnosed?

A thorough diagnosis is necessary to determine whether the problem is electrical or thermal.

Check for additional diagnostic trouble codes

Related codes involving:

Other EGT sensors
DPF system
SCR system
NOx sensors
Oxygen sensors

can provide valuable diagnostic clues.

Inspect the wiring harness

The technician should inspect the harness for:

Melted insulation
Burned wiring
Contact with hot exhaust components
Chafed insulation
Broken wires

Inspect electrical connectors

The connector should be checked for:

Loose terminals
Bent pins
Corrosion
Heat damage
Moisture intrusion

Measure sensor resistance

A digital multimeter can determine whether the sensor is operating within manufacturer specifications.

Test circuit voltage

Voltage testing verifies whether the ECM is receiving an abnormally high signal caused by wiring or connector faults.

Review live scan data

A professional scan tool allows comparison of temperature readings from all EGT sensors.

A faulty Bank 2 Sensor 5 may display:

Extremely high temperature
Fixed maximum temperature
Temperature that changes unrealistically
Readings inconsistent with nearby sensors

How to Fix P2487

The repair depends on the root cause identified during diagnosis.

Common repairs include:

Replacing the faulty exhaust gas temperature sensor
Repairing short-to-voltage wiring faults
Replacing damaged wiring harnesses
Cleaning corroded electrical connectors
Repairing loose electrical connections
Replacing damaged connector terminals
Repairing heat-damaged wiring
Correcting excessive exhaust temperature conditions
Updating ECM software if recommended by the manufacturer
Replacing the ECM if internal failure is confirmed

Once repairs are completed, the fault code should be cleared and the vehicle should be road-tested to verify normal operation.

Can You Drive With P2487?

In many cases, the vehicle remains drivable, but continued operation is not recommended until the fault is corrected.

A false high exhaust temperature reading may cause the ECM to:

Disable DPF regeneration
Limit engine power
Activate limp mode
Increase exhaust emissions
Trigger additional diagnostic trouble codes

If the high reading reflects an actual overheating condition, continuing to drive may damage the turbocharger, catalytic converter, or DPF.

Is P2487 a Serious Code?

Yes. P2487 is considered a moderately serious diagnostic code.

Although it may not immediately damage the engine, ignoring the problem can lead to:

DPF regeneration failures
Increased soot accumulation
Catalyst damage
Reduced engine efficiency
Higher emissions
Additional exhaust aftertreatment faults

Prompt diagnosis helps prevent expensive emission system repairs.

How to Prevent P2487

Routine maintenance and inspection can significantly reduce the likelihood of this code.

Recommended preventive measures include:

Inspect exhaust wiring during regular servicing.
Replace damaged heat shields promptly.
Secure wiring away from hot exhaust components.
Clean electrical connectors if corrosion is present.
Repair damaged wiring immediately.
Inspect the exhaust system after driving in harsh conditions.
Repair exhaust leaks that expose wiring to excessive heat.
Investigate emission system warning lights as soon as they appear.

Maintaining the exhaust wiring and sensor network helps ensure accurate temperature monitoring and reliable operation of emission control systems.

Final Thoughts

P2487 Exhaust Gas Temperature Sensor Circuit High Bank 2 Sensor 5 indicates that the ECM has detected an excessively high electrical signal from the fifth exhaust gas temperature sensor on Bank 2. The fault is commonly caused by a defective sensor, wiring shorted to voltage, damaged wiring, loose connectors, corrosion, or, less frequently, genuine exhaust overheating. Because accurate exhaust temperature monitoring is essential for protecting the DPF, SCR system, catalytic converter, and turbocharger, this diagnostic code should be addressed promptly.

Repairing the underlying cause restores accurate exhaust temperature monitoring, allows normal operation of emission control systems, improves engine efficiency, and helps prevent long-term damage to costly exhaust aftertreatment components.