GM Service Manual Online
For 1990-2009 cars only

Diagnostic Instructions

    • Perform the Diagnostic System Check - Vehicle prior to using this diagnostic procedure.
    • Review Strategy Based Diagnosis for an overview of the diagnostic approach.
    •  Diagnostic Procedure Instructions provides an overview of each diagnostic category.

DTC Descriptor

DTC P0ADF: Hybrid Battery Negative Contactor Control Circuit Low Voltage

DTC P0AE0: Hybrid Battery Negative Contactor Control Circuit High Voltage

Diagnostic Fault Information

Circuit

Short to Ground

Open/High Resistance

Short to Voltage

Signal Performance

HV Negative Contactor Control

P0ADF

P0AE0

P0AE0

--

HV Negative Contactor Ground

--

P0AE0

--

--

Circuit/System Description

The drive motor generator battery control module is also referred to as the battery energy control module (BECM). The BECM will diagnose its own systems and determine when a fault condition is present. Diagnostics and system status is communicated from the BECM to the hybrid powertrain control module (HPCM) through the Hybrid LAN communication circuit. The HPCM is the host controller for diagnostic trouble code (DTC) information.

The hybrid drive motor generator battery contains 3 high voltage contactor relays also referred to as high voltage  (HV) relays. The HV relays allow the high voltage DC batteries to be connected to the vehicle or safely contain the DC high voltage within the drive motor generator battery assembly. The three HV relays are a positive HV contactor relay, negative HV contactor relay, and current limit relay. These relays/contactors close and open in a certain sequence and are controlled by the BECM. The control circuit for the HV relays use a wire from the relay to case ground and the BECM supplies voltage to turn them on and off individually. The BECM monitors the control circuit voltage to these relays and 12 volt reference circuit internal to the control module to determine if the circuit is open by comparing the two voltage readings. If the BECM detects 2 consecutive failed high voltage precharge events, a precharge wait time is activated by the BECM. This precharge wait time limit is to allow the Precharge circuit internal to the drive motor generator battery assembly to cool down. The precharge wait time counts down in seconds and is displayed on the scan tool.

Conditions for Running the DTC

P0ADF

    • The vehicle power mode is RUN.
    • The jump assist function is not active.
    • Accessory voltage is 9-18 volts.
    • HV contactor relays are commanded to closed.

P0AE0

    • Accessory voltage is 9-18 volts.
    • Contactor commanded to open.
    • HV contactor relays are commanded to open.

Conditions for Setting the DTC

P0ADF

The BECM compares the High Voltage contactor control circuit to the BECMs internal 12 volt measurement reference circuit. This DTC sets when the high voltage contactor control circuit voltage is at least 2 volts less than the BECMs internal voltage reference when the HV contactor relay is commanded closed.

P0AE0

The BECM compares the High Voltage contactor control circuit to the BECMs internal 12 volt measurement reference circuit. This DTC sets when the high voltage contactor control circuit voltage and the BECMs internal voltage reference are within 2 volts of each other when the HV contactor relay is commanded open.

Action Taken When the DTC Sets

DTCs P0ADF and P0AE0 are Type C DTCs.

Conditions for Clearing the DTC

DTCs P0ADF and P0AE0 are Type C DTCs.

Reference Information

Schematic Reference

Hybrid Energy Storage Schematics

Connector End View Reference

Component Connector End Views

Electrical Information Reference

    •  Circuit Testing
    •  Connector Repairs
    •  Testing for Intermittent Conditions and Poor Connections
    •  Wiring Repairs

Scan Tool Reference

Control Module References for scan tool information

Special Tools

EL-48900 HEV Safety Kit

Circuit/System Verification

  1. Clear the DTC information.
  2. Turn the ignition OFF for 3 minutes.
  3. Turn the ignition ON.
  4. Retest for DTCs P0ADF or P0AE0.
  5. Operate the vehicle within the Conditions for Running the DTC. You may also operate the vehicle within the conditions that are captured in the Freeze Frame/Failure Records data.

Circuit/System Testing

    Danger: Always perform the High Voltage Disabling procedure prior to servicing any High Voltage component or connection. Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) and proper procedures must be followed.

    The High Voltage Disabling procedure will perform the following tasks:

       • Identify how to disable high voltage.
       • Identify how to test for the presence of high voltage.
       • Identify condition under which high voltage is always present and personal protection equipment (PPE) and proper procedures must be followed.
    Failure to follow the procedures exactly as written may result in serious injury or death.

  1. Ignition OFF, disable the high voltage at the drive motor generator battery. Refer to High Voltage Disabling .
  2. Remove the drive motor generator battery cover. Refer to Drive Motor Battery Case Upper Cover, Front Cover, and Right Side Cover Replacement .
  3. Connect the 12 volt battery.
  4. Disconnect the inline harness connector X1 at the HV negative contactor relay. Connect at test lamp between terminal 1 and ground on the wire harness connector side. The test lamp should not illuminate.
  5. If the test lamp illuminates, test the control circuit for a short to voltage. If the circuit test normal, replace the drive motor generator battery control module.
  6. With a scan tool, command the HV negative contactor CLOSED. The test lamp should turn ON.
  7. If the test lamp does not illuminate, test the control circuit for a short to ground or an open/high resistance. If the circuit tests normal, replace the drive motor generator battery control module.
  8. Connect the test lamp between terminals 1 and 2 at the HV negative contactor relay inline wire harness connector X1.
  9. With a scan tool, command the HV negative contactor CLOSED. The test lamp should turn ON.
  10. If the test lamp does not illuminate, test the ground circuit for an open/high resistance and repair as required.
    If the test lamp does illuminate, replace the HV negative contactor relay.

Component Testing

    Danger: Always perform the High Voltage Disabling procedure prior to servicing any High Voltage component or connection. Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) and proper procedures must be followed.

    The High Voltage Disabling procedure will perform the following tasks:

       • Identify how to disable high voltage.
       • Identify how to test for the presence of high voltage.
       • Identify condition under which high voltage is always present and personal protection equipment (PPE) and proper procedures must be followed.
    Failure to follow the procedures exactly as written may result in serious injury or death.

  1. Ignition OFF, disable the high voltage at the drive motor generator battery. Refer to High Voltage Disabling .
  2. Remove the drive motor generator battery cover. Refer to Drive Motor Battery Case Upper Cover, Front Cover, and Right Side Cover Replacement .
  3. Disconnect X1 at the HV negative contactor relay.
  4. Test for 23-29 ohms at 20°C (68°F), between terminals 1 and 2 at the contactor relay connector on the component harness side.
  5. If not within the specified range, replace the HV negative contactor relay.

Repair Instructions

Perform the Diagnostic Repair Verification after completing the repair.

    •  Drive Motor Battery Negative High Voltage Contactor Relay Replacement
    •  Control Module References for drive motor generator battery control module replacement, setup and programming