Powertrain, generic · Auxiliary emission controls
P0482 Fan 3 Control Circuit
Check engine lightOn
EmissionsRelevant
Drive cycleRequired
Limp modeNo
The engine module switches cooling fan stages through relays, pulling each relay coil to ground. P0482 concerns the control circuit of the third stage or relay: with the driver off the line should sit at battery voltage through the coil, and the internal pull-up level means an open circuit (Saab ME9: more than 1 s, 10–18 V, engine running). On the GM-based Saab 9-5 of 2011 it is relay 3 (medium stage) of a two-fan network, with shorts reported as P0695/P0696. GM tables list P0482 only in fault groups; Ford's OBD summaries do not contain it. One fan stage then fails.
Likely causes
Fan relay 3 faulty (coil open) or not seated properly
Control wire open or high-resistance, corroded or backed-out pins
Relay coil supply missing (fuse, supply wire)
Driver in the engine module
Symptoms
- Check engine light on
- One fan stage fails – temperature rises in traffic or when towing
- Air conditioning weaker at standstill
Repair estimate
DifficultyMediumDIY possible
Parts and labour€30–350
Time0.5–2 h
Typical range across vehicles; the real cost depends on what the testing finds.
Parts involved
cooling fan relay 3fan relay wiringengine control module
Related codes
References: saabwisonline.com, saabwisonline.com, gsi.ext.gm.com.