Powertrain, generic · Vehicle speed, idle control and auxiliary inputs

P05A6 Active Grille Air Shutter A Supply Voltage Circuit/Open

Check engine lightOn
EmissionsRelevant
Drive cycleRequired
Limp modeNo

An active grille shutter closes louvres in the grille to cut drag and speed warm-up and opens them for cooling; CARB names it as an off-cycle CO2 technology and treats the actuator as an output component. Smart actuators (Ford 3.0 L diesel, Toyota) check their own coil and supply and report over LIN; simpler ones (VW 1.8 T) have their own supply and a control line from the engine module. GM uses none of P05A2–P05A8. A fault usually only costs fuel and warm-up time. P05A6 means the actuator's battery supply via fuse or relay is missing or open; without supply there is no movement, and smart actuators also drop off the LIN bus (U0284). No manufacturer document available to us uses this code. GM feeds its actuator via a relay but uses other codes.

Likely causes

Fuse blown or relay faulty
Broken wire or connector off in the front end
Actuator ground open
Actuator faulty internally

Symptoms

  • Check engine light on
  • Shutter inoperative
  • Possibly also U0284

Repair estimate

DifficultyEasyDIY possible
Parts and labour€10–300
Time0.3–1.5 h

Typical range across vehicles; the real cost depends on what the testing finds.

Parts involved

grille shutter actuatoractuator power supplyfuse relayengine control module

Related codes

P05A7P05A8P05A2U0284P05B5

References: law.cornell.edu, static.nhtsa.gov, gsi.ext.gm.com.