Powertrain, generic · Hybrid propulsion

P0D87 Battery Charger Coupler Status Indicator Control Circuit A Low

Check engine lightUsually off
EmissionsNot relevant
Drive cycleNot required
Limp modeNo

P0D87 flags channel A of the charge port status indicator as pulled low, which in practice means a short to ground somewhere between driver and lamp. Such a fault only shows when the channel is switched on: the driver tries to raise the line and current flows straight to ground. GM's Volt checked its comparable charge-status LED (P0D2C) exactly that way, with 40 failed samples out of 50 taken every 100 ms while the LED was commanded on. No maker publishes thresholds for P0D87 itself. Chafed insulation on a body edge, water that has entered the inlet lighting or a shorted LED module are the usual suspects. Most drivers protect themselves by switching off, so the light stays dark; charging is not affected. An open circuit on the same channel is P0D86, a short to voltage P0D88.

Likely causes

Chafed wire of channel A touching body ground
Water ingress into the charge inlet lighting
Internally shorted LED module

Symptoms

  • Indicator channel A stays dark when it should light
  • Charging status hard to read at the port

Repair estimate

DifficultyMediumWorkshop job
Parts and labour€30–500
Time0.5–2 h

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

Parts involved

battery charger coupler status indicator awiring harnesson board charger

Related codes

P0D86P0D88P0D8AP0D8DP0D2C

References: gsi.ext.gm.com, patents.google.com, law.cornell.edu.