Powertrain, generic · Hybrid propulsion

P0DBC Hybrid/EV Battery Cell Balancing Circuit E

Check engine lightOn
EmissionsRelevant
Drive cycleNot required
Limp modePossible

P0DBC is set for an electrical fault in the fifth balancing channel, E: the controller cannot trust the path through which group E would be bled, because a lead, switch or resistor reads open, shorted or out of range. The floating-capacitor method in LG Chem's US20110285539A1 is one way to test that path without loading the cells: charge, discharge through the balancing circuit, then compare the residual voltage with a limit. CARB 13 CCR 1968.2 requires the balancing parts of a hybrid to be monitored. In bulletin 93 17 04 from Audi, covering the A3 e-tron of model year 2016, P0DBC00 appears with the circuit codes of A to H; late CAN start-up was the cause, removed by software for the battery controller at address 008C.

Likely causes

Open or shorted balancing lead in group E
Monitoring chip responsible for group E faulty
Module connector of group E loose or corroded

Symptoms

  • MIL and battery warning
  • Electric drive possibly restricted

Repair estimate

DifficultyShop_onlyWorkshop job
Parts and labour€200–4,000
Time1–8 h

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

Parts involved

hv battery cell balancing circuit ebms

Related codes

P0DABP0DBDP0DBEP0DBFP0DB8P0DC0

References: law.cornell.edu, patents.google.com, static.nhtsa.gov.