Powertrain, generic · Hybrid propulsion

P0DCE Hybrid/EV Battery Cell Balancing Circuit I Stuck Off

Check engine lightOn

EmissionsRelevant

Drive cycleRequired

Limp modeNo

P0DCE means the bleed path of group I does not respond to a balancing request. Ford lists it in the 2019 OBD summary for its full and plug-in hybrids, where the BECM discharges only the highest cells to match the rest and runs this check for 100 ms at power-up before the contactors close. Because the code concerns a switch that never conducts, nothing happens suddenly while driving. The penalty grows from charge to charge: the Intersil application note AN141 explains that in a series string the unbalanced cells hit full charge before the others and the weakest cell then limits what the pack can deliver. For a plug-in that means less electric range. The fault has to be found under CARB's hybrid rules. The stuck-on opposite is P0DCD.

Likely causes

Open bleed resistor in circuit I

Balancing switch of group I that no longer closes

Cell tap of group I loose at the busbar

Symptoms

Electric range decreases over many charging cycles
Cells of group I highest at the end of charging
Check engine light without noticeable effect while driving

Repair estimate

DifficultyShop_onlyWorkshop job

Parts and labour€300–4,500

Time1.5–8 h

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

Parts involved

hv battery cell balancing circuit ibms

Related codes

P0DAB P0DCC P0DCD P0DCF P0DCA P0DE7

References: law.cornell.edu, fordservicecontent.com, renesas.com.