Powertrain, generic (extended)

P26E4 Starter Relay B Circuit

Check engine lightOn
EmissionsRelevant
Drive cycleNot required
Limp modeNo

Stop-start systems often use a second starter relay, and P26E4 is the general circuit fault of this relay B. On GM's 12 V stop-start engines it switches the pinion of a tandem starter: the module's high-side driver flags an open circuit when, at standstill with at least 11 V, more than 200 kOhm appear toward ground in 40 of 50 samples (50 ms each); type B, so the lamp lights after two trips. FCA engines name it Starter Control 2. Jeep Compass bulletins 2019 to 2023 pair P26E4 with P0615 as a plausibility fault and failed restarts from stop-start, solved by new PCM or BCM software, and an Alfa Romeo Stelvio TCM update lists it as Starter Relay B Circuit. Low and high faults have separate codes, P26E5 and P26E6.

Likely causes

Open wire or loose terminal between module and relay B or pinion solenoid
Control module software misjudging the circuit, update available on some FCA models
Open coil in relay B or in the tandem starter pinion solenoid
Faulty high-side driver in the engine module

Symptoms

  • Check engine light
  • Engine does not restart from an automatic stop
  • Stop-start function disabled, occasional no-crank

Repair estimate

DifficultyMediumWorkshop job
Parts and labour€50–600
Time0.5–2.5 h

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

Parts involved

starter relay bwiring harness

Related codes

P26E5P26E6P0615P26F2P26F3

References: gsi.ext.gm.com, static.nhtsa.gov, static.nhtsa.gov, static.nhtsa.gov.