P0E40 code meaning
Charge Status Indicator A Control Circuit High
What P0E40 means
P0E40 is logged when the drive circuit of charge status indicator A carries voltage although the light is commanded off, typically because the line touches a live wire. P0E40 has no public documentation from any manufacturer. In GM's 2012 Volt tables (12OBDG01A) this is the second case inside P0D2C: with the LED switched off, the hybrid controller looks for a short to battery and needs 40 bad samples out of 50 at 100 ms. A light that glows while nothing is charging, or keeps glowing after charging has ended, is the visible result and can mislead the owner about the charge state. Suspects are wiring near the dash or charge port, water in a connector or a driver stage that no longer switches off. P0E3F is the low case on the same light.
P0E40 at a glance
- Check engine lightUsually not
- Emissions testNot an emissions code
- Limp modeNot expected
- Repair difficultyMedium
- Typical labor0.5 to 2 hours
- Clears after repairWhen cleared with a scanner
Symptoms of P0E40
- Charge status light on although nothing is charging
- Owner misled about the actual charge state
Common causes of P0E40
- Most likelyIndicator wire shorted to a battery-fed circuit
- PossibleOutput driver no longer switching off
- Less likelyMoisture bridging pins in the indicator connector
Check the most likely causes first. Replacing parts by guesswork is the most expensive way to clear a code.
Parts involved
Charge status indicator aWiring harness
What each part of P0E40 means
| P | Powertrain system: engine, fuel system, ignition, emissions and transmission. |
| 0 | Generic code: it means the same on every make (SAE standard). |
| 40 | The exact fault in that area. |
What to do next
- Note P0E40 and any other codes stored with it: several codes together often point to one cause.
- Check for loose connectors and damaged wiring around the parts the code names.
- Check open recalls for your car: some faults are fixed for free by the dealer. Enter your VIN.
- Clear the code only after the repair. If it comes back, the fault is still there.
Buying a used car? Scan it for stored codes before you pay. A recently cleared memory can hide a problem.
Questions about P0E40
What does P0E40 mean?
P0E40 means "Charge Status Indicator A Control Circuit High". P0E40 is logged when the drive circuit of charge status indicator A carries voltage although the light is commanded off, typically because the line touches a live wire. It is a generic code, so it means the same on every make.
Is it safe to drive with P0E40?
P0E40 does not normally turn on the check engine light by itself. Watch for the symptoms above and have it checked soon.
Will P0E40 fail an emissions test?
P0E40 is not an emissions code, so on its own it usually does not fail an emissions test. Other stored codes or a lit check engine light still can.
How hard is P0E40 to fix?
Difficulty: medium. A typical repair takes 0.5 to 2 hours of work. This is a job for a workshop.
Will P0E40 clear itself after the repair?
Clear the code with a scanner after the repair. If the fault is fixed, it does not come back.