P2E36 code meaning
Battery Charger B Enable Circuit Low
What P2E36 means
P2E36 means the enable signal to charger B is pulled under the level its commanded state allows, most often by a short to ground or by a driver stage that cannot pull the line up. No manufacturer documents P2E36 publicly. On the common active-high layout, which Holley's 30-8405 charger unit uses with a 12 V wake-up input drawing about 20 mA, a grounded line simply means the charger never receives its wake request. Lear's patent on waking an on-board charger from the pilot signal explains the background: the charger sleeps to spare the 12 V battery and needs a valid wake signal to start. A hard short may also overload the output stage in the commanding module. GM documents only the general A-side code P0E61. High is P2E37, open P2E35, charger A low P0E62. Charging via charger B fails.
P2E36 at a glance
- Check engine lightUsually not
- Emissions testNot an emissions code
- Limp modeNot expected
- Repair difficultyHard
- Typical labor0.5 to 4 hours
- Clears after repairWhen cleared with a scanner
Symptoms of P2E36
- Charger B stays off whenever charging is requested
- Lower charging power or no charging
Common causes of P2E36
- Most likelyEnable wire chafed and shorted to ground
- PossibleWater or corrosion in the charger B signal connector
- Less likelyDamaged high-side driver in the commanding module
Check the most likely causes first. Replacing parts by guesswork is the most expensive way to clear a code.
Parts involved
On board chargerWiring harness
What each part of P2E36 means
| P | Powertrain system: engine, fuel system, ignition, emissions and transmission. |
| 2 | Generic code (second SAE range): it means the same on every make. |
| 36 | The exact fault in that area. |
What to do next
- Note P2E36 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 P2E36
What does P2E36 mean?
P2E36 means "Battery Charger B Enable Circuit Low". P2E36 means the enable signal to charger B is pulled under the level its commanded state allows, most often by a short to ground or by a driver stage that cannot pull the line up. It is a generic code, so it means the same on every make.
Is it safe to drive with P2E36?
P2E36 does not normally turn on the check engine light by itself. Watch for the symptoms above and have it checked soon.
Will P2E36 fail an emissions test?
P2E36 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 P2E36 to fix?
Difficulty: hard. A typical repair takes 0.5 to 4 hours of work. This is a job for a workshop.
Will P2E36 clear itself after the repair?
Clear the code with a scanner after the repair. If the fault is fixed, it does not come back.