P2E86 code meaning
Battery Charger B Input Voltage Sensor Circuit High
What P2E86 means
P2E86 flags an input voltage signal of charger B above the highest value the measurement can plausibly produce. Home sockets and AC stations stay far below that, so the fault normally lies in the sensing path or its signal line, rarely in the grid. No manufacturer documents P2E86 publicly. The charger A versions give the scale: GM's 2011 Volt treats an AC peak above 422 V for 160 of 200 ms as sensor high (Type A, MIL), and Mitsubishi's Outlander PHEV sets P0D40 when the sensor output passes 3.161 V, equal to more than 492 V, for 0.5 s, then halts charging and names the charger/DC-DC unit as the part to replace. CARB wants hybrid monitoring plans to cover charging system performance. Too low is P2E85, plausibility P2E84. AC charging usually stays blocked.
P2E86 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 P2E86
- AC charging refused or ended immediately
- Charging system warning in the cluster
- Fault returns at once after clearing, even on a known good charger
Common causes of P2E86
- Most likelyVoltage sensing circuit inside charger B faulty
- PossibleSensor signal line shorted to a supply voltage
- Less likelyLost reference ground of the measurement
Check the most likely causes first. Replacing parts by guesswork is the most expensive way to clear a code.
Parts involved
Battery charger b input voltage sensorWiring harnessOn board charger
What each part of P2E86 means
| P | Powertrain system: engine, fuel system, ignition, emissions and transmission. |
| 2 | Generic code (second SAE range): it means the same on every make. |
| 86 | The exact fault in that area. |
What to do next
- Note P2E86 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 P2E86
What does P2E86 mean?
P2E86 means "Battery Charger B Input Voltage Sensor Circuit High". P2E86 flags an input voltage signal of charger B above the highest value the measurement can plausibly produce. It is a generic code, so it means the same on every make.
Is it safe to drive with P2E86?
P2E86 does not normally turn on the check engine light by itself. Watch for the symptoms above and have it checked soon.
Will P2E86 fail an emissions test?
P2E86 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 P2E86 to fix?
Difficulty: hard. A typical repair takes 0.5 to 4 hours of work. This is a job for a workshop.
Will P2E86 clear itself after the repair?
Clear the code with a scanner after the repair. If the fault is fixed, it does not come back.