The engine module switches the starter relay coil through its own driver – GM petrol engines with 12 V stop-start use a low-side driver, the Saab 9-4X switches 12 V to the coil. CARB requires output components to be checked for open and short circuits. GM sets the codes after two trips on stop-start engines, while GM diesels (2016) and the Saab 9-4X store them without the check engine light. At Ford an active starter code blocks stop-start. P0615 is the open or general circuit fault: GM measures the driver output with the driver off and sets the code at 200 kΩ or more after 40 of 50 samples at 50 ms. Chrysler traced no-start cases with P0615 to a harness chafed or pinched at the engine mount near the starter. Short to ground and to voltage are P0616 and P0617; the start request input is P0512.
Medium severity. Can I keep driving?If it starts normally you can keep driving, but avoid stopping anywhere you could not get help, because it might not restart.
Symptoms
- Engine does not crank
- Stop-start not working
- Intermittent starting problems
- Check engine light only with some makers
Most likely causes
- Starter relay faulty (coil open)
- Control wire open, harness chafed or pinched, connector corroded
- Relay ground, fuse or supply faulty
- Driver in the engine module faulty
What to check, in order
Start with the simplest. You can tick off each step.
Good to know
- Repair difficulty: easy
What each character of P0615 means
- P: Powertrain: engine and transmission
- 0: Generic code: same on every make
- 6: Control modules and outputs
- 15: Specific fault in that system
Frequently asked questions
Can I keep driving with code P0615?
If it starts normally you can keep driving, but avoid stopping anywhere you could not get help, because it might not restart.
What causes code P0615?
The most common causes are: starter relay faulty (coil open); control wire open, harness chafed or pinched, connector corroded; relay ground, fuse or supply faulty.
Related codes
- P0616Starter Relay A Circuit Low
- P0617Starter Relay A Circuit High
- P26E4Starter Relay B Circuit
- P26F1Starter Relay A Stuck Off
- P0512Starter Request Circuit
Sources
- law.cornell.edu: 13 CCR 1968.2
- gsi.ext.gm.com: 18OBDG03A Engine Diagnostics
- gsi.ext.gm.com: 16OBDG04 Engine Diagnostics
- saabwisonline.com: dtc p0615 p0616 or p0617
Values and procedures vary by manufacturer. If it affects brakes, steering, fuel or high voltage, see a professional. Updated: 2026-11-04. How we build these pages.