P0BC6: Hybrid/EV Battery Temperature Sensor E Circuit Intermittent/Erratic

P0BC6 flags erratic behaviour of battery temperature sensor E: the reading jumps far faster than the heavy battery mass could warm or cool. GM documents the method in its 2016 and 2018 hybrid tables (16OBDG02, 18OBDG02). Sampling every 100 ms, the controller adds up the absolute changes of the sensor value over a 10-sample window; a sum above 10 fails the window, and 4 failed windows out of 5 store the code as Type B, two trips, provided system voltage is above 10.2 V. The same logic covers the other pack sensors. The older Volt, Two-Mode and eAssist tables list no erratic code for sensor E. Typical culprits are a loose terminal, a cracked wire or a connector not fully latched after pack work; if several sensors jump at once, suspect the sensing board.

High severity. Can I keep driving?If the car still runs, drive as little as possible and go to a specialized repair shop. Do not touch the orange cables: they carry high voltage.

Symptoms

MIL on after two trips
Sensor E value jumping on the scan tool
Occasional power reduction

Most likely causes

Loose terminal or unlatched connector of sensor E
Cracked or chafed sensor wire breaking contact intermittently
Sensing board fault affecting several temperature inputs

What to check, in order

Start with the simplest. You can tick off each step.

Read the codes with a hybrid-compatible scanner and write down the freeze frame data
Gently move the wiring with the engine running and watch whether the reading changes.
Make sure the battery cooling air intake is clean
Check the 12 V auxiliary battery, which can also trigger warnings
Leave any high-voltage measurements to a specialized repair shop

Good to know

It can trigger limp mode.
It affects emissions.

What each character of P0BC6 means

P: Powertrain: engine and transmission
0: Generic code: same on every make
B: Subsystem depends on the code range
C6: Specific fault in that system

Frequently asked questions

Can I keep driving with code P0BC6?

If the car still runs, drive as little as possible and go to a specialized repair shop. Do not touch the orange cables: they carry high voltage.

What causes code P0BC6?

The most common causes are: loose terminal or unlatched connector of sensor E; cracked or chafed sensor wire breaking contact intermittently; sensing board fault affecting several temperature inputs.

Related codes

Sources

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.