P0BE3: Drive Motor Inverter Temperature Sensor F Circuit High

P0BE3 is the high-signal fault of inverter temperature sensor F, GM's phase W thermistor in the motor B inverter. With an NTC element and pull-up, an open circuit or a sensor that has lost ground drives the voltage up, which the controller reads as an implausibly cold inverter. GM only judges this after the inverter has worked for at least 90 s at 20 Nm or more: below -50 °C for 2.625 of 3.65 s sets Type B, two trips (2016 and 2018 tables), or Type A for 6.25 of 8.75 s (2019). The 2011 Volt uses below -58 °C (Type A), the 2012 and 2013 two-mode trucks below -40 °C (Type B). Expect limited output from motor B until the circuit is repaired.

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

Malfunction indicator lamp and hybrid warning
Reduced power from drive motor B once warmed up

Most likely causes

Open thermistor or broken connection inside the power inverter module
Loose or corroded connector at the inverter
Lost sensor reference ground on the sensing board

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
Check the sensor's ground and make sure the signal wire is not receiving voltage from another circuit.
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 P0BE3 means

P: Powertrain: engine and transmission
0: Generic code: same on every make
B: Subsystem depends on the code range
E3: Specific fault in that system

Frequently asked questions

Can I keep driving with code P0BE3?

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 P0BE3?

The most common causes are: open thermistor or broken connection inside the power inverter module; loose or corroded connector at the inverter; lost sensor reference ground on the sensing board.

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.