P0C36: Hybrid/EV Battery Temperature Sensor F Circuit High

P0C36 means the voltage from battery temperature sensor F sits above its valid range. With GM's NTC thermistor and pull-up, an open circuit, a broken wire or an unplugged connector pulls the input up and reads as an impossibly cold cell group. GM's 2016 table fails it below −69 °C in 8 of 10 samples, the Volt battery tables of 2016 to 2019 below −40 °C for 1.4 s within 2 s, and the eAssist table above 4.63 V, about −45 °C, in 7 of 10 samples, each as Type B, two trips. Volt bulletin 18-NA-342 lists it as sensor 6 circuit high voltage and links the F group to a Battery Too Cold message. The counterpart for a short to ground is P0C35. Expect limited power and possibly pack heating that is not needed.

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 after two trips
Battery too cold, plug in to warm message
Reduced electric power

Most likely causes

Open circuit or unlatched connector of sensor F
Thermistor F open internally
Module software setting the code falsely in the cold (GM Volt)

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 P0C36 means

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

Frequently asked questions

Can I keep driving with code P0C36?

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 P0C36?

The most common causes are: open circuit or unlatched connector of sensor F; thermistor F open internally; module software setting the code falsely in the cold (GM Volt).

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.