P0C48: Hybrid/EV Battery Pack Coolant Pump A Control Circuit Low

P0C48 narrows a fault on the control line of battery coolant pump A down to a signal that stays too low, as caused by a short to ground or a driver output that cannot pull the line up. Ford lists the code for the 2020 Explorer, Police Interceptor Utility and Lincoln Aviator with the hybrid powertrain. Bulletins 20-2293 and 20-2345 group it with P0C49, P0C4A, P0C4B, P0CFF, P2B29 and other pump and battery codes that light the MIL and are stored in the PCM; the cause is the software of the battery energy control module, which is reprogrammed. Other makers, GM for instance, cover the same failure inside the broader code P0C47. CARB requires output components of battery thermal management to be checked for circuit faults. If the pump really stops, battery power is limited.

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
Hybrid system message, battery power possibly limited

Most likely causes

Battery control module software (Ford/Lincoln 2020 hybrids, TSB 20-2345)
Pump control wire shorted to ground
Internal fault in the pump electronics pulling the line low

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
With the connector unplugged, check whether the signal wire is making contact with ground.
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

Repair difficulty: medium
It can trigger limp mode.
It affects emissions.

What each character of P0C48 means

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

Frequently asked questions

Can I keep driving with code P0C48?

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 P0C48?

The most common causes are: battery control module software (Ford/Lincoln 2020 hybrids, TSB 20-2345); pump control wire shorted to ground; internal fault in the pump electronics pulling the line low.

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.