P0C5C: Drive Motor A Position Sensor Circuit B Low

P0C5C tells that the reference level on the S2/S4 winding of the motor A resolver, Circuit B, has fallen below its floor. GM uses 0.5 V on the 2011 Volt, 2012 two-mode trucks, 2013 eAssist and the 2016 Volt and ELR, 0.10 V on the 2019 Volt; the low side needs a longer confirmation than the high side, for example 0.525 s within 0.8375 s on the 2016 Volt. On the single-motor eAssist it is a two-trip Type B code. Bentley lists P0C5C00 first in its Bentayga Hybrid note 2066714: damaged 12 V transmission wiring, often with P0C5200 and a temperature sensor code P0A2D00, so a harness worn through on one spot can pull down both windings and other motor sensors at once.

Symptoms

• Engine warning light, often with P0C52 and a motor temperature code
• Electric drive limited or switched off
• On mild hybrids loss of start-stop and assist

Most likely causes

• Transmission harness chafed or pinched, grounding an S2/S4 line (Bentley TPI 2066714)
• Moisture or corrosion in the resolver connector
• Shorted S2/S4 winding in the resolver stator

What to check, in order

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

1. Read the codes with a hybrid-compatible scanner and write down the freeze frame data
2. With the connector unplugged, check whether the signal wire is making contact with ground.
3. Make sure the battery cooling air intake is clean
4. Check the 12 V auxiliary battery, which can also trigger warnings
5. Leave any high-voltage measurements to a specialized repair shop

Good to know

• Repair difficulty: hard
• It can trigger limp mode.
• It affects emissions.

What each character of P0C5C means

• P: Powertrain: engine and transmission
• 0: Generic code: same on every make
• C: Subsystem depends on the code range
• 5C: Specific fault in that system

Frequently asked questions

Can I keep driving with code P0C5C?

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 P0C5C?

The most common causes are: transmission harness chafed or pinched, grounding an S2/S4 line (Bentley TPI 2066714); moisture or corrosion in the resolver connector; shorted S2/S4 winding in the resolver stator.

Related codes

• P0C5DDrive Motor A Position Sensor Circuit B High
• P0C52Drive Motor A Position Sensor Circuit A Low
• P0C5ADrive Motor A Position Sensor Circuit B
• P0C5EDrive Motor A Position Sensor Circuit B Intermittent/Erratic
• P0A41Drive Motor A Position Sensor Circuit Low
• P0A2DDrive Motor A Temperature Sensor A Circuit High

Sources

• gsi.ext.gm.com: 16OBDG01 Hybrid Diagnostics
• gsi.ext.gm.com: 13OBDG05C Hybrid Diagnostics
• gsi.ext.gm.com: 19OBDG01 Hybrid Diagnostics
• static.nhtsa.gov: MC 10213163 0001

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.