P0C5E: Drive Motor A Position Sensor Circuit B Intermittent/Erratic

P0C5E captures brief interruptions or spikes on Circuit B, the second winding of the motor A resolver, that clear again before a firm low, high or plausibility fault can be confirmed. No manufacturer documents this code publicly. GM leaves such events to the debounce of P0C5C and P0C5D, which on its eAssist cars tolerates short outages and only reports a repeating pattern. Where P0C5E is used, the search starts at the mechanical joints of the S2/S4 path: crimp quality, terminal grip, a cable clip that lets the harness rub on the transmission. Checking resistance while flexing the harness tends to reveal it. P0C54 is the same fault on Circuit A; both together point to the common connector.

Symptoms

• Warning light appearing only now and then
• Momentary drop of electric torque
• No fault found on a stationary check

Most likely causes

• Loose or weak terminal in the S2/S4 path
• Harness rubbing on the transmission because of a missing or broken clip
• Moisture entering the resolver plug

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. Gently move the wiring with the engine running and watch whether the reading changes.
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 P0C5E means

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

Frequently asked questions

Can I keep driving with code P0C5E?

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 P0C5E?

The most common causes are: loose or weak terminal in the S2/S4 path; harness rubbing on the transmission because of a missing or broken clip; moisture entering the resolver plug.

Related codes

• P0C5ADrive Motor A Position Sensor Circuit B
• P0C5CDrive Motor A Position Sensor Circuit B Low
• P0C5DDrive Motor A Position Sensor Circuit B High
• P0C54Drive Motor A Position Sensor Circuit A Intermittent/Erratic
• P0A43Drive Motor A Position Sensor Circuit Intermittent

Sources

• gsi.ext.gm.com: 13OBDG05C Hybrid Diagnostics
• law.cornell.edu: 13 CCR 1968.2
• en.wikipedia.org: Resolver (electrical)

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.