P0D23: Battery Charger A Output Shorted

P0D23 points to a short on the high-voltage output side of the on-board charger. GM runs this check while the charger contactor is only in its precharge state and the multi-purpose contactor is open, a moment when almost no current should flow on the charger bus. If more than 0.35 A is measured there in four of five samples at 100 ms, with system voltage above 9 V or 10.2 V, the code is set as One Trip Type A in the Chevrolet Volt from 2011 and the Cadillac ELR up to 2016. The test is skipped while output current sensor faults are active or while thermal conditioning runs. A current at that stage suggests an internal short in the charger output, a damaged high-voltage cable or a stuck contactor path. Charging is blocked. Current deviations during normal charging are P0D22.

Symptoms

• Charging refused immediately after plugging in
• MIL on at once

Most likely causes

• Internal short in the charger's high-voltage output stage
• Damaged high-voltage cable between charger and battery
• Charging contactor path conducting when it should not

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. Make sure the battery cooling air intake is clean
3. Check the 12 V auxiliary battery, which can also trigger warnings
4. Leave any high-voltage measurements to a specialized repair shop

What each character of P0D23 means

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

Frequently asked questions

Can I keep driving with code P0D23?

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 P0D23?

The most common causes are: internal short in the charger's high-voltage output stage; damaged high-voltage cable between charger and battery; charging contactor path conducting when it should not.

Related codes

• P0D22Battery Charger A Output Current Performance
• P0D26Battery Charger System Precharge Time Too Long
• P0D53Battery Charger Hybrid/EV Battery Output Current Sensor Circuit Low
• P2E3DBattery Charger B Output Shorted

Sources

• gsi.ext.gm.com: 12OBDG01A HYBRID Diagnostics
• gsi.ext.gm.com: 16OBDG01 Hybrid Diagnostics
• law.cornell.edu: 13 CCR 1968.2

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.