P0E3E is the high-side counterpart for the control pilot indicator circuit: the module senses voltage on the LED line when there should be little or none, the classic sign of a short to a supply wire. Publicly, no manufacturer documents P0E3E. On the Chevrolet Volt, GM's 2011 and 2012 tables still handle this under P0D2B, as a second case checked while the LED is commanded off, where 40 of 50 readings, one per 100 ms, have to fail. Shorts to voltage tend to come from chafed wiring at the charge port, where several feeds run side by side, or from a failed driver stage. The LED may glow permanently or flicker regardless of the real pilot state. P0E3D is the low case, P0D2B the open circuit; charging is normally not blocked.
Medium severity. Can I keep driving?If the car is running normally, drive in moderation to a repair shop. If it loses power or another warning appears, do not continue.
Symptoms
- Pilot indicator lit or flickering without reason
- Misleading charge port light while charging works
Most likely causes
- Indicator wire chafed against a supply wire near the charge port
- Output stage in the module stuck on
- Water in the charge port connector bridging pins
What to check, in order
Start with the simplest. You can tick off each step.
Good to know
- Repair difficulty: medium
What each character of P0E3E means
- P: Powertrain: engine and transmission
- 0: Generic code: same on every make
- E: Subsystem depends on the code range
- 3E: Specific fault in that system
Frequently asked questions
Can I keep driving with code P0E3E?
If the car is running normally, drive in moderation to a repair shop. If it loses power or another warning appears, do not continue.
What causes code P0E3E?
The most common causes are: indicator wire chafed against a supply wire near the charge port; output stage in the module stuck on; water in the charge port connector bridging pins.
Related codes
- P0E3DControl Pilot Indicator Control Circuit Low
- P0D2BControl Pilot Indicator Control Circuit/Open
- P0CF3Control Pilot Circuit/Open
- P0CF4Control Pilot Circuit Range/Performance
Sources
- gsi.ext.gm.com: 11OBDG01 HYBRID Diagnostics
- gsi.ext.gm.com: 12OBDG01A 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.