P0E42 means the driver circuit of charge status indicator B shows voltage at a moment when the light should be switched off, pointing to a short to a supply wire or a driver that stays on. P0E42 appears in no public manufacturer document. Indicator A gives the reference: on the 2012 Chevrolet Volt, GM's table 12OBDG01A includes in P0D2C a check for a short to battery while the LED is off, requiring 40 out of 50 failed readings at 100 ms intervals. The same logic would apply to light B. In practice indicator B often belongs to the charge port, so wet or corroded contacts and harness damage at the flap are common starting points. Expect a second light that glows or flickers out of turn. Low is P0E41, open is P0DE5.
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
- Second charge light glowing or flickering when not charging
- Charging itself works
Most likely causes
- Indicator B wire touching a live wire at the charge port
- Wet or corroded contacts bridging to a supply pin
- Output driver for indicator B stuck on
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 P0E42 means
- P: Powertrain: engine and transmission
- 0: Generic code: same on every make
- E: Subsystem depends on the code range
- 42: Specific fault in that system
Frequently asked questions
Can I keep driving with code P0E42?
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 P0E42?
The most common causes are: indicator B wire touching a live wire at the charge port; wet or corroded contacts bridging to a supply pin; output driver for indicator B stuck on.
Related codes
- P0E41Charge Status Indicator B Control Circuit Low
- P0DE5Charge Status Indicator B Control Circuit/Open
- P0E40Charge Status Indicator A Control Circuit High
- P0D2CCharge Status Indicator A Control Circuit/Open
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.