P0E46: Hybrid/EV Battery Pack Voltage Sense E Circuit Low

P0E46 is stored when pack voltage measurement E reads below the lowest value the connected battery could physically present. That points to the measuring path, such as a sense lead shorted to ground, a blown sense fuse or a failed input stage, not to an empty battery. No manufacturer documents P0E46 publicly. On GM's 2013 two-mode hybrid trucks the comparable channel A code P0ABC sets below 40 V, but only after the contactors have been closed for more than 200 ms, and needs 300 failures in 400 samples at 10 ms, Type A, one trip. CARB requires out-of-range checks for battery voltage sensors. The high counterpart is P0E47; a pack that is really deeply discharged sets its own codes such as P0AFA. Hybrid operation may be blocked.

High severity. Can I keep driving?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.

Symptoms

Vehicle does not become ready to drive or drops out of ready mode
Hybrid system warning and MIL lit
Electric drive or engine assist unavailable

Most likely causes

Sense lead of channel E shorted to ground or chassis
Blown fuse or open resistor in the sense path pulling the reading down
Defective input stage of the battery controller

What to check, in order

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

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

Good to know

It can trigger limp mode.
It affects emissions.

What each character of P0E46 means

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

Frequently asked questions

Can I keep driving with code P0E46?

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 P0E46?

The most common causes are: sense lead of channel E shorted to ground or chassis; blown fuse or open resistor in the sense path pulling the reading down; defective input stage of the battery controller.

Related codes

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.