Guide To P0BAD OBD Error Code Solutions

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Is your vehicle’s check engine light illuminated? Are you experiencing sudden decrease in engine power and acceleration? Is there a drop in the fuel economy with increased level of emissions? All these indicate a problem with the car’s hybrid battery and the Powertrain Control Module, thus flashing OBD Code P0BAD error.

If a voltage difference between the battery blocks exceeds the standard readings, the battery smart unit determines that a malfunction has occurred and the OBD P0BAD occurs. Thus, the Powertrain Control Module will illuminate the Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) and set a Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) in the system thus leading to vehicle going into limp mode.

What causes this problem with the Hybrid Battery Voltage Sense "W" Circuit Intermittent/Erratic?

• Faulty hybrid battery sensor or circuit
• Problem with hybrid battery current sensor and circuit
• Damaged/corroded wiring and connectors
• Weak car battery
• PCM/ECM failure

1. Battery Current Sensor - Most of the time the battery current sensor is faulty and is unable to detect the battery operations properly and thus the reading doesn’t correlate with the temperature sensor readings, causing OBD code P0BAD to get stored in the PCM.
2. Battery Coolant Pump - It is important to understand the functioning and diagnosis of faulty coolant pump as it is the most important component for keeping the battery temperatures under control and keeping it functional all the time. Thus, replace faulty battery coolant pump now!
3. Powertrain Control Module - Faulty PCM should be repaired, replaced and reprogrammed as it can cause a lot of problems in the vehicle by affecting the engine performance along with the transmission, fuel delivery and exhaust systems.
4. Hybrid Battery - The battery itself can be faulty and can be overheating, which can lead to faster discharge and slower charging, with risks of leakages and other damages to the vehicle. Thus, immediate replacement is advisable.
5. Car Battery & Cables - Most of the time it is the cables and connectors that are at fault and are a cheap and easy way to diagnose this error. Thus, replace faulty wiring and connectors immediately.
6. Diagnostic Tool - Make use of quality diagnostic tools to resolve any OBD error code. Buy quality diagnostic tools from us!
7. Battery Temperature Sensor - Temperature sensor measure the battery temperature so that it can be monitored for overheating and other problems in association with the battery. Thus, it is important for the temperature sensor to keep working properly and must be replaced if found faulty.

Our main motive is to achieve customer satisfaction and that’s why we will help you to diagnose P0BAD code by mentioning some major symptoms below:

Common Symptoms

• Low engine power and limited output
• Abnormal throttle response and hard cold starting
• Declined fuel economy
• Sluggish Engine and lot of noise

Fixing problems with your car is not as easy as it might seem. You need to be extremely careful and follow certain steps.

• Make sure that the battery cable connections are tight and clean. Some people think that it is an obvious step, but if your computer does not get a steady feed of electricity from the battery, it can cause multiple issues. Check for wires and connectors that might be rubbed through, disconnected or loose. It is also important to check the fuse box in your vehicle together with the relay centre that can be found under the hood.
• It is also important to make sure that the fuses are good. Make sure that there is no melted plastic that can cause fire. These are some of the major wiring problems that you will encounter with error code P0BAD. Once you have completely checked all the obvious things and still you can’t find the right solution, then you have to begin suspecting either the computer or the sensor.

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Do you wish to diagnose P0BAD error code easily? Here are some steps which you should follow in order to diagnose this fault code:

• Visually inspect all the wiring and connectors in relation to the sensor and the connector.
• Replace any defective, corroded or shorted wiring and connectors.
• Retest your car’s system once this is done, to ensure that the repairs were done successfully and reconnect the scanner to determine if the codes have cleared.
• Test drive the vehicle to make sure that the malfunction was not intermittent. If the malfunction does seem to be intermittent, use the voltmeter to check the output of the hybrid battery cells.
• Examine the circuitry for contamination that may have leaked out of the engine and check the voltage at the battery current sensor to make sure that it is compatible with the voltage recommended by the manufacturer.
• Also check for the PCM failure as it might be faulty and may require replacement or reprogramming.

Common mistakes when diagnosing the P0BAD code

Most of the time we tend to diagnose the problem without completely identifying the real cause of it. It is important to follow all the diagnostic steps and examine each component carefully before correcting. Always check for other parts apart from battery and current sensor and circuits.