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DTC codes / P0Dxx · Hybrid propulsion / P0D61

P0D61Hybrid/EV Battery Pack Cooling Fan 2 Sense Circuit Low

P0D61 means the hybrid or electric vehicle battery pack cooling fan number two sense circuit is reporting a voltage lower than the manufacturer expects, which the battery energy control module interprets as a short to ground or an open return path. The computer has detected an abnormally low signal on the feedback wire that monitors fan two, so it cannot confirm the fan is responding correctly to cooling commands.

SystemPowertrain
Code typeGeneric (all makes)
SeverityMedium
Fix difficultyIntermediate
AreaHybrid propulsion

Symptoms you may notice

  • Illumination of the hybrid system warning light or service vehicle soon message
  • Often no symptoms besides the warning light when the fan still spins normally
  • Reduced or disabled battery pack cooling, leading to limited electric power or forced engine running
  • A fan that runs continuously at full speed or not at all
  • Overheating warnings or reduced charging rate in hot weather
  • Possible diagnostic trouble codes for battery pack temperature or hybrid system performance

Common causes, most likely first

  1. Damaged or chafed sense circuit wire shorting to ground
  2. Corroded or loose fan two connector terminals causing high resistance
  3. Failed battery pack cooling fan two assembly with an internal sense circuit fault
  4. Faulty battery energy control module or cooling fan control module
  5. Water intrusion or debris in the fan connector or harness
  6. Open ground return shared with the fan sense circuit

How to diagnose and fix it

  1. Scan all hybrid and battery control modules for stored and pending codes, then record freeze-frame data before clearing anything
  2. Inspect the fan two harness and connector for chafing, corrosion, water intrusion, and loose terminals
  3. Measure resistance and voltage on the sense circuit at the fan connector and compare with the manufacturer's specification
  4. Check the shared ground return for the fan circuit and verify it has less than one ohm to chassis ground
  5. Command fan two on with a bidirectional scan tool and watch the sense circuit voltage for a plausible change
  6. Substitute a known-good fan two assembly or simulate the sense signal to isolate the fan from the control module
  7. Repair or replace the faulty harness, connector, fan assembly, or control module and clear codes to confirm the repair

Sense circuit faults that fool good technicians

  • A fan that spins freely by hand and runs on a bench test can still set P0D61 because the sense circuit inside the fan module fails while the motor itself remains healthy.
  • The sense circuit often shares a ground with other low-current sensors, so a bad ground elsewhere on that return can pull the signal low without any fault in the fan two wiring itself.
  • Technicians sometimes replace the battery energy control module first, but a simple resistance check of the sense wire to ground usually finds a chafed harness before the module is at fault.
  • P0D61 can appear after battery pack service or collision repair when a harness is pinched during reassembly, so always review recent repair history before condemning parts.
  • On some platforms the cooling fan sense circuit is monitored only during a self-test at key-on, so an intermittent short may not set the code until the vehicle sits overnight.

Can I keep driving with P0D61?

You can usually drive the vehicle short distances at moderate speeds, but avoid heavy acceleration, sustained high-speed driving, and fast charging until the fault is repaired. If the hybrid system warning light flashes or the vehicle limits power, stop and have it towed to prevent battery pack overheating.

Tools that help

Tools we recommend are in the Auto Veteran shop on Amazon. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

Guidance is general and written for all OBD-II vehicles. Exact tests and values vary by model, so confirm the fault before replacing parts.

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