P0616: Starter relay: circuit low
The ECU sees a voltage that is too low in the starter relay circuit. Usually a wire shorting to earth, the relay or a fuse.
| Code | P0616 |
|---|---|
| System | Engine and transmission |
| Group | P06xx, Control unit and auxiliary outputs |
| Type | Generic: it means the same on every make |
| Can you keep driving? | With care |
What P0616 means
The ECU monitors the voltage in the circuit that drives the starter relay. This code means that voltage is lower than expected. It is nearly always an electrical fault: a wire touching earth, a blown fuse or the relay itself.
Most common causes
- Blown fuse in the starting circuit
- Relay wire chafed and shorting to earth
- Faulty starter relay
- Relay plug corroded or with bent pins
- Very low battery
Symptoms
- Engine warning light on
- Starter motor does not turn
- Intermittent starting
Can you drive with P0616?
With care If the car starts it can be driven, but it may not start again. Get it repaired soon.
Open the bonnetthe in-depth explanation
How to check it
Check the starter fuse and the battery voltage on the scan tool. If the relay does not click when you try to start, the fault is usually the relay or its supply.
How to read and clear P0616 with Final OBD
Plug an OBD2 scanner in under the steering wheel, switch the ignition on and open Final OBD. Under Faults you’ll see P0616 with its description and whether it’s confirmed, pending or permanent.
If the engine stores it over standard OBD, with FREE you read this code with its explanation for nothing and clear it. With PRO you also read the faults of every control unit and clear them in all of them.
Clearing the code only turns the light off: if the cause is still there, it comes back. Clear it once it’s fixed, and not right before an inspection. It’s all in how to read and clear fault codes and in inspections and OBD.
Similar codes
- P0612 The fuel injector control unit relay control has an electrical fault
- P0613 The gearbox control unit processor is not working properly
- P0614 The engine control unit and the gearbox control unit are incompatible
- P0615 Starter relay: circuit fault
- P0617 Starter relay: circuit high
- P0618 The alternative fuel control unit has a fault in the memory that retains
- P0619 The alternative fuel control unit has a RAM or ROM memory fault
- P061A The internal control unit torque gives readings outside the normal range
- P0600 Serial communication link fault
- P0601 Internal control module memory checksum error
- P0602 Control module programming error
- P0603 Internal control module keep alive memory (KAM) error
What does code P0616 mean?
The ECU monitors the voltage in the circuit that drives the starter relay. This code means that voltage is lower than expected. It is nearly always an electrical fault: a wire touching earth, a blown fuse or the relay itself.
Can you drive with P0616?
If the car starts it can be driven, but it may not start again. Get it repaired soon.
How do you clear P0616?
With an OBD2 scanner and an app like Final OBD, which clears it for free if it’s stored by the engine control unit. But clearing it only turns the light off: if the cause isn’t fixed, P0616 comes back.
Read it on your car
Final OBD reads and clears engine faults through standard OBD for free, each one explained in plain English. With PRO it also reads the faults of every control unit, each make’s own codes included, and clears them in all of them.
