B1316

Code

Other B — Body

Battery Saver Relay Coil Circuit Short To Ground

Brand: Other

Type: B — Body

Views: UK: 27 EN: 57 RU: 41

AI status

Completed

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Page language: EN

Causes

Shorted relay coil wiring to chassis ground
Damaged/chafed wire harness or pinched wire
Faulty or water-damaged battery saver relay
Corroded or loose relay connector or ground
Aftermarket accessory incorrectly tied into relay circuit
BCM/body control module low-side driver fault or internal short

Symptoms

Battery saver function disabled or intermittent
Parasitic battery drain when vehicle is off
Relay will not energize or clicks weakly/constantly
Related dash warning or body control messages
Fuses repeatedly blowing for the battery saver/relay circuit
Accessory circuits not switching off with ignition

What to check

Record freeze-frame/any related body codes and vehicle history
Visually inspect relay, relay socket, wiring harness, and connector for damage, corrosion, melted insulation or pinched wires
Check related fuses and fusible links for continuity and correct rating
With ignition off, measure parasitic draw and note whether removing the relay changes draw
Remove relay and check coil resistance with multimeter (battery disconnected)
Backprobe relay control pin while commanding battery saver ON/OFF to observe driver output voltage

Signal parameters

Nominal coil voltage: ~12 V (vehicle battery voltage) when commanded
Typical coil resistance: ~50–200 ohms (varies by relay)
Coil current when energized: ~60–240 mA (depends on coil resistance)
Expected open-circuit to chassis: continuity to ground should be OL/infinite when relay harness is disconnected

Diagnostic algorithm

Safety: Use battery-saving precautions if disconnecting battery; note radio/memory codes. Disconnect battery if required by manufacturer procedures.
Visual inspection: Examine relay, socket, harness, and nearby ground points for heat damage, corrosion, or chafing. Repair obvious damage.
Check fuses: Verify fuse for battery saver/relay circuit is correct rating and intact.
Relay swap: Remove battery saver relay and swap with an identical known-good relay (same coil voltage and pinout) or bench-test the suspect relay for internal shorts.
Coil resistance: With relay removed, measure coil resistance across coil terminals. Compare to expected range; near zero indicates internal short.
Isolate harness: With ignition off and battery connected, disconnect the relay harness. Measure continuity from the coil feed and coil ground circuits to chassis ground. A short should disappear when the harness is disconnected, localizing the fault to downstream wiring or the relay itself.
Backprobe control: Command battery saver ON while backprobing the control output from the BCM. Confirm control circuit moves between battery voltage and open (or expected driver voltage) and that no ground short is present while commanded.
Short finding: If short persists with harness disconnected from the body module, inspect/trace wiring to find chafe points, splices, or aftermarket taps. Use a short-finder or low-amp fused jumper to localize short.
Repair: Repair or replace damaged wiring, connector pins, or relay module. Replace relay with correct type. If BCM driver is suspected after isolating wiring and relay, refer to manufacturer procedures for module testing/replacement.
Verify: Clear stored codes, reconnect everything, and confirm proper operation through multiple on/off cycles and a parasitic draw test to ensure no battery drain remains.

Likely causes

Chafed insulation where harness contacts body sheetmetal or connector clip
Relay socket terminal corroded and shorting to ground
Relay coil internally shorted to relay case
An accessory or device wired into the circuit that is grounded incorrectly
Wire damaged by previous service (fastener, drill, or routed against sharp edge)

Fault status

⚠️ Status

Battery Saver Relay Coil Circuit Short To Ground — the relay coil circuit is shorted to chassis ground, preventing proper relay control and possibly causing battery drain or blown fuses.

🟡 Repair difficulty: Medium

⏱️ Diagnostic time: 0.5-2.0 hours