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Home / DTC / P0696 — Fan 3 Control Circuit High

P0696 — Fan 3 Control Circuit High

Detailed page for trouble code P0696.

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11,845generic
22,491specific
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Code

P0696

Generic P — Powertrain

Fan 3 Control Circuit High

Brand: Generic
Type: P — Powertrain
AI status
Completed
ready
Completed 100%
Page language: EN

Causes

  • Short to battery positive on the Fan 3 control wire
  • Stuck or welded fan relay contacts (relay feeding the fan always powered)
  • Aftermarket wiring or accessory connected to the fan circuit
  • Failed cooling fan motor feeding voltage back into the control circuit
  • Corroded or damaged connector causing incorrect voltage reading
  • Faulty fan control driver/transistor inside the PCM/ECM

Symptoms

  • Cooling fan 3 runs continuously or runs when it should be off
  • Engine cooling fan operation abnormal (overrun or no change with commands)
  • Illuminated malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) or stored DTC
  • Possible battery drain with vehicle off (if relay stuck)
  • Intermittent fan operation or no fan operation depending on failure mode

What to check

  • Read and record freeze frame and any related codes; clear codes and attempt to re-run
  • Visual inspection of Fan 3 harness, connector, relay and fuses for damage, corrosion, or aftermarket taps
  • Check for power on the fan supply and control circuits with key ON and engine OFF
  • Command Fan 3 ON/OFF with a scan tool while observing circuit voltages and fan behavior
  • Measure resistance of the fan motor and check for unexpected continuity to battery or ground
  • Backprobe the control pin at the fan connector to verify voltage levels during commanded states

Signal parameters

  • Expected control pin voltage when ECM commands OFF: near 0–1 V (low-side) or floating (depends on architecture)
  • Expected control pin voltage when ECM commands ON: approximately battery voltage (9–14 V) or driven low depending on low/high side driver
  • Abnormal condition: control circuit reads battery voltage when ECM is not commanding the fan
  • Typical fan motor current draw (varies by vehicle): often 5–30 A; measure with appropriate clamp meter when testing

Diagnostic algorithm

  1. Retrieve freeze-frame data and inspect related DTCs (fan circuit, relays, power/ground).
  2. Perform a visual inspection of harness, connectors, fuse(s), and Fan 3 relay for damage or corrosion.
  3. With ignition ON (engine OFF), backprobe the Fan 3 control wire at the fan connector and at the relay/ECM connector. Note voltage with no command.
  4. Use a scan tool to command Fan 3 ON and OFF while watching the control-wire voltage and fan operation. Compare observed voltages to expected behavior.
  5. Disconnect the fan connector and re-check control-wire voltage. If voltage returns to expected value when disconnected, suspect the fan motor is backfeeding or a short in harness downstream of the ECM.
  6. Test fan motor resistance and bench-run the fan by applying battery voltage to verify motor operation and current draw. Look for signs of internal short or abnormal bearings.
  7. Test/replace the fan relay or swap with a known-good relay. Re-check circuit behavior.
  8. If wiring, relay and fan motor test good and the control circuit is still high, follow OEM procedure to test the fan driver in the PCM/ECM; replace PCM only after proper bench/module testing and verification.
  9. After repairs, clear codes and road-test to verify the code does not return and fan operation is normal.

Likely causes

  • Short to B+ in the fan control harness or connector
  • Failed or stuck fan relay that supplies constant battery voltage
  • Damaged fan motor that is backfeeding the control circuit

Fault status

⚠️ Status
Memory code P0696 stored — Fan 3 control circuit voltage higher than expected. MIL may be set. Possible causes include short to battery, stuck relay, faulty fan motor backfeed, or failed PCM driver.
🟡 Repair difficulty: Medium
⏱️ Diagnostic time: 1.0-2.5 hours
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Code

P0696

LAND ROVER P — Powertrain

Fan 3 control - high circuit

Brand: LAND ROVER
Type: P — Powertrain
AI status
Completed
ready
Completed 100%
Page language: EN

Causes

  • Short to battery positive on the Fan 3 control wire
  • Stuck or welded fan relay contacts (relay feeding the fan always powered)
  • Aftermarket wiring or accessory connected to the fan circuit
  • Failed cooling fan motor feeding voltage back into the control circuit
  • Corroded or damaged connector causing incorrect voltage reading
  • Faulty fan control driver/transistor inside the PCM/ECM

Symptoms

  • Cooling fan 3 runs continuously or runs when it should be off
  • Engine cooling fan operation abnormal (overrun or no change with commands)
  • Illuminated malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) or stored DTC
  • Possible battery drain with vehicle off (if relay stuck)
  • Intermittent fan operation or no fan operation depending on failure mode

What to check

  • Read and record freeze frame and any related codes; clear codes and attempt to re-run
  • Visual inspection of Fan 3 harness, connector, relay and fuses for damage, corrosion, or aftermarket taps
  • Check for power on the fan supply and control circuits with key ON and engine OFF
  • Command Fan 3 ON/OFF with a scan tool while observing circuit voltages and fan behavior
  • Measure resistance of the fan motor and check for unexpected continuity to battery or ground
  • Backprobe the control pin at the fan connector to verify voltage levels during commanded states

Signal parameters

  • Expected control pin voltage when ECM commands OFF: near 0–1 V (low-side) or floating (depends on architecture)
  • Expected control pin voltage when ECM commands ON: approximately battery voltage (9–14 V) or driven low depending on low/high side driver
  • Abnormal condition: control circuit reads battery voltage when ECM is not commanding the fan
  • Typical fan motor current draw (varies by vehicle): often 5–30 A; measure with appropriate clamp meter when testing

Diagnostic algorithm

  1. Retrieve freeze-frame data and inspect related DTCs (fan circuit, relays, power/ground).
  2. Perform a visual inspection of harness, connectors, fuse(s), and Fan 3 relay for damage or corrosion.
  3. With ignition ON (engine OFF), backprobe the Fan 3 control wire at the fan connector and at the relay/ECM connector. Note voltage with no command.
  4. Use a scan tool to command Fan 3 ON and OFF while watching the control-wire voltage and fan operation. Compare observed voltages to expected behavior.
  5. Disconnect the fan connector and re-check control-wire voltage. If voltage returns to expected value when disconnected, suspect the fan motor is backfeeding or a short in harness downstream of the ECM.
  6. Test fan motor resistance and bench-run the fan by applying battery voltage to verify motor operation and current draw. Look for signs of internal short or abnormal bearings.
  7. Test/replace the fan relay or swap with a known-good relay. Re-check circuit behavior.
  8. If wiring, relay and fan motor test good and the control circuit is still high, follow OEM procedure to test the fan driver in the PCM/ECM; replace PCM only after proper bench/module testing and verification.
  9. After repairs, clear codes and road-test to verify the code does not return and fan operation is normal.

Likely causes

  • Short to B+ in the fan control harness or connector
  • Failed or stuck fan relay that supplies constant battery voltage
  • Damaged fan motor that is backfeeding the control circuit

Fault status

⚠️ Status
Memory code P0696 stored — Fan 3 control circuit voltage higher than expected. MIL may be set. Possible causes include short to battery, stuck relay, faulty fan motor backfeed, or failed PCM driver.
🟡 Repair difficulty: Medium
⏱️ Diagnostic time: 1.0-2.5 hours
320

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LAND ROVER

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