P0517

Battery Temperature Sensor Circuit High

Q: Is it safe to drive with P0517?

Yes — the engine runs fine. The concern is long-term: without temperature-compensated charging the battery can wear out faster. Fix it at your convenience.

Q: Can I just clear P0517?

It returns until the sensor or its wiring is repaired. Clearing only resets the light.

Charging system Generic OBD-II Low

What it means

P0517 means the ECM sees an abnormally high voltage on the battery temperature sensor circuit — usually an open circuit, a short to power, or a failing sensor. This sensor lets the charging system adjust voltage for battery temperature; with a bad reading the battery can be over- or under-charged, which shortens its life. The engine itself runs normally.

Low

Can I keep driving? Drivable — this is a sensor circuit fault. The engine runs normally, but charging voltage may not be temperature-compensated, so the battery can be over- or under-charged over time.

Real-world scan data

Seen in

scans in the past year

Found in

<0.1%

of scans

<0.1%

of scans that found faults

Figures reflect only diagnostic scans recorded through our own apps and tools. Cars are typically scanned because a symptom or warning light prompted it, so these counts describe our scan records — not the incidence of faults in any model, and not the quality, reliability, or safety of any vehicle. No comparison between manufacturers or models is implied. All trademarks belong to their respective owners; no affiliation or endorsement is implied.

Common symptoms

What you'll notice

Check-engine light on
Battery/charging warning light may illuminate
Over- or under-charging (voltage not adjusted for temperature)
Shortened battery life over time

Common causes

Most likely first

Faulty battery temperature sensorLikely
Open circuit or short-to-power in the sensor wiring (high voltage reading)Common
Corroded or loose sensor connectorCommon
Sensor exposed to a wiring fault near the batteryLess often
ECM/PCM fault (rare)Less often

How to diagnose & fix

Work through it in order

Read freeze-frame data and confirm the code with a scan tool.
Locate the battery temperature sensor and inspect its connector and wiring.
Check for an open circuit or short to power causing the high reading.
Compare the sensor's resistance/voltage against spec at a known temperature.
Replace the sensor if it reads out of range. Clear and re-test.

FAQ

Quick answers

Is it safe to drive with P0517?+

Yes — the engine runs fine. The concern is long-term: without temperature-compensated charging the battery can wear out faster. Fix it at your convenience.

Can I just clear P0517?+

It returns until the sensor or its wiring is repaired. Clearing only resets the light.

Read & clear P0517 yourself

Scan your car, confirm the code, and clear it once it's fixed — with OBD DashX on your phone.

▶ Get it on Google Play

✓ Verified name — SAE J2012 / ISO 15031-6Guidance reviewed by OBD DashX