What does code P0562 mean?

P0562 means the engine computer saw the vehicle’s system voltage drop below its low limit, usually somewhere between 10 and 11.5 volts, while the engine was running. It is a charging or connection problem, not a bad sensor. It is moderately serious: the car may keep going, but low voltage can strand you and confuses every computer on board.

Can I drive with P0562?

For a short distance, in daylight, with accessories off. A charging system that cannot hold voltage will eventually run the battery down, and the engine stops when it does, often with the power steering and brake assist getting heavy at the same time. Treat a battery warning with P0562 as a get-it-tested-today problem.

Is it the battery or the alternator?

Test in this order: rest voltage, a load test of the battery, then charging voltage with the engine running and loads on. A battery that fails the load test needs replacing before anything else can be judged. An alternator that cannot hold above about 13.2 volts with the lights and blower on, on a good battery with clean connections, is the fault.

My alternator only puts out 12.8 volts. Is it bad?

Not necessarily. Many vehicles since the mid-2000s use computer-controlled charging that drops to 12.5 to 13.2 volts when the battery is full, to save fuel. Read the commanded voltage on a scan tool: if the computer asked for 12.8 and got 12.8, the alternator is doing its job. If it asked for 14.2 and got 12.8, the alternator is failing.

Why do I have ten other codes along with P0562?

Because low voltage disrupts every module on the network at once. Communication codes, sensor codes and a processor fault are typical passengers. Fix the voltage problem, clear all the codes, drive, and address only what comes back.

How much does it cost to fix P0562?

Cleaning terminals and grounds is free to about $50. A battery is $120 to $300 installed. Cables and ground straps are $20 to $80 each. A belt and tensioner run $100 to $300. An alternator is $250 to $700 installed on most vehicles, more on some European and luxury models. A battery current sensor is $50 to $150. Most P0562 repairs end at the battery or a connection.

What is the difference between P0562, P0563 and P0560?

P0562 is system voltage low. P0563 is system voltage high, which points at a stuck regulator overcharging, often above 15.5 volts, and is harder on batteries and electronics. P0560 is a general system voltage malfunction, used by some makes for an erratic or implausible voltage reading. All three start with the same battery, connection and charging checks.

P0562: System Voltage Low

Moderate

Quick answer

P0562 means the engine computer measured system voltage below its low threshold, typically under 10 to 11 volts, for long enough to store a code while the engine was running. It is a symptom of the charging or connection system: a weak battery, corroded terminals or grounds, a slipping belt, or an alternator that cannot keep up. Test the battery and the cables before buying an alternator.

What it means

Every module on the car is fed by the same system voltage, and the engine computer watches it constantly. Normal is about 13.5 to 14.8 volts with the engine running, though many modern vehicles deliberately drop into the high 12s when the battery is full. P0562 sets when the voltage the computer sees falls under its programmed floor, usually somewhere between 10 and 11.5 volts, for a set period. It is not a sensor code: the computer is reporting a real shortage of electricity.

The order of likelihood is cheap to expensive. A battery that has been deeply discharged or is simply old, a terminal or ground strap that has corroded into a resistor, a belt or tensioner that lets the alternator pulley slip under load, a fusible link or the main alternator fuse that opened, and finally the alternator itself: worn brushes, a failed diode that halves its output, or a regulator that gives up when hot. Aftermarket audio, plow lights or a winch on a stock alternator can produce the same code with nothing broken at all.

Because low voltage confuses every module at once, P0562 rarely arrives alone. Communication codes (U0100 and friends), random sensor codes, a processor fault (P0606) and a dash full of warnings are all normal companions and usually clear with the real fix. Fix the electricity first, then clear everything and see what, if anything, comes back.

P0562 symptoms: what you'll notice

A battery or charging-system warning on the dash, sometimes only when idling with the headlights, blower and rear defroster on.
Slow cranking, dim or flickering lights at idle, and a radio or clock that resets.
Random, unrelated warning lights and codes appearing together, then disappearing after a drive on the highway.
Stalling or a no-start after a short trip, because the alternator never replaced what the starter took out.
A voltage reading on the scan tool that sags below 13 volts at idle with accessories on, or that drops sharply when the electric fans or the blower kick in.

Common causes

Ordered from most to least likely.

1.

Weak, sulfated or deeply discharged battery

The most common answer, especially after a door was left ajar or a car sat for weeks. A battery that cannot accept charge drags the whole system down, and a failing load test settles it in five minutes.
2.

Corroded or loose battery terminals, cables or ground straps

Green crust under the clamp, a swollen positive cable end, or a ground strap rusted to the body block current the alternator is producing. Voltage-drop tests find them; a visual check often does too.
3.

Slipping belt or a worn automatic tensioner

A glazed belt or a tensioner with a tired spring lets the alternator pulley slip under electrical load, so output collapses exactly when the fans and blower come on.
4.

Alternator with worn brushes, a bad diode or a failing regulator

Worn brushes cut output intermittently, a failed diode drops output by a third and adds AC ripple that upsets modules, and a hot regulator fades. Test output and ripple before replacing; a good alternator on a bad battery fails the same tests.
5.

Open alternator fuse or fusible link

The heavy fuse between the alternator and the battery, sometimes in the fuse box, sometimes a link in the harness. Open it and the alternator can be perfect while the battery slowly dies.
6.

Battery current sensor or charging-control wiring fault on computer-managed charging systems

Many vehicles since the mid-2000s let the computer set charging voltage using a sensor on the battery cable. A bad sensor or connector tells the computer the battery is full when it is not, and the voltage is allowed to fall.
7.

Electrical load beyond the alternator’s capacity

Big audio amplifiers, auxiliary lights, a snowplow or a winch on a stock charging system pull voltage down at idle. Nothing is broken; the system is undersized for the job.

How to fix it: diagnosis, step by step

Cheapest and most likely checks first.

1 Read the freeze frame and every module

Note the voltage recorded when P0562 set and what else is stored. A single P0562 after a jump start is an event, not a fault: clear it and monitor. P0562 with communication codes and dash warnings is an ongoing low-voltage condition; keep going.
2 Test the battery first

Engine off for an hour, a healthy battery rests at about 12.6 volts; 12.2 is half charged and under 12.0 is discharged. Then a load test with a carbon-pile or conductance tester: this is the test that separates a tired battery from a charging problem. Charge a low battery fully before judging the alternator, because a discharged battery makes a good alternator look bad.
3 Inspect and clean the connections

Both battery terminals, the cable ends, the ground strap from battery to body and from engine to body, and the alternator output stud. Clean to bright metal, tighten, and protect. This step fixes a large share of P0562 complaints on its own.
4 Measure charging voltage at idle and at 2,000 rpm

Engine running, meter on the battery posts: expect roughly 13.5 to 14.8 volts. Turn on the headlights, blower on high and rear defroster: it should hold above about 13.2 volts. Voltage sinking toward 12 under load means the alternator cannot keep up, or the belt is slipping, or the connections are dropping it. Note: many newer vehicles deliberately charge at 12.5 to 13.2 volts when the battery is full; check the service data before condemning the alternator on voltage alone.
5 Run voltage-drop tests on the cables and grounds

Engine running with a load on: measure from the alternator output stud to the battery positive post (should be under about 0.3 volts) and from the engine block to the battery negative post (under about 0.2 volts). Any more is resistance in a cable, a terminal or a ground, and it is the cheapest problem you can find.
6 Check ripple, the belt and the fuse

Meter set to AC volts across the battery with the engine running: more than about 0.1 to 0.2 volts AC means a failed diode. Look at the belt for glazing and the tensioner for free play or a pulley that wobbles. Find the alternator fuse or fusible link in the wiring diagram and confirm it is intact and its terminals are clean.
7 Check the smart-charging parts, then replace what failed

On vehicles with a battery current sensor on the negative cable, inspect that sensor and its connector, and read the commanded charging voltage on the scan tool. If the computer is commanding 14 volts and the alternator delivers 12, the alternator is the fault. If the computer is commanding 12.6, the charging control is. After a new battery on a smart-charging vehicle, run the battery registration or reset procedure the service data calls for.

Known P0562 patterns by make

Brand-specific failure patterns from the field: find your make before parts-shopping.

Chrysler / Dodge / Jeep / Ram 2007–2018 Wrangler JK, Grand Cherokee, Liberty, Ram 1500/2500, Charger, Journey, Caravan

P0562 on these is very often a tired battery or corroded battery-to-fuse-box connections rather than the alternator, and it tends to bring a crowd of U-codes and a dash light show with it. The battery terminals and the main feed into the power distribution module (the TIPM) deserve a close look and a voltage-drop test. Fix the battery and connections first; an alternator installed on a bad battery here comes back with the same code.

Chevrolet / GMC / Buick / Cadillac 2005 and newer trucks, SUVs and cars with Regulated Voltage Control and a battery current sensor on the negative cable

GM’s charging control deliberately runs the alternator as low as 12.6 to 13.2 volts in fuel-economy mode, so a meter reading of 12.9 at idle is normal, not a failure. The battery current sensor clipped to the negative cable and its small connector fail and corrode, which sets P0562 or the “Service battery charging system” message. Read the commanded versus actual voltage on a scan tool before buying an alternator.

Ford / Lincoln 2010 and newer Fusion, Escape, Focus, Explorer, F-150 and others with the Battery Management System

Ford’s smart charging expects a new battery to be registered with a scan tool (the BMS reset) after replacement. Skip it and the module keeps charging the new battery like the old worn one, which can show up as low-voltage warnings, odd auto start-stop behavior or a P0562. If a P0562 appears soon after a battery change, do the reset before anything else. The battery monitoring sensor on the negative terminal is also a known failure point.

Parts & tools you may need

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Related codes

Frequently asked questions

What does code P0562 mean?: P0562 means the engine computer saw the vehicle’s system voltage drop below its low limit, usually somewhere between 10 and 11.5 volts, while the engine was running. It is a charging or connection problem, not a bad sensor. It is moderately serious: the car may keep going, but low voltage can strand you and confuses every computer on board.
Can I drive with P0562?: For a short distance, in daylight, with accessories off. A charging system that cannot hold voltage will eventually run the battery down, and the engine stops when it does, often with the power steering and brake assist getting heavy at the same time. Treat a battery warning with P0562 as a get-it-tested-today problem.
Is it the battery or the alternator?: Test in this order: rest voltage, a load test of the battery, then charging voltage with the engine running and loads on. A battery that fails the load test needs replacing before anything else can be judged. An alternator that cannot hold above about 13.2 volts with the lights and blower on, on a good battery with clean connections, is the fault.
My alternator only puts out 12.8 volts. Is it bad?: Not necessarily. Many vehicles since the mid-2000s use computer-controlled charging that drops to 12.5 to 13.2 volts when the battery is full, to save fuel. Read the commanded voltage on a scan tool: if the computer asked for 12.8 and got 12.8, the alternator is doing its job. If it asked for 14.2 and got 12.8, the alternator is failing.
Why do I have ten other codes along with P0562?: Because low voltage disrupts every module on the network at once. Communication codes, sensor codes and a processor fault are typical passengers. Fix the voltage problem, clear all the codes, drive, and address only what comes back.
How much does it cost to fix P0562?: Cleaning terminals and grounds is free to about $50. A battery is $120 to $300 installed. Cables and ground straps are $20 to $80 each. A belt and tensioner run $100 to $300. An alternator is $250 to $700 installed on most vehicles, more on some European and luxury models. A battery current sensor is $50 to $150. Most P0562 repairs end at the battery or a connection.
What is the difference between P0562, P0563 and P0560?: P0562 is system voltage low. P0563 is system voltage high, which points at a stuck regulator overcharging, often above 15.5 volts, and is harder on batteries and electronics. P0560 is a general system voltage malfunction, used by some makes for an erratic or implausible voltage reading. All three start with the same battery, connection and charging checks.

P0562: System Voltage Low

What it means

P0562 symptoms: what you'll notice

Common causes

How to fix it: diagnosis, step by step

1 Read the freeze frame and every module

2 Test the battery first

3 Inspect and clean the connections

4 Measure charging voltage at idle and at 2,000 rpm

5 Run voltage-drop tests on the cables and grounds

6 Check ripple, the belt and the fuse

7 Check the smart-charging parts, then replace what failed

Known P0562 patterns by make

Parts & tools you may need

Related codes

Frequently asked questions