OBD-II Code · Charging
P0562
System Voltage Low
Severity
high
Left alone, this one tends to take other parts with it.
Can you drive it
Only if running normally
A short trip to a shop may be reasonable if the light is steady and the car runs normally. Stop safely for a flashing light, severe shaking, overheating, loss of power, or another urgent warning. The code alone cannot confirm safety.
Indicative cost (USD)
$50–$500
Varies by vehicle, diagnosis, parts, and local labor. This is not a repair quote.
Battery/charging system voltage is low.
How a shop works this
Work from evidence to part, not the other way round. A code names a circuit or a symptom; it does not name the part that failed.
Note every code that is set, not just this one.
Codes that appear together usually narrow the cause faster than any one of them read alone.
Read the freeze frame — the conditions the fault was recorded under.
Cold or warm, idle or load, road speed and engine speed. A fault that only appears cold is a different fault from one that only appears under load, even with the same code on the scanner.
Confirm the fault is current rather than history.
Clear the code and see whether it returns under those same conditions. A code that does not come back may have been logged during a repair, a flat battery, or a bad connection that has since been disturbed.
Then work the likely-causes list in the order shown.
That order is what a shop checks first for this code — wiring and connections before the component they run to, because a connector costs nothing to inspect and is a common answer.
If the code comes back after a repair, the underlying fault is still there. That is the point to bring in a scanner with live data and freeze-frame, or a shop that has one.
Common symptoms
- Check engine light
- Battery warning light
- Dim headlights
- Hard starting
Likely causes
- Failing alternatorMost common
- Weak battery
- Loose belt
- Corroded terminals
Read the full diagnostic procedureP0562 sets when system voltage at the PCM drops below approximately 10.0 to 11.0 volts for longer than the diagnostic window with the engine running,…
P0562 sets when system voltage at the PCM drops below approximately 10.0 to 11.0 volts for longer than the diagnostic window with the engine running, meaning the charging system is not maintaining the battery.
Cheapest-first
- start with a battery load test and visual inspection of both cable ends.
- A battery that fails load test (drops below 9.6V under half-CCA load for 15 seconds) will not hold a charge no matter how good the alternator is.
- If the battery passes, measure charging voltage at the battery posts with engine at 2000 rpm and all accessories on: less than 13.5V means the alternator is undercharging.
- Check the alternator's B+ output stud directly; if you see 14.2V at the alternator but only 12.8V at the battery, you have voltage drop in the charge wire (corroded fusible link or bad junction).
- Also verify the engine ground strap; a corroded chassis ground forces charge current through the throttle cable, which can spike P0562.
- Expensive misdiagnosis: replacing the alternator when the battery cable is the actual offender, especially on GM trucks where corrosion hides under the cable jacket.
Vehicle-specific patterns2007-2014 Chevrolet Silverado, GMC Sierra, Tahoe, and Yukon are the textbook case for hidden battery cable corrosion; the negative cable end corrodes…
- 2007-2014Chevrolet Silverado, GMC Sierra, Tahoe, and Yukon are the textbook case for hidden battery cable corrosion; the negative cable end corrodes inside the molded insulation at the engine-block bolt, sometimes also at the positive terminal under the protective boot.
- 2005-2010Ford Mustang and F-150 develop alternator output stud heat damage where the eyelet loosens and arcs.
- 2004-2009Dodge Ram 1500 and 2500 with the TIPM lose alternator field control through the TIPM's PCM driver; replacement TIPMs are part of an extensive recall and TSB list.
- 2003-2008Toyota Corolla and Matrix wear out alternator brushes around 120K to 160K miles, presenting as P0562 first under accessory load.
Estimated repair$60 to $720.
Look up another code
P0562 — frequently asked
What does a P0562 code mean?
Battery/charging system voltage is low.
What causes a P0562 code?
Common causes: Failing alternator; Weak battery; Loose belt; Corroded terminals.
What are the symptoms of a P0562 code?
Typical symptoms: Check engine light; Battery warning light; Dim headlights; Hard starting.
Is it safe to drive with a P0562 code?
Only if running normally. A short trip to a shop may be reasonable if the light is steady and the car runs normally. Stop safely for a flashing light, severe shaking, overheating, loss of power, or another urgent warning. The code alone cannot confirm safety. Estimated repair: $50-$500.
How do I diagnose a P0562 code?
Work from evidence to part, not the other way round. A code names a circuit or a symptom; it does not name the part that failed. 1. Note every code that is set, not just this one. 2. Read the freeze frame — the conditions the fault was recorded under. 3. Confirm the fault is current rather than history. 4. Then work the likely-causes list in the order shown.
More free tools