OBD-II Code · Starting
P0615
Starter Relay Circuit
Severity
high
Left alone, this one tends to take other parts with it.
Can you drive it
Not for long
Driving on this one risks further damage. Get it to a shop rather than carrying on with it.
Indicative cost (USD)
$20–$150
Varies by vehicle, diagnosis, parts, and local labor. This is not a repair quote.
For relay
Starter relay control circuit fault.
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
- No crank or intermittent no crank
- Check engine light
Likely causes
- Failed starter relayMost common
- Wiring
- PCM issue
Read the full diagnostic procedureP0615 indicates the PCM has detected a fault in the starter relay control circuit, which on modern vehicles is the PCM-driven relay that energizes th…
P0615 indicates the PCM has detected a fault in the starter relay control circuit, which on modern vehicles is the PCM-driven relay that energizes the starter solenoid only after immobilizer, brake pedal, clutch, or shifter inputs are satisfied.
Cheapest-first diagnosis
- locate the starter relay (usually in the underhood fuse/relay center or integrated into a TIPM/BCM) and verify it clicks when you attempt to start.
- Measure the relay control circuit at the PCM side with a DMM in min/max mode during a crank attempt — you should see B+ at rest and a pull-down to under 1V when the PCM commands the relay on.
- If the PCM is pulling the circuit low but the relay is not energizing, the relay or its B+ feed is at fault.
- If the PCM is not pulling the circuit low at all despite proper start-enable inputs, suspect an internal PCM driver failure or a missing input (clutch switch, brake switch, park/neutral signal).
- Inspect the relay socket for melted terminals — a chronically high-current starter draw burns relay contacts and pin sockets.
- The expensive misdiagnosis is replacing the starter motor because the engine won't crank, when the actual fault is a $25 relay or a $400 TIPM that is not energizing the solenoid in the first place.
Vehicle-specific patterns2007-2017 Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep with the TIPM (Town & Country, Grand Caravan, Wrangler JK, Grand Cherokee WK2, Ram 1500) are the textbook P0615 case —…
- 2007-2017Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep with the TIPM (Town & Country, Grand Caravan, Wrangler JK, Grand Cherokee WK2, Ram 1500) are the textbook P0615 case — the internal starter relay solder joints in the TIPM fail, causing intermittent no-cranks and P0615, addressed by TIPM replacement or by repair-kit relay bypass per FCA TSB 08-001-15 and multiple class-action remedies.
- 2003-2007GM trucks set P0615 from corroded starter-relay sockets in the underhood fuse block, often fixed by reterminating the socket.
- 2005-2010Ford F-150, Expedition, and Mustang throw P0615 when the integrated starter relay in the BJB (battery junction box) develops high-resistance contacts.
- 2006-2012Hyundai/Kia vehicles set P0615 from a failed PCM ground at G02 near the battery.
Estimated repair$30 to $1,400.
Look up another code
P0615 — frequently asked
What does a P0615 code mean?
Starter relay control circuit fault.
What causes a P0615 code?
Common causes: Failed starter relay; Wiring; PCM issue.
What are the symptoms of a P0615 code?
Typical symptoms: No crank or intermittent no crank; Check engine light.
Is it safe to drive with a P0615 code?
Not for long. Driving on this one risks further damage. Get it to a shop rather than carrying on with it. Estimated repair: $20-$150 for relay.
How do I diagnose a P0615 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.
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