What Does C1962 Mean?
The lighting or body control module has detected a short to battery voltage in the park lamp relay coil circuit. Instead of the expected control signal behavior, the relay coil is being energized directly by battery voltage, which can cause the relay to remain permanently engaged or damage the control module's driver circuit. The parking lights may stay on continuously or the relay coil may overheat.
Common Causes
35%
Chafed or damaged wire in the relay coil control circuit shorting to a power source
25%
Relay socket contamination or corrosion creating a conductive path between power and control pins
15%
Incorrect relay installed with non-standard pin configuration
15%
Aftermarket wiring modification (e.g., added fog lights, auxiliary lights) back-feeding voltage into the relay coil circuit
10%
Body control module internal protection circuit tripped due to the short condition
Diagnostic Steps
1
Remove the park lamp relay and measure voltage on all relay socket terminals with the parking lights turned off. The coil control pin from the module should be at 0V (or floating). If battery voltage is present on the control wire, the short is in the wiring to the module.
2
With the relay removed, disconnect the body control module connector. Measure the control wire for shorts to battery voltage. If voltage is still present, the short is in the harness. If it disappears, the module may have an internal short on that output.
3
Inspect the relay socket for corrosion, melted plastic, or debris that could bridge between the power and control pins. Clean the socket thoroughly or replace the fuse/relay box if damage is found.
4
Trace the relay coil control wire from the socket to the body control module, looking for chafing, pinching, or contact with other power wires. Pay attention to areas where harnesses are bundled together in the fuse box area.
5
Check for any aftermarket wiring modifications — added lights, alarm systems, or remote starters that may have been spliced into the parking light circuit and are providing unwanted voltage to the relay coil.
Estimated Repair Cost
$20 - $250
Parts + labor, varies by vehicle and location
The lighting or body control module has detected a short to battery voltage in the park lamp relay coil circuit. Instead of the expected control signal behavior, the relay coil is being energized directly by battery voltage, which can cause the relay to remain permanently engaged or damage the contr...
The most common cause of C1962 (Park Lamp Relay Coil Short to Battery) is: Chafed or damaged wire in the relay coil control circuit shorting to a power source
Typical repair costs for C1962 range from $20 to $250, depending on the vehicle, location, and whether you do it yourself or go to a shop.
The parking lights may stay on continuously, draining the battery when the vehicle is off. More importantly, the short to battery can overheat the relay coil or damage the body control module output driver if left unrepaired. This is not an immediate driving safety concern but should be repaired to prevent battery drain and potential electrical damage.
Start by connecting an OBD2 scanner to read the code and any freeze frame data. Then follow the diagnostic steps specific to C1962 to identify the root cause.
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Quick Info
Category
Chassis
System
Exterior Lighting
Difficulty
Type
Manufacturer
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