Safety Warning
DIY auto repair can cause serious injury, fire, or vehicle damage. These guides are for informational purposes only. Always follow OEM torque specs, wear PPE, and consult a certified mechanic if you are unsure. You are solely responsible for your safety.
Engine Off Load Shed
When the ignition is in ACC or ON mode and the BCM determines the battery voltage or the battery state of charge has dropped below set levels, a low battery warning message is displayed in the message center. Should the battery voltage or the battery state of charge continue to drop, the audio system is powered down to save the remaining battery charge. This load shed state clears once the vehicle is started and battery state of charge is allowed to recover.
When the ignition is in the ON mode and load shed occurs, the message center displays the corresponding message to notify the driver that battery protection actions are active. The audio system shuts down after the message center displays the warning.
If a fault occurs with the battery monitoring sensor or circuit(s), the only engine off load shed strategy that is active is a 45 minute timer. After 45 minutes have elapsed, the audio system turns off. To clear the load shed state, restart the engine.
Engine Running Load ShedΒ
When the BCM and/or PSCM (power steering control module) voltage is low, with the engine running, a message is sent by the BCM to either minimize or shut down the climate controlled seats, rear defrost, heated mirrors and DATC (dual automatic temperature control) blower motor to improve system voltage. Under this condition, the IPC message center displays either Electrical Power Saver Active. Some Features Turned Off See Manual to notify the driver that battery protection actions are active.
For more information on message center messages, Refer to the Owner's Literature or Refer to: Message Center - System Operation and Component Description
There are 3 states of engine running load shed:Β
| Load Shed State | Entry Conditions | Impact to Features | Clear Conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Load shed 1 | If power source (alternator/DCDC) is fully saturated in combination with low battery voltage and low battery SOC. | These loads are incrementally reduced (if equipped): Heated steering wheel and climate controlled seats. These loads are turned off (if equipped): smart trailer tow battery charge, heated mirrors, any climate features. | Power source no longer saturated and battery voltage has recovered. |
| Load shed 2 transient | PSCM indicating reduced voltage and increased current. System voltage less than 11 volts | If equipped, climate controlled seats are disabled, but the indicators remain illuminated. If equipped, rear defrost and heated mirrors are disabled, but the indicator remain illuminated. |
Voltage to the BCM is greater than 12.5 volts. |
| Load shed 2 continuous | Load Shed 2 Transient condition present up to 60 sec. | If equipped, any climate features are disabled and indicators are off. If equipped with DATC, the blower motor is reduced to 50% speed. If equipped, DC/ AC inverter (AC powerpoint) is disabled. The IPC message center displays "Electrical Power Saver Active. Some Features Turned Off See Manual |
Voltage to the BCM is greater than 12.4 volts for more than 60 seconds. |
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When to See a Mechanic
Stop DIY work and contact a certified mechanic immediately if any of the following apply:
- β’ You smell fuel, burning insulation, or see smoke.
- β’ Brakes feel soft, pull hard to one side, or make grinding noises.
- β’ The engine overheats, stalls repeatedly, or misfires under load.
- β’ You are missing required tools, torque specs, or safe lifting equipment.
- β’ You are not confident in the next step or safety outcome.