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P0481 2000 Ford F150 Code - High Fan Control Primary Circuit Failure

- Code Popularity: 1,783 Views
- Repair Importance Level: 3/3
- Repair Difficulty Level: 3/3
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What are the Possible Causes of the DTC P0481 2000 Ford F150?

NOTE: The causes shown may not be a complete list of all potential problems, and it is possible that there may be other causes.
  • Faulty fan control relay
  • Faulty cooling fan 2
  • Fan control relay harness is open or shorted
  • Fan control relay circuit poor electrical connection
  • Fan cooling fan harness is open or shorted
  • Fan cooling fan circuit poor electrical connection
  • Damaged PCM
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How to Fix the DTC P0481 2000 Ford F150?

Review the 'Possible Causes' mentioned above and visually examine the corresponding wiring harness and connectors. Ensure to check for any damaged components and inspect the connector pins for signs of being broken, bent, pushed out, or corroded.

Code Tech Notes

Monitors the high fan control (HFC) primary circuit output from the PCM. The test fails if: With the HFC output commanded on (grounded), excessive current draw is detected on the HFC circuit; or with the HFC circuit commanded off, voltage is not detected on the HFC circuit (the PCM expects to detect VPWR voltage coming through the high speed FC relay [or CCRM] coil to the HFC circuit).

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What is the Cost to Diagnose the Code?

Labor: 1.0

To diagnose the P0481 2000 Ford F150 code, it typically requires 1.0 hour of labor. The specific diagnosis time and labor rates at auto repair shops can differ based on factors such as the location, make and model of the vehicle, and even the engine type. It is common for most auto repair shops to charge between $75 and $150 per hour.

When is the Code Detected?

The P0481 code is detected when the Engine Control Module (ECM) detects that the commanded state of the driver and the actual state of the control circuit do not match.

What are Code Possible Symptoms?

  • Engine Light ON (or Service Engine Soon Warning Light)
  • Engine overheating

Code P0481 2000 Ford F150 Description

The electric cooling fan is controlled by the Engine Control Module (ECM) through the cooling fan relay based on inputs from the following components:
- The engine coolant temperature (ECT) sensor
- The intake air temperature (IAT) sensor
- The A/C selector switch
- The A/C refrigerant pressure sensor
- The vehicle speed sensor (VSS)
The ECM controls the cooling fan by grounding the cooling fan control circuit which turns ON the cooling fan relay. The cooling fan relay will be commanded ON when the following conditions are met:
- The engine coolant temperature reaches 106°C (223°F) or more.
- The A/C clutch requested.
- The vehicle speed is less than 38 MPH.
The cooling fan relay will be commanded ON regardless of vehicle speed when the following conditions are met:
- The engine coolant temperature is 151°C (304°F) or more.
- The A/C refrigerant pressure is high.
The cooling fan may be commanded ON when the engine is not running under a fan run-on conditions described in the electric cooling fan general description portion of the service manual.

OBDII Code P0481 2000 Ford F150 - High Fan Control Primary Circuit Failure  - AutoCodes.com
P0481 2000 Ford F150 Code - High Fan Control Primary Circuit Failure

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