What Does P0696 Mean?
The PCM has detected that the control circuit for cooling fan 3 is reading higher than expected voltage. This means the circuit cannot be pulled low to activate the fan, or there is a short to battery voltage in the control line. Fan 3 may run continuously or fail to respond to PCM commands. This is typically found on vehicles with three-fan or heavy-duty cooling configurations.
Common Causes
30%
Open ground path in the fan 3 relay control circuit
25%
Failed fan 3 relay (open coil or stuck contacts)
20%
Short to battery voltage in the wiring between PCM and fan 3 relay
15%
Disconnected or corroded connector at the relay or fan control module
10%
Internal PCM fan driver failure (open circuit mode)
Diagnostic Steps
1
Command fan 3 on via scan tool and monitor control circuit voltage; verify it transitions from battery voltage to below 1V when activated. A stuck-high reading confirms the fault.
2
Disconnect the fan 3 relay and check for battery voltage on the PCM control wire; voltage present with relay disconnected indicates a short to B+ in the harness.
3
Measure continuity of the relay coil; an open reading (OL) indicates the relay has failed internally.
4
Verify the ground circuit at the relay socket by measuring resistance to chassis ground; should be below 0.5 ohms.
5
Backprobe the PCM fan 3 control pin and verify the PCM pulls the line low when commanding fan on; if it cannot, the PCM driver has failed.
Estimated Repair Cost
$50 - $500
Parts + labor, varies by vehicle and location
The PCM has detected that the control circuit for cooling fan 3 is reading higher than expected voltage. This means the circuit cannot be pulled low to activate the fan, or there is a short to battery voltage in the control line. Fan 3 may run continuously or fail to respond to PCM commands. This is...
The most common cause of P0696 (Fan 3 Control Circuit High) is: Open ground path in the fan 3 relay control circuit
Typical repair costs for P0696 range from $50 to $500, depending on the vehicle, location, and whether you do it yourself or go to a shop.
Reduced cooling capacity may lead to overheating under load. Avoid towing or heavy-duty use. Monitor temperature gauge during city driving and idling. Highway driving with good airflow is generally acceptable in moderate weather.
Start by connecting an OBD2 scanner to read the code and any freeze frame data. Then follow the diagnostic steps specific to P0696 to identify the root cause.
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Quick Info
Category
Powertrain
System
Engine Cooling System
Difficulty
Type
Generic (SAE)
Recommended Tools
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