A 5 volt reference wire shorted to earth, or a sensor on the shared supply internally shorted (for example throttle position, MAP, or cam/crank position sensors, depending on model and engine); Chafed or damaged wiring harness rubbing on the engine or bodywork, causing a short on the reference circuit; Corroded, loose or water-contaminated connector on one of the sensors sharing the supply; Poor PCM power or earth connections causing a low or unstable reference voltage; Aftermarket accessory or previous repair wiring tapped into a sensor reference circuit; Faulty powertrain control module with a failing internal 5 volt regulator.

P1496

5 Volt Supply Output Too Low.

Dodge
Powertrain
Manufacturer code
Medium severity

How this code is built

P: SystemPowertrain
1: Defined byThe manufacturer
4: AreaAuxiliary emission controls
96: FaultThe specific fault in that area

What it means

P1496 on a Dodge means the powertrain control module has detected that its regulated 5 volt reference supply, which feeds several engine sensors, is too low. The module sees the reference voltage fall below its expected range, so the readings from the sensors on that supply can no longer be trusted.

Symptoms

Malfunction indicator lamp on
Rough running or hesitation
Poor or erratic throttle response
Hard starting or stalling
Reduced power or limp-home behaviour
Other sensor fault codes stored at the same time

Possible causes

A 5 volt reference wire shorted to earth, or a sensor on the shared supply internally shorted (for example throttle position, MAP, or cam/crank position sensors, depending on model and engine)likely
Chafed or damaged wiring harness rubbing on the engine or bodywork, causing a short on the reference circuitlikely
Corroded, loose or water-contaminated connector on one of the sensors sharing the supplypossible
Poor PCM power or earth connections causing a low or unstable reference voltagepossible
Aftermarket accessory or previous repair wiring tapped into a sensor reference circuitrare
Faulty powertrain control module with a failing internal 5 volt regulatorrare

How to diagnose

Read all stored and pending codes and the freeze frame data, noting any other sensor circuit codes that share the 5 volt supply
Check the wiring diagram for your exact model and engine to see which sensors share the 5 volt reference
Visually inspect the harness and connectors on those sensors for chafing, corrosion, bent pins and moisture
Check the battery voltage and the PCM power and earth connections for good condition and low resistance
With the ignition on, measure the reference voltage at the sensor connectors and compare with the specification
Unplug the sensors on the shared supply one at a time while monitoring the reference voltage; if it recovers when one is disconnected, that sensor or its wiring is suspect
Check the reference wire for a short to earth with the PCM and sensors disconnected, using the wiring diagram
If wiring and sensors are all sound and the supply is still low, test the PCM supply and consider the module as faulty

How to fix

Replace the sensor that is pulling the 5 volt reference down
Repair or replace the damaged wiring and secure the harness away from rubbing points
Clean or replace corroded or damaged connectors and terminals
Repair poor power or earth connections to the PCM
Remove or correct any non-standard wiring connected to the reference circuit
Replace or repair the PCM only after all other causes are ruled out, following the manufacturer's procedure

Can I keep driving?

Medium severity

The car may be drivable, but sensor readings can be unreliable and it may hesitate, stall or enter limp mode, so have it checked soon. Avoid long journeys or heavy loads until the fault is fixed.

Guide written by AI from the code's definition. Confirm with a diagnosis before replacing parts.