P26F0Starter Relay A Stuck On
- Generic OBD-II code · Powertrain
- Turns on the check-engine light
- Matters for the ITP
- How the car detects it
- P26F0 says that starter relay A remains closed even though the module has withdrawn its command, so current keeps flowing to the starter or its solenoid. Unlike the circuit codes P0615 to P0617, the wiring may be intact; the problem lies in the switching itself, typically welded contacts or a sticking armature. Detection works by feedback, for instance a crank sense signal that should vanish once the relay is released. No manufacturer documents P26F0 publicly. Jeep bulletins show that FCA drives some starters through two separately monitored relays, Starter Control 1 and 2, and GM runs extensive driver checks on its starter relay A, which are the closest references. Left unattended, a relay stuck on can overheat the starter and wear pinion and ring gear.
- What you may notice
- Starter keeps running or grinding after the engine has started
- Check engine light, stop-start disabled
- Burning smell or flat battery after short trips
- Likely causes
- LikelyWelded or sticking contacts in starter relay A
- PossibleRelay A control circuit fed from elsewhere so the coil stays energised
- RareFaulty crank feedback signal suggesting a closed relay
- Inspection (ITP)
- Matters for the ITP. While the check-engine light is on, the car fails the emissions check.
- Repair
- Easy · Often possible to do yourself.Typical cost: €20 – €700
- Related codes
Explanation from obdex (CC0), exactly as the app shows it. Guidance only; confirm with a workshop.