Chevrolet P04DB
The technician should follow SI diagnostics. If no cause for the concern is found or during diagnosis a leak check is required
Quick answer
For Chevrolet vehicles covered by bulletin PIP5684/PIP5684A/B/C, P04DB may appear with an illuminated MIL and, intermittently, reduced engine power. The bulletin says the concern may be due to a leak in the charge-air-cooler/induction system and directs technicians to follow GM SI diagnostics; a leak check may be required if no cause is found or during diagnosis.
This page separates verified manufacturer/regulator evidence from supporting material. Unsupported causes, repairs or safety conclusions are not guessed.
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1. What does P04DB mean?
For Chevrolet vehicles covered by bulletin PIP5684/PIP5684A/B/C, P04DB may appear with an illuminated MIL and, intermittently, reduced engine power. The bulletin says the concern may be due to a leak in the charge-air-cooler/induction system and directs technicians to follow GM SI diagnostics; a leak check may be required if no cause is found or during diagnosis.
2. Technical explanation
Verified NHTSA-hosted Chevrolet manufacturer communications PIP5684, PIP5684A, PIP5684B, and PIP5684C list P04DB among multiple possible history or current DTCs. They describe a potential charge-air-cooler/induction-system leak as a possible cause for the broader concern. This evidence does not establish that P04DB alone confirms a leak, nor does it provide a component-level diagnosis.
3. What system is affected?
The verified bulletin evidence identifies the charge air cooler / induction systems. A more specific system assignment for P04DB is not yet established by verified evidence.
4. How serious is this code?
Unknown. The supplied diagnostic record does not establish a severity level.
5. Symptoms you may notice
- MIL illuminated.
- Customer may intermittently report reduced engine power.
6. Possible causes
- For the bulletin-covered concern, a leak in the charge-air-cooler/induction systems may be a cause.
- Whether this is the cause of P04DB on a particular vehicle is not yet established by verified evidence.
7. Can I still drive the vehicle?
Not yet established by verified evidence.
8. Can I charge the vehicle?
Not yet established by verified evidence.
9. What you can safely do
- Arrange diagnosis by a qualified Chevrolet/GM service professional following SI diagnostics.
- Provide the stored DTCs and any occurrence of MIL illumination or intermittent reduced engine power to the service facility.
- Do not attempt a charge-air/induction leak check or other repair procedure unless performed by appropriately qualified personnel using the applicable service information.
10. Step-by-step troubleshooting
- The applicable Chevrolet bulletin directs the technician to follow SI diagnostics.
- If no cause is found, or if required during diagnosis, the bulletin directs that a leak check be performed.
11. When to contact service
Service need is not established by the supplied diagnostic record. However, the verified Chevrolet bulletin directs technicians to use SI diagnostics for the covered concern.
12. What the service center may check
- Retrieve and evaluate current and history DTCs.
- Follow applicable GM SI diagnostics.
- Perform a leak check when required during diagnosis or when no cause is found, as directed by the bulletin.
13. Possible repair or resolution
- No specific repair resolution is established by the supplied verified evidence. Repair depends on the result of SI diagnostics and any required leak check.
14. Affected vehicles
- Chevrolet Bolt EV · 2011–2018 · US
- Chevrolet Spark · 2011–2018 · US
- Chevrolet Volt · 2011–2018 · US
15. Related TSBs / service bulletins
- Chevrolet PIP5684, NHTSA Manufacturer Communication 10167455, published 2019-10-22: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2019/MC-10167455-9999.pdf
- Chevrolet PIP5684A, NHTSA Manufacturer Communication 10176300, published 2020-05-05: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2020/MC-10176300-9999.pdf
- Chevrolet PIP5684B, NHTSA Manufacturer Communication 10178370, published 2020-07-13: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2020/MC-10178370-9999.pdf
- Chevrolet PIP5684C, NHTSA Manufacturer Communication 10182564, published 2020-10-22: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2020/MC-10182564-9999.pdf
16. Recall information
- Not yet established by verified evidence.
17. Official manufacturer information
The supplied evidence consists of NHTSA-hosted Chevrolet manufacturer communications PIP5684 through PIP5684C. The latest supplied version is PIP5684C, published 2020-10-22.
- NHTSA: NHTSA Manufacturer Communication PDF 10167455: PIP5684 · official_tsb
- NHTSA: NHTSA Manufacturer Communication PDF 10176300: PIP5684A · official_tsb
- NHTSA: NHTSA Manufacturer Communication PDF 10178370: PIP5684B · official_tsb
- NHTSA: NHTSA Manufacturer Communication PDF 10182564: PIP5684C · official_tsb
19. Frequently asked questions
Does P04DB prove there is an induction-system leak?
No. The bulletin says a charge-air-cooler/induction-system leak may be a cause of the covered concern, but it directs technicians to follow SI diagnostics. The evidence does not establish a leak as the confirmed cause for every P04DB occurrence.
What does Chevrolet direct a technician to do?
Follow SI diagnostics. If no cause is found or diagnosis requires it, perform a leak check.
Can P04DB occur with reduced engine power?
The bulletin states that a customer may intermittently comment that the engine has reduced power in the covered concern. It does not establish that every vehicle with P04DB will have reduced power.
Is this bulletin verified for every listed Chevrolet model and year?
No. The supplied applicability record lists US Chevrolet Bolt EV, Spark, and Volt model years 2011-2018, but the supplied bulletin summaries do not establish model-by-model or year-by-year bulletin applicability.