Mitsubishi P1A46
Detection Circuit Of Traction Battery Ground Fault Detector Abnormal . TROUBLE JUDGMENT Check Conditions 3.5 seconds elapse after the electric motor switch is turned ON, or 2 sec
Quick answer
P1A46 is a Mitsubishi i-MiEV DTC for an abnormal detection circuit of the traction-battery ground-fault detector (also described as a leak-sensor detection circuit). Verified applicability is limited to U.S. 2012, 2014, and 2016 i-MiEV models.
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 P1A46 mean?
P1A46 is a Mitsubishi i-MiEV DTC for an abnormal detection circuit of the traction-battery ground-fault detector (also described as a leak-sensor detection circuit). Verified applicability is limited to U.S. 2012, 2014, and 2016 i-MiEV models.
2. Technical explanation
Official Mitsubishi service information describes P1A46 as setting after the electric-motor switch is turned ON or after the main-drive lithium-ion battery begins charging. One revision specifies 3.5 seconds after switch-on or 2 seconds after charging starts. The diagnostic is not evaluated during quick charging. The stated judgment criterion is a defective leakage-of-electricity detection circuit. Another official description calls it the detection circuit of the traction-battery ground-fault detector.
3. What system is affected?
Main-drive lithium-ion battery / Battery Management Unit (BMU) ground-fault or leakage-of-electricity detection circuit.
4. How serious is this code?
Not yet established by verified evidence.
5. Symptoms you may notice
- A P1A46 diagnostic trouble code may be stored.
- No additional driver-visible symptoms are established by the verified evidence.
6. Possible causes
- Defective leakage-of-electricity detection circuit.
- Official diagnostic procedures include checking inverter insulation resistance.
- If the code remains stored after specified inverter-related checks, the official procedure directs BMU replacement.
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. The code can be evaluated after the main-drive battery begins charging, but it is not evaluated during quick charging.
9. What you can safely do
- Arrange diagnosis by a Mitsubishi-qualified EV service facility.
- Do not attempt high-voltage battery, inverter, insulation-resistance, or BMU repairs yourself.
- Record whether the code occurred after switching the vehicle ON or after charging began, if that information is available.
10. Step-by-step troubleshooting
- Use the manufacturer diagnostic procedure and scan tool process specified in the applicable service information.
- The official procedure includes an inverter insulation-resistance check.
- After inverter replacement, the procedure calls for reconfirming whether the diagnostic trouble code is stored again.
- If the DTC remains stored after the specified inverter insulation-resistance checks, the procedure directs replacement of the BMU.
11. When to contact service
Service evaluation is appropriate because verified Mitsubishi procedures require high-voltage-system diagnostic steps and may lead to BMU replacement.
12. What the service center may check
- Confirm whether P1A46 is currently stored using the specified scan-tool diagnostic process.
- Perform the manufacturer-specified inverter insulation-resistance check.
- After applicable inverter work, recheck whether P1A46 is stored.
- If P1A46 remains stored after the specified checks, follow the service procedure directing BMU replacement.
13. Possible repair or resolution
- Official procedures reference inverter insulation-resistance evaluation.
- Where P1A46 remains stored after the specified inverter checks, the documented resolution is BMU replacement.
- No broader repair outcome is established by the supplied verified evidence.
14. Affected vehicles
- Mitsubishi i-MiEV · 2012 · US
- Mitsubishi i-MiEV · 2014 · US
- Mitsubishi i-MiEV · 2016 · US
15. Related TSBs / service bulletins
- Mitsubishi TSB-19-54-003, published March 13, 2019; available through NHTSA as manufacturer communication MC-10158408.
- Mitsubishi TSB-19-54-004, published March 13, 2019; available through NHTSA as manufacturer communication MC-10158409.
- Mitsubishi TSB-19-54-005, published March 13, 2019; available through NHTSA as manufacturer communication MC-10158410.
16. Recall information
- No recall information is established by the supplied verified evidence.
17. Official manufacturer information
Verified official sources: NHTSA-hosted Mitsubishi manufacturer communications MC-10158408, MC-10158409, and MC-10158410, published March 13, 2019. https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2019/MC-10158408-9999.pdf ; https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2019/MC-10158409-9999.pdf ; https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2019/MC-10158410-9999.pdf
19. Frequently asked questions
What does P1A46 mean?
It means the traction-battery ground-fault detector detection circuit is abnormal. Mitsubishi service information also describes it as a leak-sensor detection circuit fault.
When can P1A46 set?
It can be evaluated after the electric-motor switch is turned ON or after main-drive battery charging begins. It is not evaluated during quick charging.
Which vehicles are verified as applicable?
U.S. Mitsubishi i-MiEV model years 2012, 2014, and 2016 are the only supplied verified applications.
Can I continue driving or charging?
Not yet established by verified evidence.
What may resolve P1A46?
The official procedure includes inverter insulation-resistance checks and directs BMU replacement if the DTC remains stored after the specified checks.