P0512
Starter Request Circuit
- Severity
- Medium
- Driving
- Drivable — book it in
A fault in the starter request circuit - the circuit carrying the request to crank, from the key switch or start button to the module that authorises it. Depending on which way the fault goes the engine may refuse to crank, or may crank when it should not.
Possible causes
- CommonFailed ignition switch or start button
- CommonWiring or connector fault in the request circuit
- CommonWorn ignition switch contacts
- PossibleAftermarket alarm, immobiliser or remote start spliced into the circuit
- RareFailed control module input
What you might notice
- Engine will not crank
- Intermittent no-crank, often when hot
- Starter continuing to crank after release
- Check engine light on
What to check, in order
- Watch the starter request state on the live data screen while someone turns the key or presses the button.
- Check the ignition switch. Worn contacts are the most common cause and typically fail intermittently before they fail completely.
- Ask whether an aftermarket alarm, immobiliser or remote start has been fitted - these are wired into exactly this circuit.
- Check the wiring between the switch and the module.
- A starter that keeps cranking after the key is released will destroy itself and the ring gear. If that is the symptom, disconnect the battery rather than waiting.
Read this code from your own car
Plug an ELM327 adapter into the OBD-II port under the dashboard. Pin16 reads every stored, pending and permanent code, explains each one like this page does — offline, with no account — and shows what the car recorded when the fault was set.
Where this code sits
P00xxP01xxP02xxP03xxP04xxP05xxP06xxP07xxP08xxP09xxP0AxxP0BxxP0CxxP0DxxP0ExxP0FxxP10xxP11xxP12xxP13xxP14xxP15xxP16xxP17xxP18xxP19xxP1AxxP1BxxP1CxxP1DxxP1ExxP1FxxP20xxP21xxP22xxP23xxP24xxP25xxP26xxP27xxP28xxP29xxP2AxxP2BxxP2CxxP2DxxP2ExxP2FxxP30xxP31xxP32xxP33xxP34xxP35xxP36xxP37xxP38xxP39xxP3AxxP3BxxP3CxxP3DxxP3ExxP3Fxx
Vehicle speed control, idle control and auxiliary inputs
P0500P0501P0502P0503P0504P0505P0506P0507P0508P0509P0510P0511P0512P0513P0514P0515P0516P0517P0518P0519P0520P0521P0522P0523P0524P0525P0526P0527P0528P0529P0530P0531P0532P0533P0534P0535P0536P0537P0538P0539P0540P0541P0542P0543P0544P0545P0546P0547P0548P0549P0550P0551P0552P0553P0554P0555P0556P0557P0558P0559P0560P0561P0562P0563P0564P0565P0566P0567P0568P0569P0570P0571P0572P0573P0574P0575P0576P0577P0578P0579P0580P0581P0582P0583P0584P0585P0586P0587P0588P0589P0590P0591P0592P0593P0594P0595P0596P0597P0598P0599