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2005 Chevy Trailblazer Ext P0480 Fault: Won't Start, Battery or Alternator Issue?

Model: 2005 Chevy Trailblazer Ext Fault Code: P0480 Posted: 2016-10-09 17:48

My 2005 Chevrolet Trailbling Ext will not start. While driving to the store, the ABS light turned on. I parked and returned later to find the vehicle wouldn't start. I attempted a jump start, which temporarily worked—after removing the jumper cables, it shut off within a minute or two. The car was then towed home. A code reader shows P0480. Some suggest a faulty alternator; others point to a weak battery. How can I accurately diagnose whether the issue is with the battery or alternator? What specific tests should I perform?

Related fault codes

P0480

Comments (3)

Anonymous 2016-10-09 19:15

P0480 does not typically cause a no-start condition. First, have the battery load-tested. The battery is central to the electrical system. If the alternator were faulty, the vehicle would still start and run using the battery's reserve capacity.

Anonymous 2016-10-09 20:49

Thank you for the insight—I will have the battery tested. Regarding the P0480 code specifically, what steps should I take to identify or resolve the root cause?

Anonymous 2016-10-10 06:52

By default, the cooling fan should run at high speed when the engine is off or under low voltage conditions. Do you hear the fan running at high speed? Low voltage can trigger various system behaviors. After clearing the P0480 code and resolving the starting issue, monitor for any return of error codes.