Battery voltage the ECU is seeing is below spec.
P0562 — also written PO562, P 0562, 0562 — is the OBD-II code for system voltage low. Same code, same fix: this page covers every spelling of it.
System voltage too low — usually a charging system fault, but on Ford Transit and Vauxhall Insignia we see this caused by failed body control modules and parasitic drains, not the alternator.
P0562 is a electrical fault code, typically costing £20–£400 to put right in a UK garage.
What P0562 actually feels like to drive
- Battery warning light flickers intermittently, especially at idle with electrical load on
- Dashboard dims when indicators are on or wipers run
- Car fails to start cold after sitting for 2–3 days
- Stop-start system disables itself with a 'battery saver active' message
- Voltmeter reads below 13.2V with engine running
What causes P0562?
- Failing battery
- Failing alternator
- Poor earth strap
- Corroded battery terminals
UK vehicles that throw P0562 most often
- Ford Transit / Transit Custom (2014–2020) — common BCM fault
- Vauxhall Insignia / Astra J — alternator clutch pulley failure
- BMW 1/3 Series — IBS (intelligent battery sensor) failure
- Mercedes Sprinter / Vito — alternator regulator
- Land Rover Discovery 4 / Range Rover — chronic parasitic drain via the entertainment module
How P0562 is fixed
- Load-test battery
- Alternator output test
- Clean and torque earths
The P0562 misdiagnosis that wastes money
Garages often throw a battery and alternator at this without checking the regulator output under load or testing for parasitic drain. We've had three Insignias in the last year where the alternator was perfectly serviceable — the freewheel clutch on the pulley had failed, so the alternator wasn't being driven properly at idle.
What a UK garage should charge for P0562
Charging system test £30–£50 (free at most factors), alternator replacement £220–£480 fitted, alternator clutch pulley alone £85–£180 if applicable, battery £95–£220 (AGM stop-start batteries are the expensive ones), IBS sensor £45–£95. Parasitic drain hunt: 1–2 hours diagnostic time from £70/hour.
P0562 repair cost in the UK
Most P0562 repairs land between £20–£400 including parts and labour. The spread is wide because the cheap fix (a sensor, a hose, a leak) and the expensive fix (a major component) throw the same code — which is why a proper diagnosis before parts are bought saves the most money.
Bob's tip on P0562
Don't pay for a new battery until the alternator output has been confirmed at 14.2–14.8V at 2,000 RPM with headlights and rear demister on. A weak battery and a weak alternator look identical on the dashboard, but only one of them is your actual problem.
Can you drive with P0562?
Yes short-term but may not restart.
Urgency: medium.