Q: Diagnostic screen in car says "short circuit".

asked by on June 13, 2016

My diagnostic screen in my car beeps and says "short circuit". What does this mean?

My car has 171000 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.

The statements expressed above are only for informational purposes and should be independently verified. Please see our terms of service for more details

Get an instant quote for your car

Our certified mechanics come to you ・Backed by 12-month, 12,000-mile guarantee・Fair and transparent pricing


Experienced Mechanic?

Earn up to $70/hr

What others are asking

Do I Have to Replace a Cracked Window?
A car window’s primary purpose is to allow safe and clear vision of all objects around the vehicle while keeping the element out, and to provide security to the passengers and their personal items. Additionally, they provide structural integrity to...
How do I turn the Blind Spot Monitor on and off?
The Blind Spot Monitor (BSM) detects when a vehicle is entering an area you can’t see with your regular mirrors. It can help prevent an accident if you attempt to switch lanes by alerting you to a vehicle in your...
How do I engage the parking brake?
The parking brake is an important safety feature that keeps your car from rolling away when it is parked. To engage the parking brake, simply lift up on the parking brake lever, which is located directly below the shifter. The...
Car shakes and smoke coming out of engine
I have run into this problem before. The exhaust manifold coolant vent hoses melt and cause coolant to leak. The engine will then overheat because it can not hold pressure causing it to start shaking. I would recommend having a...
I am swapping transmissions
You may need to look at how the 1996 bolted up and how the 1988 bolted up. If the 1996 bolts up the same as the 1988 did then use the newer design. You may find they are close to...
How do you remove rear seat armrest cup holder?
You may not be able to remove the arm rest without removing the entire door panel (https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/how-to-replace-a-car-door-panel-by-robert-tomashek) first. Depending on vehicle, you may only have to remove a couple screws and the door panel will lift straight up and off....
Car has hissing sound when initially accelerating
Hi there, thanks for writing in about your 2006 Porsche Cayman. Generally, a hissing noise will come from a leaking vacuum (https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/is-it-safe-to-drive-with-a-vacuum-leak) source or something like an exhaust manifold gasket (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/exhaust-manifold-gasket-replacement). The vacuum leak will cause some performance issues as...
Strong gas smell but nothing leaking under hood
Hi There, A few things may cause the vehicle to produce a strong fuel smell. A clogged or dirty EGR valve may cause the car to emit a strong fuel smell due to the excess hydrocarbons as a result of...
Rough idle after fuel injector swap
Hi Mason. Thanks for sending your question today. Most of the time, when this occurs, it's due to either the replacement injector not being correctly installed or perhaps a secondary or other injector was faulty as well - but not...

Related articles

The Best Used Cars to Buy If You Love Camping
Do Do you love camping, getting back to nature and enjoying life in the great outdoors? If you do, then you know that getting there can be half the fun, and it’s even better if you have a great ride....
Industry News for Automotive Techs: October 15-21
This week: home-brewed autonomous car, sneak peek at future Jeeps, scheming car hackers, Ram's off-road TRX concept, new turbo test kit from Lisle.
The Most and Least Expensive Cars to Insure
Car insurance quotes depend on the car make and model. The Honda Odyssey is the least expensive and the Dodge Viper is the most expensive to insure.